Moving- we’ve all done it. Be it from your childhood home, maybe to your first apartment, perhaps to/from a college dorm room, or even to a new town. For us this recent move is to a new country. And this has definitely not been a boring experience. Since we’ve arrived, one of our favourite sites in Bristol is the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and is seen as a turning point in the history of engineering symbolising a city of original thinkers and independent spirits. As this free-spirited bridge is suspended across the River Avon I find I relate to this connection of being divided and stretched across two places not sure which side I belong to. Especially as we have had to navigate several unexpected barriers since we arrived. Yet each morning we start the day fresh with a cuppa and ready (or not) take on whatever comes next. For us the barriers are inconveniences given our various privileges putting us in our place as we come to terms with the challenges too many immigrants face. Yet the silver lining is how each hiccup has made us appreciate just about everything (since we’ve stumbled with just everything from supermarkets to visas=)
We’ve moved into a great little flat overlooking our new city. Liam started training in a hardcore swim team (even earned a 3rd place at his first swim gala which is just a fancier way of saying swim meet). I’ve met with my stellar university supervisor and helped my family settle in with various trips to Wilko, Poundstretcher, Primark, thrift stores, and TK Maxx. Meggie has been running throughout the city exploring in the earliest hours of the day coming across new smells (not all good) and sights (also a mixed bag) and Stu’s hard at work networking. 100% grateful to be here, 100% aware that we are in over our head and 100% feeling alive as we navigate this together as a family.
