Amazingly, I’ve been living in Kuwait for nine months already and now it’s almost time for me to pack up and move on. I’m happy (and massively relieved) to say that I finally know where I’m moving on to. After a lot of soul searching and a good deal of lying awake at night staring at the ceiling, I’ve decided that I’m moving to Bahrain.
When I moved to Kuwait last summer, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never been to the Middle East before and I didn’t know how I’d cope with throwing my entire life into a suitcase and jetting off to the other side of the world on my own. Quite frankly, it was utterly terrifying. I remember friends and family members would smile and say, “You must be so excited!” I’d stare at them wide-eyed and try not to burst into hysterical tears.
Nine months later, it’s the thought of going home and slotting into a mundane 9-5 life that makes me want to cry. It’s funny how things change, isn’t it?
This crazy expat life isn’t for everyone. I know plenty of people who would hate living out of a suitcase, flitting off here, there and everywhere and having no real sense of stability. For me, it’s ideal. By moving away from home and forcing myself out of my comfort zone, I’ve given myself space to grow as a person and understand what my priorities are. Plus, I’ve had the opportunity to travel more than I ever could have dreamed of. Speaking of priorities, it turns out travel is pretty high up on that list.
The constant decision-making, on the other hand, really irks me. Am I going to stay in Kuwait next year? Should I continue teaching Key Stage 1 or go back to teaching teenagers? Do I want to move to Thailand next year and spend my weekends meditating and frolicking with the elephants?
As it turns out, the answer to that final question was a resounding yes. Something about Thailand just draws me in, which is pretty insane as I’ve never actually been there. But part of living an expat life is going wherever the wind blows you and this time the wind blew me to Bahrain.
I’ve been to Bahrain four times since moving to the Middle East and each time I’ve loved it more than the last. It’s got more of a ‘western’ vibe than Kuwait does and there’s a little bit more to do there. Plus, I can have a glass of wine at the end of my work week, which is a major selling point!
The best news of all is that my roommates are moving to Bahrain too! No need to spend the entire plane ride obsessing about whether or not I’ll be able to make any friends – I’ll already have friends there, ready and waiting.
Living in Kuwait has been a life-changing experience and, while I’m ready to close the page on this particular chapter of my life, I’m extremely excited to see what the next leg of my expat adventure has in store for me. Who’s ready for some Bahrain antics?