It’s now just over a WEEK until I move to a whole other country. Packing has commenced. (Sort of) Nerves are setting in. Cancelled out by relief and excitement. On a daily basis. It has officially sunk in, that I am moving to another country. And I can’t wait. But that’s not to say I’m looking forward to seeing the back of London, England and everything I’ve ever known. I’m going to miss a heck of a lot.
1. Family and Friends
This one is pretty much a given, but it has to be said. While my parents don’t live in this country, I still get to see them a fair few times a year. I can’t imagine that changing. But we’ll have to start up our Skype sessions again. My brother I will be leaving behind. Hoping that he’ll come and visit when he can. But it will be an adjustment not seeing him every other weekend and catching films at the cinema with him.
While I don’t have a huge group of friends, I have a few close ones whom I will all miss. We don’t see each other often, and definitely not often enough. Kieran, Steven and Andy – guys who I met at my first post-university job at the age of 21. You could say we went through the wars together on that first job. And we’re still very much friends now. They’re ‘my guys’.
Then there’s the weirdos who I met on the Internet. Tim, Kat, Mel, Rach, Alison, Ryan – I hope you come and visit me! Though, one at a time. Unless people fancy sleeping in bath tubs. We’ve been on holidays together, done the whole convention thing, all those trips to Thorpe Park! And while we live a bit all over the place and don’t see each other often, I’ll still be missing you guys. We’ll always have CSTS!
And my new extended friends/family I’ve amassed through my OH. There, pretty much, hasn’t been a week that’s gone by where I haven’t seen some of those guys, since my OH moved to Bahrain last year. It will be an adjustment not seeing them regularly.
But there’s Skype, and Google Hangouts and the old-fashioned email and WhatsApp. Technology!!
2. My Car
Yes, after the people I’m picking out my car. I love my car. No, it’s not anything special. Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDI. But I’ve had it for five years. Bought it from new and it’s done me good. Thrown it around the place a little. Driven it up to Scotland, Bath and all sorts of other places. It’s a diesel so it’s got that silly throaty noise to it. Which I adore, and will miss. I doubt I’ll be able to get a diesel and a manual in Bahrain.
3. The Temperate Climate
In England there are four seasons. Well, pretty much. Sure sometimes summer sucks. And winter is just an extended autumn. But there are defined seasons. What I’ll be getting hit with in Bahrain is a staggering amount of humidity and day and night-time temperatures I have never been exposed to. Though, saying that, looking forward to winters in Bahrain when it’s in the low twenties and very comfortable. As opposed to the cold and wet here. Yes, I will not miss the rain. I will not miss having to sit under a blanket because it’s just too chilly in the house. Though on the flip side of that, I do enjoy getting comfy under a blanket and watching a film or some TV.
4. London
I moan about London most of the time. The commute. The people. There’s always something to complain about, about the city. BUT, it’s a decent city. There are plenty of places to go out. It’s been the home of almost all of my jobs. I’ve lived on the fringes of it my whole life. London holds a lot of memories for me.
5. Fibre Optic Broadband
My broadband is a thing of dreams. Download and upload speeds are out of this world and I’ve grown used to it. This is the norm for me. In Bahrain I won’t have fibre optic broadband. I’ll have terrible upload and download speeds, compared to what I’ve got now. Won’t be able to use Netflix. It’s going to be an adjustment!
There you have it. The top five I could think of off the top of my head. Those first few things I know I’m going to miss the most. But more than ever, I am really looking forward to the move.
Aw I will miss you Jaina, but I think it’s really brave to move to another country and try your hand at life abroad. Good luck! (PS: I thought you’d say you miss Tea, because I can never find a decent cuppa abroad!).
I really wish I’d have been able to meet up with you before leaving, seeing as we’re so close! But my weekends have been manic. π
See the tea thing won’t be a problem, my OH is obsessive over tea, so I’m covered there! Also, amazing mint teas over there π
It’s funny how we all complain about the weather and yet, if it were sunny all year round, I think I’d miss those four(ish) seasons. I can definitely see why you might miss it in adjusting to a totally different climate.
I can’t believe you’re moving in eight days time! You can try my broadband if you like. It’s at the tail end of the exchange so speed is slow – it may give you a taste of what’s to come. π
I adore spring and autumn. Just those in between seasons where the trees are all colourful and it’s lovely outside. Yeah, definitely will miss that. And also when we do have those mini heat waves, and I can have every door and window open in the house and have a lovely breeze blowing!
I’m still pinching myself that in just over a week… I’ll be off. WUT!
Car & fast internet, the little things. It’s good that you will miss people. In a way, it means that you’ve built great relationships. It’d be so sad if you left a place and no one cared, not enough yourself, right? Well, at least I don’t have to miss you b/c I can visit you here on the blog :).
Yes, I will most definitely still be here, blogging away π
It’ll be the little thing I’ll miss initially, but I’ll adjust soon enough. Well, that’s the plan anyway!
I have sadface π
Aww. Don’t be too sad. You’ll see me again one day. And there’s Skype. And hangouts. And all sorts. I’ll still be around. You can’t get rid of me that easily.
WOW I didn’t know you’re moving to Bahrain for good! I’d so miss London too even though I never lived there, ahah. You didn’t say you’d miss the British boys π Well, best of luck on your move and your new venture, Jaina!
Haha! Well.. British boys, well. Maybe a select few! LOL. Thanks Ruth!
Good luck with your move!
Cheers Brik!
Will miss family and friends…no-brainer π
What about tv (and cinemas) in general. Do you have English-speaking channels in Bahrain?
There are some English speaking channels. And a few others you can have the option for Arabic or English audio, which is nifty! But, relying on streaming and downloads at the moment.
Cinemas are good, on the whole. English with Arabic/French subtitles. Done a couple of cinema outings, hope to do more soon.
Wow! I have been very bad about keeping up with stuff in the blogging world and look what happened! You moved to a whole other country and I didn’t even notice! How are things there? What’s the attitude to women? Hope you’re having fun.
Aww, it’s hard keeping up sometimes though! Everyone has their own life going on.
Things are good here. It’s incredibly hot at the moment. So, grateful I get to work from home and not out into the blistering heat. Attitude towards women? A lot better than other Middle Eastern countries. You’ve got to just be aware of your surroundings in terms of what you wear. But for the most part, you can wear whatever you want. I do get stares, but no more than I would were I in India. In fact, India probably get more! There’s such a massive expat population here, it’s a nice mix of people. From all over.