Expat Problems

A few years ago,

a mate and I were chatting

about some of the funny things our kids do.

And not just funny kid things,

but funny expat things.

We noticed how there were certain things

others never understood about us

and our lives.

For example,

I buy carrots and my housekeeper will wash and chop them.

Am I spoilt?

Probably.

But I prefer to think of it as 

I'm an expat.

After this conversation,

we chatted how we needed a group.

You know,

a support system.

One of those dark basements

where we share our secrets

and we all understand each other.

I use to joke that we needed an

Expat Anonymous group.

I would often share my 

Expat Anonymous stories.

And then I stopped.

Last week,

I tweeted my pet peeve:

when the gym doesn't have any towels.

It was pointed out to me

that this was a 

#firstworldproblem

And I agreed.

Yesterday I tweeted I had lost my

blue eyeliner

and yes, 

I do realise it's a first world problem as well.

But then I wondered?

If it a first world problem

or an Expat problem?

If I were in Canada and lost my blue eyeliner

I could hit the mall and buy a new one.

But here?

Where on earth will I get another MAC eyeliner from?

Yes my housekeeper washes my veggies.

Yes I have a driver.

Yes I spend my mornings at the gym

and go for lunches with mates.

But I also go hours,

sometimes days with no power.

I have to hit 3 different shops

to get everything I need to make dinner.

So maybe my problems are not

first world problems.

They are Expat Problems.

Because,

ladies and gentlemen,

my name is Tima

and I'm an Expat!