Thursday, March 26, 2009

You know you're raising your kids overseas when...

This came from a friend of a friend. I edited it a bit...

You know you’re raising kids overseas when:

1. Your children don’t know your brothers or sisters, but they have at least 50 Uncles and Aunts who are no relation to them at all.
2. When you say, “We’re going home,” your kids ask, “Which one?”
3. Your kids can translate between American, British, and Australian English.
4. It’s 27 C outside, but your kids want a jacket.
5. Hundreds of total strangers have photos of your children on their mobile phone.
6. When you’re in a restaurant and the server doesn’t try to pick up your toddler and carry him around, you’re surprised - and disappointed since now you have to watch him.
7. Your kids prefer nutella to peanut butter and jelly.
8. Your kids flew before they could walk.
9. Your kids can greet strangers appropriately in multiple languages and cultures, but they’re not sure how to relate to their cousins.
10. One of the first phrases you learn to say in your target language is, “Can you put that onto 2 plates?”
11. You wish strollers came in 4-wheel drive models.
12. You know that the best toys are twigs, rocks, and cardboard boxes.
13. Finding your children in a crowd is easy: they’re at the center of it.
14. Your kids think change is normal and normal is boring.
15. You teach geography by saying, “And Uncle John lives there, and the Johnsons are from there…”
16. The thought of sending your children on an unescorted plane trip doesn’t scare you nearly as bad as putting them back into your home country’s school system.
17. You realize one day that your definition of “home” isn’t even on the same continent as your children’s definition.

My favorite is definately #5. Just today our boys were photographed on somebody's mobile at a coffee shop. I could add a few regarding living in the Middle East, and just our experience in general.

1. Your kids love to eat leban (yogurt) and rice but don't really know about yogurt with fruit.
2. Your kids have ridden camels more times than they have played with pet dogs.
3. Your kids can fall asleep at night even with fireworks and loud music outside due to tawjihi score results being announced or an engagement party.
4. They go to a McDonalds in America and are confused because there is no play area.
5. Your kids recognize several flags.
6. You had to get new pages in your child's passport before he turned five.
7. You agree with your friends that your child is sick because the weather is cold and not because he was sneezed on by another sick child. Akiid, min ijjaw.
8. You put your children to bed at 9 pm and your neighbor marvels at how early it is. Bakiir!
9. Your children are surprised at the feel of grass on their feet, and love the sand.

I'm sure I could think of more but my sleep-deprived brain has ceased to function. Please add to the list! ~ Um Tulip

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shu clever! I have a list, two of them, on my blog somewhere.

Mind if I copy a bit and link?

Sharon M said...

10. When visiting the US, your kids look at their grandparents' backyard and exclaim, "Oh look Mom! A whole park just for me!"

said...

I'm afraid I don't have much to add to this conversation, but I did think it was cute.

Marianne said...

ohmygod this is great... made my day