Living Happiness

This morning found me crying on the treadmill.  Yes, sadly, on a bright, sunshiney, couldn’t-ask-for-a-better-day spring morning in Crete, I was politely boohooing my way through my cardio while Rihanna blared raucously in the background.  What?!   Why?

Well, as many of you know, G and I are in the midst of making a huge decision about our future: to leave or not to leave?  And as hard as it is on us, as much as it is breaking our hearts, we are inching closer each day to the realization that the answer to this question is Leave.

So where will we go?  G is an Aussie battler (self-proclaimed), so as we consider and weigh options (Holland has been in the balance), the one that’s tipping the scales for us is a return to Melbourne.  Probably in late summer/early fall, at least in the Northern Hemisphere.

And this is why I was bawling my eyes out at the gym.  This and the fact that I was also listening to Miley Cyrus on my mp3 player, and between “The Climb” and “When I Look At You,” I was in a right state. (Go ahead and judge me if you want.  I have no shame when it comes to my musical tastes.  They are roughly the same as those of the high school students I teach.)

Leaving Greece breaks my heart in a million places; it guts me to think of pulling up stakes.  At the same time, Greece has left G and I no alternative.  Like that Mr./Ms. Right who is perfect for us except for that one major thing we need, Greece has let us fall in love with her only to show us that, in the end, she cannot give us what we need and want most.

Since my morning sobfest on the treadmill, I have worked today to turn my focus elsewhere – went for lunch with two girlfriends, sat in the sun for a bit with a book, completed the necessary tasks in my online classroom, watered the garden (and harvested five new vegetables!).   Things began looking up.  And in the midst of Operation Turn That Frown Upside Down, I also came up with the following list, my own little things to be happy about about moving to Australia (or Oz as it is affectionately known), if we do indeed go.  Maybe this mightn’t be so bad after all … .

10 Reasons Why Moving to Oz Might Not Be a Bad Thing:

1.  I will finally understand yoga class again. You may think that words aren’t necessary for yoga class.  After all, mostly what you’re doing is sun salutations, downward dogs, and breathing in and out a lot. And you would be right, except I struggle even in the best of times in an English-speaking class to follow all the – asanas and what they are. Imagine me in Greek class: Oxi, Kyria.  Den einai “downward dog.”  Einai “tree pose.” (Translation: No, Miss.  It isn’t “downward dog.”  It’s “tree pose.”)  I default to downward dog way too much.  Half my class is me with my bum stuck in the air.

2.  No Language Barrier = I’m Funny Again. Maybe.   Maybe I am only funny in my head and have been fooling myself for far too long.  Perhaps I am not ready for this kind of revelation … .

3.  Christmas Barbecue! When the rest of the world is bundling up in the woolies, we will be shedding our clothes and inhibitions and grilling meat!  In the heat!  This may give White Christmas a whole new meaning.  Maybe it will be “pink and burnt” Christmas instead.

4.  A Year of Two Summers. Plus side = swimsuits, shorts, and flip-flops twice in one year.  Down side = swimsuits, shorts, and flip-flops twice in one year.  That’s a whole lot of maintenance.  Ladies, you know what I’m talking about.

5.  Hubby Will Have a Hobby. Wahoo!  Poor G has had no time to pursue his passion on the football pitch (or the basketball court either) since he’s started teaching in Greece.  But – yay me! – Australian teaching hours will equal time again for hubby to play team sport, which means two – count them, TWO! – big pluses for me:

• Me-time: What will I do with it, I wonder?   It’s been so long since I’ve had it, I’m not sure I could pick me out in a crowd.

• Hot Body for G: Because, let’s face it, I married him for his looks.  As he puts it, I’m his “Number One Fan.”  (He claims his tongue got turned around that one time and what he was really trying to say is that he’s MY number one fan, but I’m not sure I’m buying it.)

6.  Greek Insta-Family. G is part of a big, loving Greek family, which I guess means that since I’m his wife, I kind of am, too.  What will that be like, I wonder?  Will there be lamb on a spit in the yard when we arrive?  I can’t wait to meet everyone.  Really.  I know I will love them.

7.  Koala Bears. They’re cute, they’re cuddly (really? are they?), and they hang out all day in the trees, high from eucalyptus leaves.  What more is there to say?

8.  Showers where I don’t have to preheat the water. Not too many people know that in the winter time in Greece, you have to plan your shower way in advance, usually by a good hour or so, or you’ll wind up taking a cold shower.  I’m sure G will be pleased that the arrival of winter will no longer also signal the arrival of Jungle Legs for his wife, who cannot shave in mere tepid water.

9.  I can go to church again. One where I understand the words and what people are saying and doing.  One major drawback: God may not recognize me.  He may, in fact, faint from sheer shock when I arrive.

10.  Backwards-Spinning Toilet Water. I know this will weird me out forever.  I may become like Gizmo the Cat who keeps flushing the toilet all day long for kicks:

What about you?

Have you ever had to make a huge move to a new place, a new country?

How did you cope?

How did you try to look on the bright side?

Wishing all of you a very happy Friday,

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