Waiting, Waiting, and Still More Waiting

I consider myself a fairly patient person but Alan and I are starting to pull our hair out these days as we wait to learn our fate when our posting here in Accra ends. Alan's contract ended in February but was extended for a short time while we work on figuring out the next posting (or if there will be a next posting). Since December we've had all sorts of locations flung our way as possibilities - everything from Ethopia, to India, to South Africa. Nothing is definite yet but it does seem that in the next week or two we'll have an idea of where we will go. And of course one option is that another posting with Alan's company doesn't work out and in that case we move back to the US. So with all these scenarios running around in our head, one can start to go a little nuts. We're not the only people in this boat. All expats experience this waiting, not knowing, imagining ourselves in one country to just be told the next day of another possibility so we start imagining all over again. Some expats choose to try to not think about it until it happens and is for certain. We tried that...impossible. How can you not want to know and try to envision your lives in a new destination? The imagining turns to investigation and we quickly turn to the Internet, scouring for information on our possible new home. We read up on the stats, read other expats' blogs to see what life is like there and question whether we can make a life there too. We start making plans - how will I fill my time, will I take classes or work, will Eli start daycare somewhere, which neighborhood will we live, what restaurants are there, can we find children's gear, can we find fresh fruits and veggies....and the list of questions goes on and on...well, until the next day when you find out that the particular location where you've now envisioned resettling is off the table and a new location is thrown your way. It is an interesting time in our lives where anything seems possible. You start to feel a little nervous and excited at the same time. In several months our life as we've come to know it in Ghana will be uprooted and we will settle roots somewhere else. So the waiting game continues as does the imagining and fantasizing about our next home. I will keep you updated as we get news!