When you live in a multi-cultural /expat / missionary community, or even one with a high turnover rate, this is the lesson you learn: fall in love fast and love furiously the people around you. Time is not a luxury you have when making friends in these environments. Sometimes you get a year, sometimes you get a few months, and other times only a few weeks. I know, I know, how can you even become friends with someone that fast, let alone establish a deep friendship. Well, it's challenging, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is so worth it.
We attended language school for eight months in Costa Rica. This was my first grown-up experience in a transient community. The school functioned on a trimester schedule, meaning that generally you had at least three months with any fellow students. However, some students only came for intensive sessions, meaning they would come and go in two to six weeks. Talk about quick! When we first moved there it felt like we had just gotten settled and somewhat adjusted when the first intensive session concluded and recently made acquaintances were already moving on. That was our wake-up call. If we wanted to get to know anyone with any kind of depth, we had to take it seriously.
Now, the beauty of this kind of community, especially when abroad, is that you are instantly bonded by your shared, unique experience of living far from home, and away from everyone you know and love. So, for better or worse, you lean in. We didn't waste anytime! Whether it was a dinner with a family, a trip to the park, a coffee date, or babysitting some cute kiddos, we made and accepted as many invitations as possible. Quickly we found our people. The ones, who after nearly a year being apart we still talk with weekly, the ones we Whats App when things are tough, the ones who were our biggest cheerleaders when we finally got the green light to move after so much waiting.
Your expat / missionary / global community gets it, and they will be with you forever; no matter the distance. Because unlike your family and friends from home, they know what you have been through, the mountains you've conquered, the pain you've felt, the beauty and blessing of this life. Not only do they get you, but they need you and you need them. When support raising is tough, visas fall-through, or language is hard, you need someone to call that will truly understand and listen. So I urge you, whether you have been abroad for decades, or you are preparing to go: Love fast, love furious, you won't regret it.
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