Instead, we will be moving! We are moving much closer to my parents...in fact, we're moving into the very building they live in!
From this rocky beach (taken on a really chilly day in early March)...
To this sandy one (where 'chilly' never happens).
We are so, so excited, and looking forward to setting up our new home and building our life and community in a new/old place. Old, because I've lived in the region before. New, because we have never lived there together, and because this will be my first time living there as an adult.
Telling our community here in China that we've made the decision to move away is tough.
My friends here bring tears to my eyes as they react to our news with both genuine "Congratulations!" and slightly reproachful, "But we had hoped that you'd stay and teach at our school for many years."
We didn't know how long we'd have in China when we moved here, but we knew we didn't want any of that time to go to waste. We jumped into making friends in the neighborhood and at work...with the result that I already know that when our mid-June departure comes, my tears will be many.
Leaving people you love sucks. There's no way around that. I wanted to write this post to prepare my readers for any possible nostalgia or sentiment in the weeks to come. I couldn't be happier about this move--but I think it speaks very well for our community here in ShenZhen that the thought of leaving them hurts my heart.
We look forward to the excitement of packing everything up once more and starting life in a place we both love so much. I look forward to doing life with people I have seen far too infrequently for far too long. Even better, several of our friends here in China have already mentioned coming to visit us after the move--it's not such a long flight after all!
How exciting, but also bitter-sweet for you that you are moving! It's good you are making the most of the time you have in China though :)
Away From The Blue
Life goes on. New chapters begin. Good luck.
How exciting for your new adventure!
That does sound like good news! And you're right, it's speaks volumes for your current community that even after such a short time, you're sad to leave them!
What wonderful news! (And sad too, I understand.) It will be so nice to be close to your family!
Congratulations on your big decision! It is so tough to leave a place where you've been living abroad sometimes... so much that I still have never left! But I know when that day comes it will definitely be tough and will be tougher still with each passing month we remain here. Le sigh. Where are you moving to? Very exciting stuff.
Congratulations! Being nearby family is fun!
Lovely photos! It will be neat for you to live close to your family!
Change is always hard. I think we'd like to imagine that because we are moving on to a new adventure, we won't mourn the leaving of the last. But, it's just not true.
Bittersweet! But congratulations on this change!
So exciting Congrats!! Moving is always tough because yo have to leave people behind but so exciting that you get to move nearer to your parents, that must make it just a little easier :)
Any move is tough even the ones that you decide upon, but how wonderful to live near family!
So exciting! While it's great that your time in China has gone so well, I know you will be so excited to be closer to your family. Change is never easy! Praying for a smooth transition.
I can't wait to hear what new things you two will be up to, and the many adventures with all your siblings of course!! wow!!
Congrats on the new chapter in your life! I'm sure it will be so hard to leave your friends, but it will be awesome to live so close to your family!
How exciting for you! I'm sure it's hard to leave a place that has come to feel like home, but so sweet to be that close to your family! Congrats on the big decision, and hoping your move goes smoothly!
Wow! That will be a welcome change I'm sure your parents are delighted with the idea. Having you so close after being so far for so many years will be a real treat. I assume you already have jobs lined up?
bisous
Suzanne
Congrats!!! It has to be hard to leave all the new friends you've made and start all over again so soon but I know you guys must be super excited about a new adventure! Will you still be teaching English?
Congratulations and you know what decision is best for you and Angel. Can't wait to follow along with your adventure!
Gosh, you haven't got long before your move! Brave you (both of you). You'll handle the goodbyes with due care, I'm sure of it, and 'goodbyes only mean new hellos' and all that.... I'm hoping Angel's family have taken the news well.....
That's exciting!! Goodbye's are always hard, but living near family definitely has its perks! :)
Wow! It's been wonderful to follow your journey in China and I'm excited to see what's in store for you all in this next season!
Such bitter-sweet news! As you said, I'm sure it will be very hard to leave all your new friends, but getting to be near your family should be lovely! What country will you be in once you leave China? Best wishes that your move goes smoothly!
www.how2makehome.com
Exciting for you, and a bit heartbreaking, but so great that you had the experience. It will be fun to be home and in the warmth, enjoy the rest of your time in China, soak it all in so you can enjoy your time back home too.
