A Whole New EXPAT World

Last year my relationships were almost exclusively with Singaporeans. This year, my calendar is filled with almost exclusively expat engagements.

My social world has nearly completely changed by switching the kids to the International Community School, and having our CRM friends the Webbs move to Singapore. Another 2 variables to the change is that I had to stop going to Tapestry Playback rehearsals or doing any local productions because of needing to get my back healed (trying the chiropractor and it seems to be working), and the 5 star group decided early in the year to discontinue our weekly meetings.

I feel so loved and affirmed and accepted in these new relationships. It is so nice to have someone let me know they've missed me when I wasn't there. Or to receive a thank you note for this or that, or immediate positive feedback when I've done something hard, or sacrificial, or that took my time to prepare. I'm wondering how much of it is imagined just because this new cirlce is culturally similar to me.

By the obvious contrasts these new strokes are, I'm thinking perhaps that the culture I've been trying to make my home and friends in the past 6 years just doesn't like me very much.

Or is that something that the Enemy wants me to believe and isn't true at all.

I did get a call after Easter from Joni, who's moved to Australia.
Su Lynn and I had a sweet lunch together a few weeks ago.
Sally, who's moved to Shang Hai always makes sure we get together when she visits home.
Yaen Cheng has invited us to Chinese New Year celebrations ever since we moved here and is a dear, generous friend even with juggling career and two babies.
Melissa and I had a wonderful lunch conversation 2 weeks ago.
It was ME who didn't make enough effort to see Agnes when she was back on her visit from London (could it be a subconscious rebellion because so many of my best new friends have moved away?)

Yes. I need to ignore that 'self talk' that tells me Singaporeans don't like me.

Perhaps they show their care in ways that I'm not seeing.
Or they are simply very busy.
Or perhaps they don't know how to nurture deep friendships.

It's tempting to give up on taking initiative and pursuit of friendships with Singaporean women. It would be so easy to be swept away into a life that circles around a membership in the American Women's Association. I admit, it is a powerful draw.

But if I give in to that temptation, then the whole point of moving to Singapore is lost. In the same way Jesus didn't move down to earth to serve and teach mankind and then keep hanging out with the angels, we didn't come to serve in Asia just to hang around other American Christians.