Life on the expat roller coaster

August 29, 2012- 

Watching the Shrinky Dinks do their thing. (Aug. 14, 2012)

Some weeks are just better than others.  

And this just isn't my week!!!  

I've failed at several meal attempts and one batch of yogurt was a complete and total failure (although, I followed the instructions on the box of freeze dried yogurt starter rather).

I'm feeling super duper depressed about being here.  

And I've been feeling like such a worry wort about EVERYTHING. 

I worry about how the girls are doing in school- if they have friends (some days it just seems like Ava doesn't have any friends which worries me) and if they are striving to do their best.  I worry that Annika is very reluctant to take on new challenges.  It takes a lot of persuading on our part to convince it's okay to try something new.  Funny girl.  She'll try any kind of food but other than that she's timid.  Perhaps she doesn't like to feel out of control.  I guess I can understand that.

I worry about how Mark is doing. Actually, he's handling being here better than all of us- and he's really been trying very hard to learn the language.  I hope doors of opportunity will open up for him. 

I worry about how to keep my little family safe.  I always feel like I'm sitting on the edge of my seat here- ready to pounce or run away.

Right now I just want to huddle in a corner and hide.  

On the bright side….I know these emotions won't last forever.  I know I'll start to feel better.  

What do you do when you start feeling down?  How do you get yourself out of a funk?  I hate feeling like this….and the mood can be very contagious and spread like wild fire in the expat community.

Shrinky dinks cooling and a batch of home made oreos. (August 14, 2012)

I think I'll get out my scrapbooking stuff, work on the girls' art books (digital scrapbooking) and plan our next two trips (Japan for fall break and New Zealand for Chinese New Year).  :-)  Maybe I'll take the girls out to dinner on Friday.  I wish I knew a place where the girls and I could get pedicures together.  Wouldn't that be fun???

August 31: ETA- I've had a few successes this week too!  I did rescue that batch of yogurt (hurray!).  I also made two fantastic loaves of Hawaiian sweet bread yesterday.  YAY!!!!!  (I see French toast in our future….)