Chatting with a friend on YM has made me feel nostalgic. I am sorely missing my south of France days. I miss my working days in Marseille; even the hour-long commute that came with it. I remember the first time it snowed in Aix-en-Provence, and I immediately took the bus to go downtown and everyone looked happy, looked smug that it had actually snowed in the south. Meeting Makis and Hazel in Marseille for the first time; who knew that a few minutes of chatting would lead to friendships that would last and hold for years, that they would be the closest thing to home for me in a foreign country? And I miss all those weekends when Julien and I would just hop into our good old red Renault Clio, open a map, and go visit a town or two for the day, not caring how late we got back or how lost we were. All those hours of rollerblading we did in Toulon on Sunday mornings, all those Sunday markets we visited. Driving around with the windows down, singing along to Nada Surf. Nostalgia. Those were the days when we had a car, when we had no baby, when we had all the time in the world, and the world at our doorstep.
Currently listening to:
Blonde Redhead
Penny Sparkle
6 comments
jessi says:
Dec 15, 2010
when you don’t have it anymore, you realize the normal, simple, daily things are what you want, and need.
kala says:
Dec 15, 2010
So true, Jessi. It’s sad that life always has to be like that, that the things you complain about are the things that make life Life. I guess I sorely miss the life B.C. (Before Children) and pretty much the freedom of doing what I want in France. Makes me wonder if I’ll miss some things in Saudi as well, a few years into the future?
Probably. I miss a lot of things about Qatar too. Weird.
jessi says:
Dec 15, 2010
the grass is always greener on the other side. and definitely in Qatar and Saudi its rather burnt grass (means, more sun and warmth)
be happy about what you have… it sounds so odd, but you are healthy and free (even if you don’t feel like it in your area).
Makis says:
Dec 17, 2010
This really comes in waves. It’s normal to feel nostalgic to a part of life – a part of you, way back before you even got to where you are now. But ugh, we have to grow up sometime & sometimes it sucks. I really believe you’ll always have the same freedom in any part of your life just as long as choose it
But it’s not easy being a prisoner of freedom like me!
And Kala, I miss you more! It was really better knowing that you’re just a drive away.
Loraine says:
Dec 18, 2010
The cliche is right everything changes once you have kids. But you know this is just temporary. They will grow up. We’ll have the freedom back!
haze says:
Jan 3, 2011
Life was so much easier when we were younger, sa totoo lang
. But seriously, being nostalgic is perfectly normal and we all feel it, particularly during a constant change in our lives. (that’s the life of Expats 
) . Remember, for everything you have missed, you have acquired something much better. I guess, we all must have the wisdom to enjoy the experience that comes while growing up 
!
Agree with Makis, in the end we all get liberty, it depends solely on us & how we accept the events in our life !
We miss you more in the South Kala, wala akong makurot dito
!!! And yes, roller blading in Toulon was great, even though I didn’t have the guts to do it 
!