Counting the cost
With a permanent move overseas on the horizon, I have been slowly compiling a list of all the things I will miss about life in Australia. I have lived abroad before, and know that I can cope without these things, but am making a conscious effort to be aware of them before they are seemingly ripped out of my hands in the space of an overnight flight.
I will miss my family and my friends. I will miss the laid-back nature of Australian culture. I will miss my dry ‘Australian humour’ being understood. I will miss being able to speak as fast as the Gilmore Girls, and not having to tailor my choice of words and phrases away from the colloquial.
I will miss my independence as a young, single woman. I will miss sitting alone in my local coffee shop, a flat white in my hands slowly sipping and inhaling its sweet aroma. I will miss other foods and drinks which aren’t consumed due to local religio-cultural beliefs. I will miss my daily life.
A balanced view
I’m a student, currently studying a Bachelor of Intercultural Studies, and this week we were studying ways to thrive when crossing cultural barriers. One of the ways is to look for the good in the culture you are moving to.
It struck me that I had forgotten to consider the pros when compiling my pros and cons list. There is an equally long list of the many aspects of the new culture which will enrich my life.
Food is a great place to start, and although coffee and foods are different there, I won’t be losing out by any stretch of the imagination.
My family and friends won’t be around, but I will be embraced within the communal lifestyle which places high importance on hospitality. Giving up the individualistic mindset of Australian society might not be so bad after all.
In the absence of Australian culture and humour, I will be surrounded by a culture steeped in the long, rich heritage of the ancient world. There will be much to learn, much to enjoy, and much to be amazed by.
I might only be able to speak English with abandon on Skype calls home, but I will gain a completely new language, with diverse ways to express myself, and the ability to converse with the over 200 million speakers of my new language.
Satisfaction in living my purpose
You might have wondered, if you have to give up all these wonderful things, why would you go? It’s a good question and one that crosses my mind often.
I have known for a long time that the purpose of my life was to be obedient to Jesus in going to the ends of the earth. To serve those who are in need both practically and spiritually.
So, to stay in Australia and hold onto the things which are precious to me in this life might be nice, but I would miss my calling, and never fulfil my purpose. From experience, I know that not living within the centre of God’s will for my life is very unsatisfying.
Coming to terms with the losses and gains on my pros and cons list may help to ease culture stress and shock as I adapt to a whole new world, but it is not the whole picture. It is the overwhelming satisfaction in Jesus which comes from living the life I was purposed to live, no matter what the sacrifice, that I choose to focus on.
Not only is my life enhanced by being obedient to the purpose God has for me, but the lives of those I will live amongst will be enriched by the presence of Jesus in their midst.
Chloe is an Australian writer. She loves weekend breakfasts with friends, embraces life as an extrovert, a detail-oriented thinker, and a verbal processor.
Chloe’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/chloe-alexander.html