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Every three to four years, a military family finds itself relocating to another place. It might be a foreign country, it might be another state. They might not even hang around a place for three to four years. Their rotation time might be only a year or even six months. By the time the children of the family have settled into their new school, gotten used to their teachers, and made new friends, it's time to go again. Many times, departures are sad and tearful. I've found myself sitting in airports after I've said goodbye to my friends, getting ready to go to the next place, wondering how I was going to make it. Life seemed worthless.
What I didn't realize was that there are hundreds of people in the same position that I am. There are people who have moved MUCH more than I have. In my experience with moving where the Corps of Engineers needed my dad, this is what I have learned...
My attitude towards a place seemed to be the sole determinant of whether or not I would like a place. When we moved from Egypt to Arkansas, I was excited about seeing the States for the first time. The two years I spent in Arkansas as a little kid were fun because I was excited about being there. When we got relocated to Saudi Arabia, I was even more excited about moving to a place near my family in Egypt. The four years I spent in Saudi Arabia served as my growing years. I learned a lot and met many interesting people. When we had to move from Saudi Arabia back to Arkansas, I was extremely bitter. I did not want to move, I didn't want to say goodbye to by friends, and I didn't want to leave my school. As a result of my negative attitude towards moving back to Arkansas, I spent a full miserable year there. I was unhappy and I wouldn't give anyone or anything a chance. I was afraid to let anyone to get too close. I didn't want to get attached to anything. After all, it was a matter of months and years before we'd be moving again. Sure enough, after a year, we were moved to Italy. Because I was so ready to leave Arkansas, I found myself bursting with joy at the thought of moving to Europe. My positive attitude towards Italy proved to be a plus for me. I was just starting my high school career and my enthusiasm was a huge push forward. I spent three years in Italy and graduated high school in that time. It was time now to move again, but this time, not for the government, but for me. I had to go to college. Ironically, I'm attending Arkansas Tech University, but the cirucumstances are a bit different...I'm here because I want to be. Of course, saying goodbye to my friends in Italy was extremely difficult, but it was time to move on. As it always has been.
There are several things that are important to remember when moving around all the time. First, be open-minded and receptive of everyone and everything. Broaden your horizens. Never judge a place by the first several people you meet, give the place time and learn as much as you can about it. Do explore the area you move to. Take a day to walk around and find out what your base, post, or station has to offer. Don't lock yourself up in your room and decided then and there to hate everything, not only will that make your experience a negative one, but you also might be missing out on activities that you could enjoy. The most important thing to remember is that there are people there who probably just moved to the area. Get to know these people. They are a great asset and they remind you that you are not alone in being new to the place. The serve as excellent moral support and often become your closest friends.
Moving will be a part of military life for a very long time. Although it's hard to say goodbye and leave what seems like a huge part of your life behind, it's important to look at the positive side. Moving all over the world broadens your horizons and opens your eyes to experiences you never even realized were possible. You met interesting teachers and go to diverse schools. You learn about different cultures and make friends who will last a lifetime...they may not be with you always, but they remain in your heart and mind. It's also important to remember that this is a small world! You never know who you'll bump into again. Moving from country to country is a unique experience, and one that should be treasured. In order to ensure that you enjoy your relocation, remember that your experience is only what YOU make of it.
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