It may seem odd that I'm acknowledging a reconnection with people I have known for less than 2 years, but it's equally as strange to me I could have let 10 months pass since the last time I saw two people whose home I can literally see from my front window!
Dean and Annelize (and their lovely son, Luc) were introduced to us through mutual friends when they brought them to a house party. Dean and Annie moved here from South Africa in December 2011 and are currently in the legal throes of earning the right to stay in Canada. A more deserving, hard-working, and honest family you'd be hard pressed to meet. But this blog isn't intended to preach any sort of political opinion. Rather, I want to awe at their courage and perseverance.
I know many families have done it, and their reasons are vast and legitimate. But I don't know if I could! Uproot my whole life and move to another city....country.....continent....climate?! I'm such a homebody that leaving my quadrant of the city on the weekend is a huge deal. Every member of my immediate family, in 4 different addresses, all live in a neighbouring community within a 5 minute drive from us. Not only did Dean and Annelize take this plunge but, upon arrival, also took the initiative to make connections and we are fortunate to be one of those. Kids make friends pretty naturally. Adults don't always find it quite so seamless.
Since meeting them, during those first few months we enjoyed Christmas parties, Aussie Rules, backyard barbeques, and drop-in cups of coffee. Naturally (?!) they lived in South Calgary for most of this! They now live in Tuscany but the last time Derek and I saw all three of them was when they were guests of honour, with our families, at Easter Dinner at our place last April. Which is where those 10 months have passed! Crazy!
Today is Annelize's birthday and so we were invited there tonight for a wonderful meal, cooked by her (on HER birthday....are the traditions that different in South Africa?!). It was casual, light, fun and overdue. I was reminded again how brave and optimistic they are to be tackling this adventure. I was reminded about how impressive it is they sought out friends and connections with new people. I need to continue to demonstrate similar initiative, even just by continuing to seek out those I have already met. And they won't all be right outside my window!
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