I'm finally on my own

By Toni
@toniganzon (72517)
Philippines
October 16, 2012 6:25am CST
I had never been alone before. I had never done the laundry until today! I am living in a foreign land, far away from home and my family. At this moment i'm staying at my friend's apartment, but I still feel alone, doing things on my own since she's busy and she's not used to taking care of other's concern. I like my independence though I miss my family much. I am starting to like doing things on my own, living the way I want to live my life. I am looking forward to getting my own place, doing what i want without troubling my friend and working in a foreign land. It's interesting to be in a strange place without a single family. It's interesting to be in a new place with a different culture. I like my independence except for the fact that i miss my family.
2 people like this
10 responses
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
16 Oct 12
I know form other people's experience that the number one enemy of living alone or working abroad is homesickness. I hope that you will be able to adapt to your new situation soon, so that you would be able to perform normal or better in whatever it is you need to be doing. I wish you good luck in all your endeavors!
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
I didn't expect that i'd feel lonely because my friend is here. But she's not as accommodating as i thought and that made me feel lonely. There's facetime which allows me to have a video call with my family everyday, thus i don't miss them that much. Not being able to go about by my own self is making it difficult because i thought i would have somebody to guide me but there's none. I would be ok when I start working soon and find my own apartment.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
Well, getting your own place might also be lonesome but at least you could do about anything you want without restrictions or worries about somebody else. It's too bad though that you did not receive the warm welcome you expected. I guess that's just the way it is or maybe she is preparing you for it, I mean making you use to being independent in that place. There is also the possibility that she might have thought that you do not want to be bothered that is why she is behaving that way.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
19 Oct 12
She knew i needed her guidance since i can't speak the language here. If you have read my other discussions you would see what she's been doing to me here.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
18 Oct 12
You are very brave to be living on your own especially in a foreign country. For me the first time I broke away from my parents it was one big adventure. I needed my own space, independence, a place to be who I wanted to be, go where I wanted and not have to answer questions. It was fun and scary, you are stepping out of your comfort zone so it's a big shock to the system. I cope better when I live on my own, everything is your responsibility all the bills, food etc... But you soon get used to it.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
19 Oct 12
Oh such freedom! I would be enjoying such freedom but at the same time i will miss my family back home. But like you said, i'll soon get used to this. Other than feeling like a stranger, not being able to speak their language here, I don't feel like i'm that far from my family.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
So, finally you are now in a foreign place, Toni. It's just but natural that you miss your family Toni. That is just now. But as the days goes by, your homesickness will already surface. Just be ready for it and i know you are a strong woman and "carry mo yan".
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
Hello D! Yes i believe i can do it. I like being independent as long as i know my way around the place. I'm staying at my friend's and i feel sad that she's not as accommodating. I find it difficult to do things on my own because of the language barrier here. I would like to find my apartment soon with internet connection so i won't feel lonely and abandoned. I never expected i would feel a bit sad because my friend is here but i was wrong. Anyway, I know i'll be fine and i'm going to be ok. I like the new country already, but I just need to get used to getting around the place.
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
16 Oct 12
Okay, so if I understand correctly, you currently are living away from home and your family. I understand. On the one hand the desire of independence, but from the other, feel very lack of your loved ones. However, this also happens to me when I'm away. This is despite I do not have good relationships with my family, especially with my brother. I am sure that you wait for the day to go home and hug your loved ones. I wish you all the happiness of the world, my dear friend!
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
Thank you. I will go home in March for a two month vacation only. It's nice to be living alone but i do miss my family. I hope that i'll learn something and grow into a better person living independently.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Oct 12
i know, once we start living alone ,we feel free and on top of the world. But some problems do come, but slowly we learn to do things and come out of it. Many times we miss our family , and the home made food, the company etc, but still i feel we should learn to live alone and learn things on our own. This helps us in our life , to solve the problems and see life in wide angle.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
Yeah, this decision of mine was for self-growth. I think I'll find my own self here by exploring new things. I do miss my family, especially my son, but I'm going home in March to see them and it's not that long. I see them almost everyday through face time. I am trying to learn to live alone and hope this experience would be worth it.
• Bulgaria
17 Oct 12
I dream to be separated from my parents,but at this stage can not happen.Certainly they will miss me but it comes time to spare from them,be it accommodation ,another city or another country if you want.When i left alone for two three weeks maybe one month somehow the firs days i feel very nice and free ,but when those days get more and more i feel more their absence.And of course when they return from where they were i want they go back.Surely the time will com to leave the house and this will be difficult ,but what the hell lek's take it to overcome difficulties :)
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
19 Oct 12
It's the risk that i took when i decided to go to another country. I had my sad moments, i must admit because of some issues i am going through with a friend here. Other than that, i am doing fine because i see my son and husband on facetime everyday, i chat with my husband all the time too. I also chat with friends almost everyday and they never left me alone at all when i needed them though they were far away. It's hard but i'm coping up with my new life here. I think I would be busy from next week. I have an appointment on Monday regarding work. My only solution not feeling so lonely is to keep myself busy.
• Philippines
16 Oct 12
Did you left the country for some reason? so you found work in a very far away place and then went to an apartment? i hope your friend would get along with you and get you used to the places there.well, do you miss your hubby and kids? i didn't realize you went into a different job i guess taking care of some papers before going on.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
My friend has been here for 5 years already. I came because I know she's here and she would be able to guide me. At first it was just a tour. But now it has changed. I find this country a very nice place to live in, but the only problem is the language barrier. I will go home in March for a two-month vacation then come back here again. I miss my family but I talk to them every single day. Thanks to facetime, it's like i'm with them.
@rameshchow (4426)
• India
17 Oct 12
living in our home is like living in heaven. where ever you go, where ever you stay, even in five star hotel also you can see the hell... our home and our parents are our ultimate strength. and do your works yourself then you feel better. i can do my works myself only.
• Portugal
16 Oct 12
where are you living now toni?^^ i wish you be happy in that new country. you went there to work? i think that each day more people is going away from their family so they can find a job and save some money for a better life. im sorry that you are far from family. its good to feel you can do things on your own. but at the same time is always good to feel that if something goes wrong we have those people there for us^^ anyway im sure they are proud of you and miss you a lot too.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
It's a bit lonely here Cat because it's a bit difficult to communicate with the people. I just hope that i'll be ok and could adjust well in November when I start working. I will go home in March and it's not a long time. I will be with my family soon and we do communicate everyday, so it's not a problem. Now i'm just thinking of the positive things I could do being here in a new country.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
16 Oct 12
This is exactly I felt when I came to India for the first time. It was because of the scholarship that I got. I liked the freedom and being alone in a totally new place which is far from homeland. Far and wide there is no one you know. So much things to discover, a different life style and a different language. It was all so fun filled. I too missed my parents but it was my time and I really had it. I have been back home and came back to marry this guy with whom I was in love with while my stay in India. So I had my time. Now I wanna tell you that this is the starting of your time with you. So be smart and have fun wherever you are. I am happy you trying to adjust and look forward to live alone. best one. Have fun. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
Thank you for the encouragement. It's lonely being alone but i could live like this as long as there's an internet so i could communicate with friends and family. It would have been much easier if the people here could speak English.