@globustrotterin

I can’t count how many times I have moved all my life. It started with a vivid memory of me changing Kindergarten twice. My parents used to work with UNICEF. They were situated on a small island called Galang. Their work required a lot of mobility since they lived on another island, Bintan. Hoping the islands back and forth with speed boats were parts of daily routines. At least until they decided to live there in a camp along with the Vietnamese refugees and other co-workers, international and local. 

It was my first experience of moving that I sadly only can see from my childhood pictures. After all, what could a little baby (0-3 years) remember? Then, my mom was pregnant. With her pregnancy’s case, she was advised to do her labour in Jakarta. Note this, we lived in a small town, where the healthcare there isn’t as advanced as the capital city. During this time, she stayed in Jakarta for quite a while with me by her side because my father was working. I lived in Jakarta for a few months with my cousins until my brother was born, even when my mom decided to go back to our hometown again. She was already overwhelmed with her pregnancy, let alone taking me with her back and forth on the plane. 

Then it was Senior High School time, where I set my foot again to the capital city, Jakarta. But this time I stayed for a longer period and as a teenager. With all the puberty hormones and the small town girl’s vibe, I adapted – I changed the way I dress, the way I speak, and expanded my pop culture horizon. It was not an easy thing to do since it was truly the first time that I realized how far I am from home. But with time, Jakarta earned its place for a place that I can call home. My Senior High School period didn’t last forever, and soon I had to move forward for College. I didn’t have the greatest relationship with my uncle and aunties. We argued big sometimes, not the prettiest discussions to be enjoyed on the table. 

Due to the different perspectives in life and the long distance from College to my aunt’s house (where I used to live), I decided to finally move out. That was the time where I learned about complete freedom! And how does it taste? Honey, it is as sweet as ripe berries. I stayed on this independence lane until my working era arrived, my first two full-time jobs. Then my journey continued as I got my University acceptance letter from Poland, which was followed by the acceptance E-Mail of internship from Sevilla, the scholarship invitation from Belgium, and finally the marriage proposal from the love of my life in Germany. 

The way I see it, there is this major difference when you move as a kid and an adult, where as a kid you normally move because your parents move. Meaning that you just follow them where they go. Yes, I’m talking about dependency here. But then, you eventually grow up. You make your own choices and destiny leads you to new places. If you ask me whether I knew from the beginning where I would end up setting my foot on to, the answer is no. But take it from me, who has been moving quite a lot. Moving is WORK. It takes more than just transporting your physical being and belongings. 

When you move, you move your roots too. Then, you plant them on the new ground. Just like plants, it is harder to re-plant your roots the older you are. That explains how kids are faster and easier in adapting to new environments, in comparison to teenagers or us, the adults. As an adult, you are more accustomed to how you are the way you are, your values of living, your way of living, and how you perceive things should be. But, moving is also a JOY. 

_{”The climb is tough, but the view is worth it” – and so I perceive it from this constant moving journey
@ Mjøls, Denmark}

I always find joy in learning something, well except Math (sorry to break the stereotype that all Asian kids are good with numbers). And there are these life learning points that I’ve grasped from constant moving, such as: 

1. Appreciating the time you have, with what you do right now and with the people you are currently with – because time flies and one day they will all be memory, so make sure to have a good one 

2. The people you meet may not only make your path smoother, but also rougher – when it happens, enjoy the ride and be sure to thank them for making you strong 

3. Distance may appear but a solid relationship stays still – you meet and will meet a lot of people, some of them may stay for a very long time no matter where you are, cherish this kind of friendship because it will be rarer to have 

4. Live modestly – because you have learned that you don’t need a lot of stuff to feel complete in your life since completion comes from within, so work on that 

5. Live without regrets – follow your guts, explore and seize your chances, opportunities mostly don’t come twice 

6. Family is unbreakable – because no matter where you are, your family will always be your family, you share the same blood and flesh. So make sure to give your mom, dad and bro (or sis) a call sometime! 

Btw are you also a part-time nomad like me? How has it been for you?