Impatient for "Normal"

I know that Nathan and I left Minnesota seeking new experiences, breaking out of our "ruts", yearning for learning....but strangely I find myself impatient to reach normal again. I am impatient for our house to be "set-up," our paper-work finished, and our social and work networks in place. It's been just over a month, with a huge portion of that time dedicated to our to-do list and work. It took 3 years to complete the Visa paperwork, and 1 year to get our house etc in order to leave, why should 1 month be sufficient to get it all up and running again?

When I moved to London, Nathan had already been there for a year. He had friends, a bank account, knowledge of the city, school sorted out, essential paperwork done. When I arrived, he had already found a furnished place to stay and all we had to do was move in. We had Nathan's friends, but I was still lonely for my own the first few months. By November, I was working and had a social network of my own.

It seems harder this time, because it is. This time we are both starting from scratch. No furnished apartment. Everything is new--for both of us. So both of us are going through the emotional ups and downs at the same time (instead of a year apart).

Maybe because its our second time, I expected this move would be easier. The to-do list is harder, but the cultural adjustment is easier. I am embracing new language, friends, experiences much more readily than before. We are already travelling to new places (we've seen more than some residents who have already been here 1 year) and are talking to hockey, band, and church groups to develop our community connections.

I know that in 3 months, we'll be less worried about the "have-to-do" list (like health insurance, taxes, internet connection etc) and more focused on the "get-to-do" list (snorkelling, bushwalking, travelling) but I am impatient. We've been waiting for this for years, I'm ready to get to the fun stuff and stop working so hard!

Who knew that after a search for adventure that would take us half way around the world, I would be craving my rut?--Kristin