"Summer" is about over.

Yes, even though it is HOT all year round here in Chennai, India, the summer is just about over.

When I was younger, summer was always defined by when school ended and when school started again. This continued through high school until college...where summer became much shorter because I always took a summer class. Well after college graduation, I continued to work for the university, and thus my summer was still defined by when the spring semester ended and the fall semester began. I actually hated summer then, because as the workers' compensation coordinator for the university, my job was much busier during the summer months...somehow everyone seemed to need to have surgery and be off of work during the summer. Go figure, I wonder why this was???

Well after leaving the university, my summers haven't had any definition for a couple of years. Not having school or university ties, summer began whenever and ended whenever I wanted it to...I actually didn't even think much about it. Last year, my summer seemed really long. We found out that we were moving to Beijing in July and moved in September. It was still really hot in Beijing through October. Therefore, it just seemed like I had an extended, but very busy summer.

This year, I learnt that my summers would once again become defined with distinct beginning and ending points. Originally, I thought I would be spending the summer in Beijing. The plan was to go back to the U.S. in April or May, and then be in Beijing during the typical summer months. Well of course, we found out in April we were moving to India, did end up going to the U.S. in May, and moved to India in June.

It was at this time that the realization came that even though I don't have any children, as long as I am living abroad as an expat, my summers will once again be defined by the ending and beginning of the school years. Why you ask? Because as soon as school is out for the year, the majority of everyone with kids heads to their home country to visit family and friends. I had known this was going to happen in Beijing and thus was preparing myself to have a nice quiet summer while most of my friends were gone. I was going to catch up on reading and working on my scrapbooks. Well with the move to India instead taking place, my summer has turned out to be much busier than anticipated. However, I have found that Chennai is just as quiet with most people also being gone. I have been very thankful that another couple from our company decided to stay in town with their son this summer. I have really enjoyed hanging out with her and her son...if it wasn't for them, I probably by now would really hate India. People told me that it is rough moving to a foreign country during the summer...your spouse goes off to work everyday, and you are stuck trying to make friends...just there aren't any people here to make friends with.

Anyway, "summer" is coming to an end here in Chennai. The American school starts classes here on August 6. Therefore, everyone has started coming back to town (it takes a good couple of weeks for most people to completely get over jet lag). This week I have enjoyed having lunch with and finally meeting some ladies who I have been e-mailing all summer while they have been out of town. While they have been very helpful answering my questions via e-mail, it really is nice to know that now I can just pick up the phone and call them if I have any urgent questions or problems that I need help with. Like my only friend this summer has told me...you know you are doing OK in a new place when you finally have names and numbers in your cell phone.

So, yes, even though it will still be hot here, summer is just about over. I am thankful for that for the reasons already mentioned, but also because that means August 1 is almost here...and we finally get to move to our house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Next week will be a very busy, but yet glorious week in our household! I can hardly wait!