I love being an expat, an expatriate, a person living outside her own country. In fact, I think that I will be an expat wherever I live. I was born in India, raised in Africa and England, I am a Canadian citizen, I am married to an American and I live in Costa Rica. Where is home for me? I really have no idea! (Although, I do hold a great allegiance to Canada.)
Over the past few weeks we have had a lot of parties and events with our friends. Among the people present at the birthday party, curry party, and Chinese New Year party, etc., were:
• Some dear Costa Rican friends!
• A husband raised as an MK in Sri Lanka, his wife as an MK in Jordan, who have lived in the Middle East and Europe;
• A Malaysian family of Chinese descent;
• An American born in Kenya;
• A family that has lived overseas (outside their native USA) for 17 years;
• A Swedish family working for a multinational;
• A South Korean diplomat who is about to start a new post in another country;
• A US military family that is also about to move to another new post;
• And a single American girl getting ready to be a missionary in Southeast Asia.
The reason I am so awed about this is that most of us don’t belong in Costa Rica. We are from all over, and everyone brings amazing stories and experiences to our gatherings. We don’t belong here, but we belong together. Our common thread is our cross-cultural experience, representing SO many corners of the globe. It is a comforting, comfortable group of friends. We can be ourselves, with all of our cultural quirks, and we are accepted by each other.
It was an amazing glimpse of what heaven will be, of course JUST a glimpse. We are many cultures, united by our love for Jesus. It also makes me remember Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven.”