Temporary

The life of an expat is so temporary...you know that you are not going to be here for long, your friends are constantly leaving and changing, you focuses adapt and you constantly have to decided who and what is worth your time in a world where everything is new and needs to be explored.

When I first moved to Delhi everyone told me that no one stays here long. They are stationed here for work. Most of the people who I have met who are not here for NGO work don't ever quite seem to leave their comfort bubble and don't really let India in. It is not an easy place. This means that there is a disconnect and a desire to finish your time and move on.

As a fresher, one of the first questions that I was asked was, "How long are you here for?" Within the seconds that it takes to answer the question, your audience has decided whether or not you are worth their investment. It sounds sad, but it is true. There is no point spending the time and energy getting to know someone new who is going to be leaving in a month.

Now that the summer is coming and the heat is starting to role in, those who have half of a brain and no contract holding them here are heading home, and shipping out. I hear the summers are miserable and you band together inside ACed rooms to survive. My roommate Alex left for Thailand last week and I miss him incredibly. Now Alison, the other rock in my Indian life is flying out tonight. Nadia, a new girl from France is my new housemate and although she is old to the city she is new to me. The dynamics change once again...