Friendship becomes a new root

Being in a new place with none of your people, friends and family, around you are not easy and making friends as adults are even more difficult. It can become very lonely without friends, and you have to put yourself out there to get to know new people. Easier said hey??

In saying that, having an extrovert husband made it easier to meet new people, but in it's more difficult for me to really connect with people and I also have been pushing myself, attending some social gatherings to meet new people. Having only a few close friends in my life, I really thought that I won't be able to make new friends here and I had to open myself to engage in new friendships.

How grateful am I that I allowed myself to open up towards new friendships, allowing new people in my life and spending time with them. Was it easy? No! But some friendships just happen, and it flows naturally and then you know it's healthy and good for your soul.

Positive friendships that feed your soul.

I can honestly say that since we made friends, and we are honestly blessed that our paths crossed with wonderful people that you can walk a mile with, that you can laugh loud and ugly with, that you can dance and sing with, that you can cry with even - it felt like this feeling much more like home now. It will never be "home" as we know it, but it's up to us, me and you, to make it our new home!

Now, we are in the position to call a friend in the evening and say we are coming for a quick coffee, or Saturday we will have a "braai" (Barbeque), phone a friend and just check in (you can't call friends in SA, they are asleep, the time difference get's real) - it feels a lot more like home!

Us South Africans, we are very social people. We get together regular and pop in for a coffee or go for a breakfast, so getting here and you don't have that anymore is hard; we need interaction. We hug and kiss. We need that physical interaction also, hugs from a friend.

I know it's not easy to make friends and it's easier to keep to yourself and don't have to open up to potentially burning your fingers, getting hurt etc - but this is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and that will make the immigration journey easier, that will be one of the new roots in your life. Be cautious, not everyone is your friend, definitely be careful but don't push everyone aside.

You might be even surprised of what beautiful new relationships you will and can form.

Get uncomfortable, that is when growth happens.

Take care