Day in, day out

A couple of people from home have emailed me, asking what I'm up to. Really, it's just the same as Sydney – wake up, get breakfast, make lunches, do the school run, feed the baby, tidy the house, pick up the kids, play at the playground, dinner, bath and bed. Of course, it's all being done in a different location, but the fundamentals are the same. Life goes on, wherever you are.

The difference is in filling the gaps. People who you chat to, places where you shop, how you spend your spare time. The lack of familiarity, but also becoming familiar with other people quickly. Doing things you wouldn't ordinarily do, such as spending an evening with people you don't know, inviting a stranger over for morning tea, asking a mum from school (who I've only just met) out for dinner and drinks.

Tomorrow, Lil-lil's having her birthday party and instead of family and old friends we'll be spending it with a motley crew of people we've befriended it the couple of months we've been here. Which is fine and will be fun.

I suddenly noticed this week, that I don't really notice the Arabic signs anymore or when I hear the call to prayer. All the things that made this place feel foreign and different are starting to feel normal and everyday. The wide-eyeness is starting to fade.

Many times this week I sat down to blog, I'd write a few sentences and then delete it. Nothing feeling right. I'm not quite sure why. I think I've misplaced my 'voice', over-thinking what to write and who I'm writing for, which is silly when I just should write, like I've always done.