Moving near family is amazing! Our families are spread out over 5 countries so yes, this will be so wonderful! So hard to leave though, and though I don't comment all that much I've enjoyed your travels. I lived in Russia and Turkey before getting married; just soak it up and know that these friendships will endure.
What will you be doing when you move? Congrats!
Oh my goodness! So exciting! Congratulations!
oh wow! Big changes but that's going to be so nice to be near your family!!
Hooray!! SOOOO excited for your move sweet friend:) That will be amazing to move somewhere warm, close to your family, and familiar!! So happy for you!
Oh wow these are incredible news!! So happy for you guys, bet you have tons of amazing things waiting for you there!
Wow sounds like an exciting new adventure!!! :) Congrats!
How exciting! I pray that this time of transition is met with meaningful goodbyes to an old place and significant hellos to a new place in life. Thanks for linking up with Oak + Oats!
Congratulations! Sounds like an exciting new phase of life for sure. And as one who thrives in triple-digit weather over single-digit weather any day, I'm a little envious that you get to go live near a beach. Woohoo! Enjoy these next few months and all the excitement, joy and stress that they bring!
What an amazing announcement! I'm so excited for you and your new adventure, I'm also looking forward to seeing what new adventures the new location brings you.
YAY! NEw adventure!
Congrats on this exciting time in your lives! I completely understand how this move could be bittersweet...starting a new journey, but also leaving amazing friends behind. I just read how you guys work together, so this announcement was a fun surprise!
congratulations on your decision!!! wow...that beach looks incredible! so happy to hear you get to be so much closer to your family physically and glad that people are already wanting to come visit.
hope you soak up your last few months living in china (which i already know you will) !
Oooo... How exciting!!! I'm sure it's going to be great being closer to your family!!! <3
That's awesome, congratulations! It's great to be near family but so sad to leave friends.
That's really exciting! so great that you'll get to still have adventures abd get to be near family!
That's really exciting! so great that you'll get to still have adventures abd get to be near family!
Hooray! I remember when I moved away from China after living there for 5 months; it was so hard and sad! But I was glad to have lived there and to have experienced it!
It's so exciting to move near your family again! Even just being in Ohio, with my parents in South Carolina, was hard on me. I love being in Georgia, but now I miss Dan's parents in Ohio!
I can't wait to see what your next adventure brings for you!
Aww, it's always hard to leave the people you've grown close to, but that's awesome that you get to be near your family again! <3 That's awesome that your friends will be coming to visit too! :]!
A commune lol. That made me chuckle when I read it at 6am.
Very happy you're able to get "home" :)
I have been dealing with lots of change lately. I finally realized that there are going to be good parts and bad parts, but ultimately the change happens for a reason. Good luck with this change!
That's so exciting! I bet your family is thrilled too!
I love moving provided it's to the right place and it sounds like it is perfect for you!
We're currently in the process of donating, selling and packing all of our belongings as our time is coming in around 18 months. Since we've done all this before (and the destination is the same, Canada to Mexico), it's way less daunting but way more exhausting.
I wish you all the best in your move and new beginnings and can't wait to take the journey with you. Life is short. Enjoy.
Besos Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
P.S. Please don't tell anyone, specifically my family. They don't know we're moving nor do they want to know ;)
Good Luck in your new adventure, it's really nice living close to the family and always good for a change every once in a while.
That's a big life changer right there,I'm super happy for you guys! I think change is always good! Being closer to the family you love is always amazing, not so much when your family sucks though, like most of my relatives >.<
Sorry you'll have to leave your friends behind, it always sucks so much, but that's life, bitter and sweet.
That is so exciting!!! Congrats!!!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
I might be commenting twice? I never can tell in Myanmar.
I am really happy for you but also completely understand being sad. It is nice to be near family but it is never easy to say goodbye to the community you love and are a part of. It has been two years since I left Korea and sometimes my heart still deeply misses the kids and community I had there.
I will pray for you during this transition and ask God to give you grace for the goodbyes.
I'm excited for you guys to be closer to family! Another new adventure. So exciting and scary and fun too! Except packing. Although you guys probably won't have as much stuff to pack up like we do :)
So cool that you'll be closer to your family! Are you still going to teach?
Also, I tried typing your URL without the www. and got some random page. There's a way to take care of that in Blogger, but can't remember how anymore!
Wow, what a change! I bet your parents are salivating.
I know your parents must be excited. I hope the move goes well for you!
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