I've been thinking a lot recently about the strangeness of consulting. Mainly the coming and going people on a oddly regular basis.
You're placed on a project, for many of us in a country that we did not originate from, there are other people there from all over the world too. Some people travel every weekend others of us stay for a more extended period of time. The vast majority of us have a pretty nomadic nature anyways and get itchy feet if we stay anywhere for too long. Many of us don't come with kids and family in the same place.
With these similar traits and a common purpose we all bond very quickly and I'd like to think become pretty good friends in the process. But due to the unpredictability and volatility of consulting people often move on with little or no notice.
Those of us around at the weekend try and get out and about in the outdoors somewhere. These trips are always great fun but you also know you can't plan too far ahead as you never quite know where you'll be in a week/month/year from now. It's really sad to say goodbye to people you have spent such concentrated time with, but yet you are excited for them and whatever the next opportunity brings.
Finding a balance here is hard I find, and something that's not that easy to get used to. I guess knowing that those friends who are meant to stick around in your life one way or another, will still be there. It's also a pretty cool feeling to know that in most cities you visit you will know someone.
From my travels I have, what I would consider to be, great friends all over the world. Often, though you need a best friend that you know will be there to just pop in a have a cup of tea with. Not something you can really guarantee when moving around.
Where can you really consider as 'home'? Where you were born, where your family are, where you grew up, where you put your suitcase down?
I have fun being in Calgary, I have some wicked friends here, although I know that they or I will be moving on anytime soon. I have family and childhood friends in Devon, a boyfriend in Chicago, uni friends in Belfast, skiing friends in New Zealand, work friends in London, and other great friends scattered all over the world, but at the moment I work in Canada. It's easy to feel a little bit lost!
Ultimately I have managed to maintain some dear friends over the years despite often being oceans apart. I am able to travel all over the world, experiencing the world as I go and meeting the friends I still have today. The get the best from all the worlds you have to get your stability from knowing that your friends are always contactable, there'll always be someone who you can have a cup of tea with, you are seeing the world and that you can't always be where your heart is.. you have to share it around.
2 comments:
Reminds me of a line from a song I try to live by -
"Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, cuz the older you get the more you need the people you knew when you were young"
Don't forget friends in India.
Sharlene (wend.ca)
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