Two Old Fools and Homesickness
Another season is drawing to a close, can you believe it? Joe and I have never once suffered from homesickness since we left England in 2004. We adore everything about our life in El Hoyo; the people, the weather, the food and the slow pace of life centred around families. If only our family weren’t so far away…
Summer in our village is so hot that people rarely venture outside during the heat of the day. But when the sun sinks and shadows grow long, the streets begin to fill. Families emerge from their homes to chatter with neighbours and to promenade around the square. Children, burnt nut-brown by endless weeks without school, race up and down and yell to each other. Dogs bark and scooters whizz by. Grandfathers sit at tables outside El Hoyo’s new bar, playing cards and discussing politics. Mothers stand in groups, all talking at once, with babies on their hips and toddlers tugging at their hands. This is probably the time when I most miss having family around.
But not this month.
My lovely daughter inherited my adventurous spirit and thirst for travel. She married an Aussie, set up home in Sydney, and my gorgeous new granddaughter entered the world a year later. Last year, when little Indy was born, I travelled to Australia to meet her and help her mum. How I drank in every detail of that tiny baby. I counted her fingers and toes, watched her expressions and tried to memorise everything about her, fully aware it would be a long time before I saw her again.
Ten months slipped by, eased a little by the daily photos winging their way from Australia to El Hoyo. They showed Indy smiling, then crawling, then standing.
“Time to drive to the airport,” said Joe, as I checked the waiting cot, the baby stroller, the paddling-pool, the toys and the borrowed highchair for the last and umpteenth time.
And then suddenly, there she was, bouncing in her mother’s arms. Our house came to life, ringing with Indy’s giggles. Floors, once clean and tidy, were strewn with toys and smeared with discarded food. Books were pulled out of the bookcase and papers scattered across the floor. Baby bottles appeared on the draining-board and baby paraphernalia covered every surface. We loved it.
We celebrated Indy’s first birthday with cake, bubbles and new toys. More fun, more mess, and fifty party balloons to trip over. But how we loved it.
Now we too had family to show off to the villagers. Of course our neighbours were enchanted by Indy’s blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin.
“Guapa!” they exclaimed, ruffling her curls, and stroking her soft, pink skin.
But all too soon, the visit came to an end.
“Time to drive to the airport,” said Joe. With leaden hearts, we waved them goodbye.
I’ve tidied away the books, packed away the cot and stroller, washed the sticky fingerprints off the walls and emptied the paddling-pool. A few balloons still remain, drifting aimlessly around the floor. I know I should pop them and throw them away, but I don’t. The balloons remind me of Indy, giving chase, crawling across the floor at a rate of knots, squealing with delight when she caught one.
No, when you relocate to a different country, you won’t necessarily suffer from homesickness. But you may, like me, find being parted from family is tough.
Do join me on Facebook to find out how we’re coping, day to day.Victoria, New York Times bestselling author
David and Shirley Coager
September 24, 2013 @ 10:26 pm
I want an ecopy of your chickens,mules book. Very interesting information. Thank you for your generosity. Shirley and David
Victoria Twead
September 25, 2013 @ 1:22 am
David and Shirley – thank you, I shall send you one.
Victoria 🙂
happy travelling philosopher
December 1, 2013 @ 4:48 am
Hello Victoria,
I have been reading your newsletter but could not find a place to comment on your latest story of renovation in Spain, and your waiting for months on end. Therefore, I am replying here.
I have read many books on all Brits’ who decide to live in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, and your views are expressed by many other authors. To me it would appear that in all these countries you need to cultivate a friendship with the local mayor, via community groups, parties, or just any activity whereby you meet the mayor.
The mayor is not like those in Great Britain, all citizens are welcome to find friendship with the mayor. Once this is achieved, magic wands are waved and many doors are opened for tradesmen to come and visit you, and perhaps construct your repairs
Another thing I find from these wonderful authors is the fact tradesmen are not like those in Great Britain. They are very independent, proud and hold a very high degree of authority in the local area, and are most respected. They too are friends with the local mayor. Most of these authors advise to respect these differences and follow tradition in the country you are living and not think back to how it was done in merry old England.
To me as a previous house renovator your wants are very little and should be speedily attended to.
Of course you may know of all these views. However, when I read books, newsletters or blogs I always read between the lines of of what writers say or express in their comments.
All my life I have had the ability to get things accomplished, and seek out ways to cut red tape, Guess, this is just how my mind works. I love seeing a balanced and efficient way of progress. This is why I plan and arrange all my own travel arrangements on the internet – never go near a travel agent, they are far too slow for me.
In the same light here in Australia I now visit all supermarkets which have robotic services and scan my own goods and use eftpos machines myself with no humans in sight. All retailers in Australia are following this trend.
I will say Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you and Joe. I am flying to Melbourne to stay with my daughter Helen, who is not at all like me, and loves parties. I will be dancing, singing, eating all kinds of weird food, drinking French champagne, with speakers situated in every room, including the bathroom and toilet, and listening to pop music – not my expressed wish. However, my daughter remains supreme in my eye.- she’s wonderful!
ciao
Vern
Amanda
December 13, 2013 @ 6:53 pm
Hey Victoria,
This is so helpful! I’m currently on my year abroad in Spain and I’ve decided to do a vlog series documenting everything that I’m going through here.
I have a video about my own experiences with homesickness (the hardest part was leaving the wonderful British weather to coming to crappy sunny Spain – Can you believe it?!?!)
Have a look, I’d really appreciate some feedback from other bloggers 🙂
Thank you!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbXKMcOM3_0