Even before we moved to Delhi, I felt I had a great group of friends ready to welcome me to India. We had met through the blogosphere of the internet and had connected on many levels, whether it be providing me with advice on what to pack, which airline to travel on, which neighborhoods to live in and even random emails to say "I know this is hard ... hang in there."
Some of those friends ::
Ellen at A Reason to Write
Lloyd at India Adventure
Cindy at SnidKnits
Jill at The Perlman Update
Jeanne at An American in Delhi
I didn't have ANY reservations at all about making new friends once we arrived. I know that my children are very social and would waste no time making new friends (and they've done a smashing job of it already!).
I simply assumed that once I got acclimated to the school and the parent/teacher association, I would also have NO issue meeting new people. I severely under-estimated how simply and comfortably refreshing it would be to add to my circle of friends after arriving in Delhi.
It's hard to explain to you, but making new friends in an expat environment is 100x easier than it has ever been for me in the States.
For me ... in the United States, when I moved from one state to another, there really wasn't any pomp and circumstance. I didn't look any different (so to speak) or talk funny compared to my new neighbors. Sure, our new neighbors were always welcoming and we received freshly baked brownies as a welcome when we first started unpacking, but it often took some time to really form good relationships with those in our new communities.
My experience "state-side" has also been that until those good relationships were formed, I was kind of left to my own devices when attempting to find say, the best local plumber, or the best place for shopping. Even restaurant recommendations and information about the best preschools is sometimes information that you have to dig in and find yourself.
The HUGE difference in an expat environment is that there are tens upon tens of women who have been in the same shoes you are wearing. Everyone welcomes you with open arms, and introductions fly so fast you can barely keep up.
The conversations typically go like this ::
"Oh, Susie, Carol and Melissa ... meet Naomi. She's just landed about three weeks ago."
Then the group of women all smile a very sweet knowing smile and the questions begin ...
"Where have you come from most recently? Where are you living? Is your husband Embassy? How many kids do you have? Do you know for how long you're here? How's your staff?"
This exchange of conversation repeats itself daily ... and sometimes several times a day even.
If I am having a bad day and need someone to tell me that what I'm feeling is normal ... there are loads and handfuls of women ready to tell me that I've not lost my mind.
If I need to lament to someone about the "quaint nuances" of living in a place like Delhi, India, I know that I can contact any of my new friends and they won't think I'm griping or whining.
If I need to know where the best market is for fabric, school binders or pullups, I know that the information is just a text message away.
Everyone in this expat community is crazy amazing. The stories these women have to tell are wonderful and so interesting.
I have to give a special "shout out" to Ellen ... my dear gal pal who has so graciously (and with brutal honesty) answered each one of my crazy emails for the last four months and who made my acclimation to Delhi (before we even landed) so much easier.
Another goes to Pam ... my kindred spirit who I came to know so very randomly ... and simply because our husbands exchanged business cards on a flight from Delhi back to the States. I'm tickled that we get to spend our time in Delhi together!
I am looking forward to meeting so many more delightful girls ... spending time sharing, getting to know each other (really getting to know each other ... not just the sweet exchange of kisses on each cheek as we pass each other on the school campus). Sharing coffee, having market dates and shopping together, forming some lasting relationships in a place where the experiences and your daily surroundings are so rich and pregnant with greatness that you HAVE to have friends to share it all with.
To my girls in the States ... wish you were here!
