Homesick

Photos of Poland ( from letf: river Biebrza,river Biebrza, river Drwa, medow, Oaks in Białowieski National Park, Casel in Malbork, my house, winter in our garden, forest near our house, forest, medow near our house, winter in our garden )

I have never thought that I will be so homesick when I was living Poland. In this first months I was searching constantly for something familiar, for something that recall memories about Poland. I had started to cook very traditional polish dishes like pierogi ( dumplings with stuffing ), bigos ( stew from cabbage, meet, mashrooms and spices ). I heve never cooked them in Poland.
I started to appreciate our heritage more, how rich is the polish culture, how beautiful is the landscape  and the nature. What a great and long history we have with heritage buildings in every corner. I missed to polish forest to sounds of the nature, the views. I barly could stand yellow, dray grass, gumtrees, flat landscape around me.
There were better and worse times. Days when I was crying and days when I was great full for this journey. Days when I liked Australia and days when I heated it.
This swing of emotions was huge. In just few days my live have change so much. I didn't have friends, family, job, I was alone. My husband was working a lot, travelling a lot to different parts of Australia.
But there was one thing that kept  me going - my kids. I knew that I had to be for them. They missed also to their grandparents, friends, house even to their toys...
Very helpful was technology, us soon we got connection to the internet I was relived :).

First months in Australia

Kangaroos ?? = Welcome in Australia :) 

We landed in Australia at the second half of August. It was a rainy and cold Monday. We were exhausted after 24 hours flight, especially I and kids, because my husband seemed 

not notice of the time change. When we were driving to our new home from Melbourne I couldn’t watched views I was to sleepy. When we arrived to our new house all three of us went straight to one bed for a long nap and my husband went straight to work.

At late in the evening we woke up and found out that there is nothing to eat. So there it was- first shopping in Australia. At the super market first person that I spotted was barefoot women with messy hair and she had little girl in trolley who was dressed in dirty pajama. I thought ‘So, this is how Australian looks like?’. After few months I have used to people who didn't bother how they looked like. That was the first difference I have noticed, because in Poland people worried a lot about their appearance.  

That was my first day in Australia and the rest of the week was looking pretty much the same. We were sleeping till 1 pm then we couldn’t slept at the night, but every day was bit better in that matter, so after a week had past we started to cope with time change.

After we survived the first changes: time, season ( in Poland was summer), traffic ( we drive on the right side of the road ). I had to start a normal live.

I started organised our house by buying furniture and other necessary things. I also had to managed with kindergarten for kids. I didn’t feel confident with my English at all so, my husband was helping with communication. In Poland I have learned English for many years, but after I finished my education I didn't use it often. I had this big barrier with talking.  I thought that I sound silly that I was doing a lot of mistakes, that people can’t understand me. Believe me first months weren't easy at all, from businesswomen to women how was struggling with the  easiest  things. Sometimes I felt flustered and confused. Everything was different. There were many times that I was angry at my husband and at myself that I wasn't  doing well. At this first months I just wanted back home...homesick was huge.    

Resettlement

When we were living Poland I have to admit that I was relived. Don't get me wrong, I love my country, my house, family, frainds and my work. On the other hand being working and so busy mum of two young children wasn't the easiest thing.
Last few months in Poland was really exhausting for me. I was allone, my husband was already in Australia. I had my family and friends to help, but still most of things I had to do by my own. Sometimes I was filling really stressed and  I had a panic attacks during the night when I was thinking about next day, 'How will I manage with everything ?'.
So, yes I was very skinny, tired and frustreted.
When we were boarding on the plane in one hand I was afraid of the future but on the other hand I was relieved. I knew that I won't work in Australia from very beginning, that i will have time for kids and live will slow down for me.
I wasn't stupid and I realised also that dealing with other cultur and language won't be easy, too, but I like challanges, so I'd rather was looking forward...