Are we homesick?

It’s been 4 months and 24 days since we left home. My school friend asked me if we were homesick? I can only say for myself. Deepa and Thing 1 and Thing 2 will have a different take on this.

No. I’m not homesick. I don’t get homesick. At least not yet. I do miss my friends. I do miss my family. But that’s different from being homesick. I am not longing to go back home. Not just yet.

Now, that’s not to say it’s always all fun. In fact, I find it stressful, very stressful at times to travel as a family. I know it’s a privilege, and I know I’m extremely fortunate to be able to travel for so long, but hey, I can be honest. Have you stayed so long together without taking any break from each other? 24/7. Always together. There is no office to escape to, no school for the kids to get a break from us and us from them, no nannies to look after the kids for a while, no boys night out, no girls night out. And in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, there is really no one else for any meaningful adult conversation. It’s just us. Always talking to each other.

Lunches and dinners are the toughest times of the day. It is difficult for the little ones to adapt their taste buds to different cuisines, and I of course make it even more difficult by having them eat healthy. How I wish that ice creams were the healthiest food on earth, full of protein and vitamins.

Play times are fun, but try doing that every minute of every hour. Tell me if that doesn’t drain you. I wish they can entertain themselves all the time, but hey, they don’t have facebook or whatsapp to turn to.

The classic is when Thing 1 and Thing 2 have a fight and they drag me into it, and in a minute I become the reason why they had the fight. Duh!

Oh well, it’s not always like this. It’s just the water in St Petersburg that is distorting both the reality and perception for us. Prague I’m sure will be a different story. Stay tuned! :)