Repatriation and Saying Goodbye: Ode to Friendship as an Expat

Leaving Singapore? Or do you have a friend who is? One mama reflects on the grief of expat repatriation, including for those who are left behind

For my little universe, today was up there with the crappiest days possible.
Today the woman that I have the honour of calling my friend left this Little Red Dot to head home.
We have been through thick and thin, as we arrived within weeks of each other, a decade ago.
We survived almost a year without our husbands, raising our kids in an unknown environment. It was the most intense start any friendship could have — and we survived.
We often survived on Champagne and smiles, but we have also endured heartache and pain.
But time is irrelevant. When you find a friend you makes each bump in the road that little easier to endure.
Most of all this incredible lady became such an important part of our family, by being with us through thick and thin.
My heart is fit to bursting at waving goodbye to this family I love dearly tonight as they leave to start a new chapter.

And so I want to remember 10 years of fun and laughter. 10 years of cocktails. 10 years of shows and events. 10 years of coffee on the beach and picnics at the Fort, films at sunset and Sunday brunches that may have gotten a little messy! To discovering places and people. To holding each other’s hands through the highs and lows of life away from home.

Godspeed, my friend. Thank goodness for FaceTime!

To you, the one who is left behind:
Accept your feelings of this monumental moment. This can hit you as hard. You don’t have to justify your emotions to anyone. Grief isn’t just for death.

Be kind to yourself.

It can and will take time and courage to move on. But, whether you are destined to be here for 1 more year or 5, don’t close yourself off to the chance of meeting new people and maybe discovering another important, pivotal, deserved and (above all) needed friendship.

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