Marcum musings on life as an expat: Apartment Living

So I've had more than a couple people ask about what it's like to live in an apartment after being in our house and for the most part it's really great. But it got me to thinking, now that we're almost eight weeks into this new normal, about what is great and what I miss. Naturally, I made a list...and it evolved into a synopsis of what I love about Vancouver and what I loved about Clemson. And it also made me want to share our new home with folks back in SC so there are photos (even of the awfully ugly chandelier that used to hang above our dining table...it's since found the dumpster).

What I Miss:

-For starters, I miss my family - I realize I took for granted the frequency with which we visited and chatted and shared meals and I understand on a whole new level how true it was when people told us we were lucky to have us all living within 15 minutes of each other. And I realize how lucky our children are to have had all their cousins and grandparents within an hour or so. I hope to be close again one day...and even a 2 hour drive would seem like minutes comparatively.

-Our backyard - there was something so lovely about saying to the kids, "Go play outside until I finish cooking dinner." Now our only outside space during my cooking is our balcony which is just off the kitchen so it accomplishes little to send them there :) And I can't send them to the pool downstairs alone, but we've managed a new routine that typically involves Lydia's American Girl doll and Henry's Legos. Somehow, it's not the same but nonetheless it works.

-My garbage disposal!!!! I miss this more than an ice maker and almost as much as our backyard.

-Longtime "soul" friends - don't get me wrong, I've got some great friends here that I am deeply grateful to have in my life. There's just something that comes with familiarity - after you're friends for years you don't have that awkward "do-they-think-I'm-stalking-them-because-I've-invited-them-to-lunch-and-insert-myself-into-their-conversation" deal. And familiarity lends an ease in even extending an invitation - maybe it's just me, but I feel like you often need to let your friendship marinate a little before delving into meal-sharing which I realize actually comes from me not wanting to make new friends uncomfortable either... And then if you invite people over to your apartment and you don't have your backyard, where do the kids play? In our kids' room that's barely big enough for the 2 of them? WAAHHHH - what's a girl to do? For starters - some of us are planning a Super Bowl Party, in theory - I'll have more wisdom on the subject after that soiree.

-Our church family - if you're reading this and you go to Fort Hill Presbyterian Church (thanks for reading, by the way), say an extra thank you prayer for the family that is Fort Hill. You don't realize how special it is until it's not there (I suppose many would say that about their own church families), but I'm really grateful for the time we shared in that community of faith and for the relationships we built there that continue to sustain us even 3600+ miles away.

-Football Saturdays in Clemson - really, y'all, they're something special and I miss the energy that comes with 80,000 fans packed into our little town. We still wear our orange and cheer on the Tigers on Saturday (and it's really nice that 8PM games start at 5PM Pacific Time, so we aren't up quite as late). Funny enough - the local CFL team is the BC Lions and their colors are orange and blue and paw prints are their thing too - we fit right in :)

What I Love:

-Walking - we have to remind ourselves to drive the car once every week or two just to be sure the battery doesn't die. This is REMARKABLE - and it's NORMAL! Philip and I laughed because, in truth, the distance I walk to grocery shop is about the same as walking from our old house to the new Clemson Publix, but it never even entered my mind to walk there. I think when we're back in the States the biggest adjustment will be 'learning' to drive again!

-Cultural Diversity - OK, get this. Between Henry and Lydia's classes the following cultural backgrounds are represented (that I know of): Russian, Filipino, Ukrainian, Mexican, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Saudi Arabian, Indonesian and yes, a few native Canadians. I LOVE THIS! Basically it's really amazing to encounter all of these languages and traditions but the overarching miracle of it all is that our children are developing opinions of other traditions by the discovery of commonalities. They will grow to characterize other places world-wide based on actual relationships - not some image painted in the media. For this I'm deeply grateful and I'm deeply encouraged to see all of these diverse children and people living in community and laughing together, sharing together, living together. It's beautiful.

-9AM school start time - it's fabulous. Not a single rushed morning has been had in our house (except maybe one) and we eat breakfast together and walk together and talk together and sing together on the way to school. I'm a fan. I also really resonate with the school philosophy and teaching methods - the classes are outside a lot (Henry's taking a bike safety class tomorrow as part of his schooling and they're even bringing their bikes to practice!) and the whole atmosphere is nice.

-Nightly family dinners - we eat dinner together each night as a whole family of four and that's lovely (and a switch from last year when we were often only 3). And I've been able to rediscover how much I enjoy cooking and we've had yummy meals and shared rich conversation.

-Downsizing - WHAT A GIFT! I was intimidated at first by the thought of scrunching our life into a 1184 square foot apartment, but it's been almost holy. And I realize how disconnected our family had become in our house - the kids would play outside or upstairs or watch a movie on their own while I was in the kitchen and Philip was downstairs and we'd come together for a 20 minute meal and retreat to our separate activities. It worked, don't get me wrong. But now - there's one TV and we try to keep it off because sometimes the negotiations just aren't worth it. That means that after dinner we play Spoons or Go Fish or we go for a walk around our building - sometimes to get gelato [which - if you're wondering - is to ice cream what Tiffany is to Wal-Mart...delish!]. We are together just being a family and I'm energized by that.

-Proximity to cool stuff - we're 20 minutes from a very cool fish hatchery (Capilano Fish Hatchery/Dam) where we watched salmon spawn last weekend; we're 30 minutes from skiing; we're a walk from the beach; and only 2 hours from Seattle. It's pretty great.

So there you have it - the official compare/contrast of Clemson and Vancouver from this mama's perspective. And now - without further adieu - pictures of our little home:

Our kitchen and our balcony - we're fortunate to have full-size appliances.

The living area

The living area is open to the dining area (note chandelier)

This lovely chandelier was loved by someone - however, the wonky light + the two-toned brass/chrome look + the faux tassels weren't our thing. It's been replaced with a low profile ceiling fixture, but I had to share this as it is unlike anything I'd ever seen.

The Master Bedroom

The kids' room - completely mismatched but just how they want it! And there are two bathrooms, but I figure those didn't warrant a photo :) We have lots of windows and I love that too - and great views of the city/water from them as well.