Now that we are here in the homestretch, the logistics are taken care of. The container has been sent off, immigration clearance is done, school is finished, even the doggy passport is stamped and ready to go.
But arrangements aside, it's the nostalgia that is taking over. This move is so bittersweet for us. In all honesty, for the first while living here, I could never imagine missing anything about Malaysia. My, how times have changed. The life we've made here is a happy one. While I am very excited to be going back to Texas, I am just as sad to leave.
So, in full list making mode, here's what is heavy on my heart today
1. I will miss all of our travels. We've gotten to see parts of world I couldn't have pointed out on a map before. The places, cultures, foods, and people we've gotten to experience have forever changed us.
2. I will not miss immigration and border crossings. 4 passports later, the excitement of passport stamps has faded to the point that I get frustrated when an officer turns to a new page instead of squeezing a stamp in somewhere else. I look forward to going to soccer practice without having to clear customs.
3. I will miss living on the equator. Every day is beach weather in Malaysia full of sun and warmth. After living in Norway, it was a nice change to switch to sandals and shorts every day.
4. But I will not miss being hot ALL the flipping time. Watching the boys sports? Trying to avoid heat stroke. Morning run? Only if it's still dark. Just out of the shower? Already sweating. Beach weather is nice...at the beach. I can't wait to get back to seasons.
5. I will obviously most definitely miss Batu Batu, our perfect little island paradise. Only 2 hours from home, full of staff who became friends, and a perfect place for adventurous boys to wander and play, it will forever be my favorite place on earth.
6. I will not miss Legoland. I know, I know, how could I say that?? But if I never ride the dragon roller coaster or eat another terrible hamburger again, I won't be missing out. It just goes to show you can get too much of a good thing.
7. I will miss my medical students so very much. Not only did I have a job working with some great friends, but I got to get to know some really amazing doctors-to-be. I never expected to learn so much from them, laugh so much with them, and care so much about them.
8. I will not miss the food. I know many will disagree with me on this one because Malaysia is known as the food capital of the world. Every single conversation will come back to food at some point. But century eggs, durian, fish head curry, and anchovies for breakfast just aren't my thing.
9. I will miss our bubble. Our house is less than 5 minutes from my work, the boys school and Micah's work. Most of the boys friends all live in our same neighborhood. Every time we go to eat at the same restaurants, they know our order and we will chat with at least several friends who've come to the same place.
10. I will not miss the driving. Malaysian driving is terrifying. There technically are rules, but the standard is not to follow them. Motorbikes driving the wrong way on the highway, cars completely ignoring stop signs, big trucks parking wherever they see fit...it's frustrating at minimum and death defying at most.
11. I will miss our friends. In creating our life here, we've made more than just friends but an extended family. People that love your children, people to cry to when you're homesick, people to walk through life with. Maybe it's the circumstances or maybe it's the type of people who end up in an expat world, but we've found some keepers for sure. It doesn't matter where we move to or where our paths lead, real friends we've made here are here forever.
So while it's great to be headed back to our roots, it doesn't make it any easierto leave. God has blessed us with an adventure of a lifetime and I know the plans He has ahead for us are good.
Thank you, Malaysia. You surprised me. I tried really hard to hate you, but you didn't let me do it. I am truly grateful for that. ❤️
