“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
I have kept this quote in a journal since I was in high school. It captures my hope for how I want to live out my life, whether at home in the United States or during our time living abroad, as we have been since 2020.
I grew up following my father’s career as an exploration geophysicist for Texaco. From age six months to 17, I lived mostly outside the US, in Canada, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Norway. These years were bookended by brief stints in Houston, Texas. My folks lived in Nigeria and Trinidad during my college and young adult years, and so to these “homes” I would go for the holidays. This time away from the States has shaped my identity and worldview, and it has influenced most of the big decisions I’ve made.
I never thought I would live overseas as an adult. But just as we were facing the empty nest stage, Tom accepted – with a nudge from yours truly – the opportunity to relocate to Singapore for work in February 2020. Despite moving just as the COVID19 pandemic brought the world to its knees, and the ensuing challenges that our family faced, our lives have been enriched. So when opportunity knocked again in 2022 with the chance to move to Madrid, we said yes once more. When you’ve sold your house and furniture, moved your belongings into a storage unit, and figured out how to make life work, why not take advantage of a little more globe-trotting before settling back home?
I started this blog when we moved to Singapore to chronicle our time. What I found is that it forces me to pay attention and process the experience. It is a travelogue, a letter to friends and family, and a photo album. And it brings me joy.
If you like what you read, I invite you to subscribe HERE and also tell me what you think, either in the comment boxes or directly HERE. I love to have a conversation.
~ Julia Maywald