It's tough to be away from hubby and my two small kids. I'm already missing so much of my daughter's many firsts. She can already say Papa and No. And I think I heard her say Mommy yesterday over Skype. She just turned 1 when I left home and I really felt crushed when they couldn't make it for Christmas. Have received similar reactions when people find out about my situation, especially my colleagues. They're often surprised to find out that I have kids, and even more surprised when they find out that I'm away from them.
Over team lunch yesterday, I realized that the tenured folks are more comfortable with seeing and knowing management, and not having one who is overseas. And that they're not too comfortable with continuous change as it really shakes up their comfort level. I guess it's coz we work in a Kiwi-built company which was sold to a Canadian multinational with headquarters in the US. As with everything else here, it's a small and tight community with a strong provincial vibe. And this already being in Auckland, the financial capital, people are still laid back and moves at their own pace. They completely understand family time. I even moved schedules and resources around so people can leave early to attend school/ their kids' activities. In a way it's good that my manager understands this. She'd tell people that they should go attend to their kids otherwise the kid won't make you forget that you've missed that important event for the rest of your life. Hmm, I wonder what was it that she missed coz of work that made such an impact to one of her kids.
I've seen the personal side of people. The big old man had to rush early for a kids' birthday party. Once they go on leave or if it is a weekend, they're absolutely untouchable as people here respect time off. Non-work time is spent on fetching kids, attending school events, gardening, traveling or simply going on training for the next football season or the next marathon/ triathlon or what have you. Another one likes to carry his camera every time he goes out for lunch so he can shoot. There are those who come in on a motorbike, wearing a full suit and helmet. The Moms are hands on Moms and the Dads are hands on Dads. Having extended relatives to help with the kids are a luxury otherwise, smaller kids are left daycare while the bigger ones are ferried to and from school.
Work is just that, work. I see how personal time is valued here.
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