Living Away from Home – Crisbie Coach

Summer Holidays Are Approaching

We are in a very nice period of the year: summer holidays are approaching. Summer has been in the air for a few months now and in a few days I will be leaving for Sardinia with my husband and our son, who, even if he is almost 19, still appreciates coming on holiday with us.
We will go on vacation in a beautiful village in the Gulf of Asinara, Lu Bagnu. Sea view apartment from two terraces. Not only sea view, the sea can also be felt and heard by opening the window, so close it is. Beautiful sunsets accompanied by an aperitif in an idyllic setting. Not by chance they call it Sunsets Bay.

What will I do on vacation? I want to get up in the morning calmly, have breakfast with my husband, get ready to go to the beach to take our long morning walks, which are so good to me. The feeling of my feet on the sand is priceless, it makes me feel good when I put my feet on a soft silky ground, which at that time of the morning is warm. It is an energizing contact that puts me in a good mood.

Then go home to pick up our son, who likes sleeping long, and take the car to find a new beach to explore. Lie down in the sun, take a swim in the sea, get dry with the warm sea breeze. Read the books by Guillaume Musso that I have downloaded on the e-reader, practise meditation, listen to music. Eat grilled fish, a good pizza, a special pasta dish. Take a walk in the town centre, eat an ice cream, buy some souvenirs that will brighten the dark winter days.

This is how my summer holidays look like. What about yours? Share it with me!

5 Tips to Avoid Stress During the Festive Period if You Are an Expat

I like very much Christmas holidays. They remind me my childhood when I used to wait for Midnight opening the presents with my family. Now, that I am an expat, I like going back home at Christmas time, because I like to share this peaceful time with my dearest.

However, I can understand that it can turn out in a stressful period. Buying presents at the last minute, preparing dinner for the Christmas’ Eve or lunch (or both, as we do in my family, not to miss anything…). Wishing Merry Christmas to all your relatives and friends, hoping not to forget anyone.

Here are 5 tips to keep a positive mind-set and enjoy yourself. Follow these tips for coping with some of the stress that the holidays can cause.

Reach out to loved ones

Family and friends back home may want to spend time with you during the holidays, and expect a visit. You can try your best to keep in touch – a phone conversation or spending a few minutes chatting with a loved one can make a big difference, and lift both your and their spirit. And you will not feel guilty 🙂

2. Make the most of it

Adjusting to new traditions can bring up mixed feelings and emotional struggle. Try not to put yourself under too much pressure. Embracing the new, while maintaining a sense of tradition to your new surroundings, can help you feel better.

3. Don’t let the publicity affect you

You may feel surrounded by images and ideas of what the perfect holidays should look like – but the truth is that holidays can be stressful emotionally and financially. Don’t let the media get into you and avoid comparing yourself to unrealistic depictions.

4. Seek support

People who are going through difficult situations, such as grieving, the loss of a loved one or dealing with the break of a relationship, can be particularly vulnerable and experience further emotional stress with the holiday season. It’s important not to ignore your feelings. Reaching out for support from specialists or counselling sessions can help you analyse your feelings and cope with overwhelming emotional struggle.

5. Find your balance

Take time to reflect and think about what works best for you. Whether you can or want to visit relatives abroad or spend the festive season in your host country must be in tune with your personal priorities and needs. Finding the balance that is right for you is essential for your mental health.

Happy Holidays!

I am going on holidays too. Look for next post in 2019!

Living on the Top of the World – An Italian in Estonia

For an Italian, living at latitude of 59.4 could feel like being “on the top of the world”. During my almost 3 year adventure living and working in Estonia, I have mixed feelings. The biggest downside was the lack of light in winter, but despite that, I recommend a visit.

Tallinn is a charming medieval city. Walking in the city centre you feel like being in a history book. It’s worth a visit for its beauty, but not just for that. I have never seen a cleaner city. Each building has a House Manager who regularly cleans the side-walk, even from the snow and leaves. And everyone use waste bags when walking their dogs.

For an Italian from Bologna like me, a downside is for sure the terrible winter cold. My family and I waited with anxiety for the arrival of our first November in town. Estonians had described it as the “frightening” month of the year. In fact, in almost every European country, November brings shorter days and rain, but in Estonia it was as if the light was switched off!

Then December arrived bringing the first cold. My son and I tried bravely to use the public transport – very efficient despite extreme weather conditions – but waiting for the tram in the cold, snow and wind was too much for us. From then on, we always used the car.

In summer, when the sun shines, it’s pleasant, because it’s never too hot. The average temperature is 20°. Tallinn’s main beach, Pirita, is beautiful and you can go sailing and swimming, although I didn’t dare to put a foot in the sea.

Estonians love singing: more than a hobby, it’s an obsession! Every town has its own choir. I remember once I was stuck in a long procession with thousands Estonians dressed in regional costumes, carrying flags and playing brass instruments, all off to gather for their Song Party.

The country’s unspoilt forests and beaches are beautiful. Nature is respected, being actually considered a divinity. To cut down a tree, public consultations are organized if not true petitions. Some of the most serious public censure has been for crime against trees. This leads to peculiar situations like one in the island of Saaremaa where there is a tree right in the middle of a football pitch. Some friends have seen bears and elks; I was not so lucky.

No Estonian could imagine life without sauna; some even build them in their apartments. Anything less than a weekly session is unthinkable. This is what I miss the most. Here in Belgium, the quality of swimming pools, Turkish baths, saunas and all related to body care is incomparable. I have not yet found in Brussels a place that offers those services all together on the same site. In Tallinn, however, it is the norm.

I am sure that you would enjoy!

Photos (courtesy of Massimo Olenik): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.395944727193971.1073741826.100003353403373&type=1&l=8acbcdc3fb