Aw, poor Kramer and poor you. I know how stressful it is when your pets get sick, and it always seems to be at the worst possible time. It's even more stressful when you know something is wrong and the vet doesn't take you seriously. We've been there too. I hope Kramer is back on his feet soon and you get some time to relax!

Very well said! I know I couldn't hack it as a backpacker and I doubt I could even travel solo. That said I live to travel. I gave up my 'easy' and 'known' life in Canada and moved to a different country and I think that's a pretty difficult thing to do. I don't consider myself any less or more of a traveler than someone with a backpack. I also don't consider myself any less or more of a tourist than some who visits 16 cities in as many days. To each their own!

Aw thanks for the shout-out Danie! That's very kind :)

I think it's interesting that if you've lived (or live) in a country other than your birthplace and you criticize the politics, health care, education system, whatever, you are suddenly labeled unpatriotic. However people that were born and have lived there forever complain about things all the time without being given the same labels. I bitch and moan about Belgium when I am here and Canada when I am there. That doesn't mean I am unpatriotic or anti-Canadian. I'm just human.

Wow! This certainly generated a lot of response :) I'm a bit late to the game here but here's my two cents. I haven't yet experienced repatriation but I know it will be coming at some point and I certainly have had a taste of what to expect. Even after living abroad for only 3 months on a temporary assignment (which in all honesty was more like a vacation than being an expat) I felt changed and different from my friends back home. Even now when I visit Canada I have to say that in many ways it doesn't feel like 'home' anymore nor do I feel at home there. I can only imagine what you're going through right now Danie but never feel that your feelings aren't valid because you've moved 'home.' Places change and people change over time and it will take you even more time to get used to those changes.

I also need to jump into the fray of the military/economic/emotion debate. I don't believe that having an emotional response to expat life is in any way an economic phenomenon. My husband and I chose to move to further his career. We had no help from his company, no support etc. I had to give up a job that I enjoyed. We had no debt but we also had no money... no furniture... nothing but a few suitcases of clothes and treasured items. My trailing spouses, like myself, don't have the luxury of finding work in the new country due to Visa and work permit restrictions. I was fortunate enough to be able to eventually start my own company but many are not so lucky. My emotional depression was due 50% to my loss of self worth and 50% to the loss of my network of close friends. The only community I had was the internet.

I agree with the comment to treat this as another assignment Danie and take on all of those emotions as they come. People and places change over time and it will take even more time for you to adjust to those changes. Good luck!

You should not feel humiliated AT ALL! Be proud that you had the courage to do it in the first place and the will to finish it! Lot's of people... er me, would never even try something like this!

That's great! We just got the Prius last week and we love it. Andrew is happy that he can now drive a computer :) I love Toyota's GPS... it's the best one I've seen. Enjoy it!

OMG! How does that even happen?! Hopefully the rest of your flights are uneventful. Why does flying have to be such a chore? Hope your adventures on the ground make up for it!

Glad everyone survived the school year and that you are on the mend. Good luck with immigration and have a BIG glass of wine tonight for me!

The new format looks great and very organized!