Sweet Friends

Sweet Devin reading to the girls at a sleepover!

We are facing a common experience as Expats. One that makes this experience very challenging. Our dearest and closest friends, The Ryan family are moving back to Australia next Wednesday. Mike, Kate and Hannah live here at Pulai Springs with us. They have been our constant. They are the ones who made us feel welcomed, helped us learn the ropes, entertained us, fed us, befriended us, kept us company...and so much more. In the almost year we have been here- they have been a part of our everyday. Hannah is Nevi's one and really only friend here where we live....(there is beautiful Tiara too, but she is a bit younger and not quite the same kind of friend). Hannah and Nevi go to school together and they live one floor apart. Hannah and Nevi are sisters. Everyone at their school thinks so- and so do they for that matter. This experience for Nevi would have never been tolerable without her friendship with Hannah. Hannah tends to Nevi- looks after her- tolerates her when she is being wild child and loves her dearly. Next week, when our friends leave to go to their home...our lives will completely change. We will survive, but this is the not so fun part of expat life....people come and go- work comes and happens and finishes and you leave...most families off to the next cultural expat experience....for us back home. But even Nevi said it today...this is the part I do not like- having to say goodbye and not knowing if you will see each other again....but when you do I bet it feels the same....but then you have to say goodbye again. Mum, I don;t like this part. Guess what, Honey- neither do I. Sweet friendship and loving is so worth it, but goodbyes hurt.