Here's one thing I've learned after a scant 6 months as an expatriate: living abroad is full of hellos and goodbyes. New people cycle in, and established friends cycle out.
In the first months of our time here, several dear friends have gone "home" (back to America), including some who we knew well and loved a lot, and some we met only long enough to think, "Wow, I wish these folks were staying here long enough to know them--they seem really wonderful." I can think of 10 people/families that are gone in just this time. Others come in their places, but as we all know, making good friendships requires a special chemistry, especially among couples. Anyone who has ever had a friendship where there was ambivalence or dislike involving the spouse(s) will know what I mean. Coming from a community where we had 10+ families that we considered close, dependable friends, this expat comin'-and-goin' is a new experience.
Well, yesterday, we had someone very close to our hearts land in the goin' category...
Yesterday, Habib went to Saudi Arabia to live with Vee and Collin. Vee missed him enormously and found a...um..."non-standard" way to get him into the country with them.
Habib was a fun and loving bird. I attribute much of this to Vee's excellent attention, patience, and devotion, but I also attribute some of it to him/her just being a "good bird." Over the past months, he had gotten to the point of calling for me to come get him. I would put him on my shoulder and he would sit for an hour, getting neck scratches and letting me give him little kisses on his head. I can't remember being bitten by this bird. He bit Jack once, pretty hard, but it was when we had company, so the house was full of loudness, and Jack made the mistake of trying to show off how the bird was so easy to touch. This was a human mistake, not an aggressive bird problem.
So I thank Habib for proving what our friend/bird breeder Patrick had promised me: a good bird is a good bird no matter if it's hand-raised or comes from a difficult background. A "difficult" bird can be trained and helped but will always be more challenging than a "good" bird.
After all the upheaval of last summer and after saying goodbye to all those creatures from our own home, Habib's goodbye is especially sad, too. The reward is knowing that we were able to help another family and learning that we can make this work. The reward is also knowing he might, occasionally at least until he forgets, say "Cowboy, Yee-haw!" or "Beeeee-bo" or call out Hannah or Hank's name or, when asked if he wants a nuts, go, "Whoop!" like he learned to do here.
We're pondering what to do next. Another bird is likely, but this time bought and kept for sure (with a band/papers so we can bring it back to the USA).
In the first months of our time here, several dear friends have gone "home" (back to America), including some who we knew well and loved a lot, and some we met only long enough to think, "Wow, I wish these folks were staying here long enough to know them--they seem really wonderful." I can think of 10 people/families that are gone in just this time. Others come in their places, but as we all know, making good friendships requires a special chemistry, especially among couples. Anyone who has ever had a friendship where there was ambivalence or dislike involving the spouse(s) will know what I mean. Coming from a community where we had 10+ families that we considered close, dependable friends, this expat comin'-and-goin' is a new experience.
Well, yesterday, we had someone very close to our hearts land in the goin' category...
Yesterday, Habib went to Saudi Arabia to live with Vee and Collin. Vee missed him enormously and found a...um..."non-standard" way to get him into the country with them.
Habib was a fun and loving bird. I attribute much of this to Vee's excellent attention, patience, and devotion, but I also attribute some of it to him/her just being a "good bird." Over the past months, he had gotten to the point of calling for me to come get him. I would put him on my shoulder and he would sit for an hour, getting neck scratches and letting me give him little kisses on his head. I can't remember being bitten by this bird. He bit Jack once, pretty hard, but it was when we had company, so the house was full of loudness, and Jack made the mistake of trying to show off how the bird was so easy to touch. This was a human mistake, not an aggressive bird problem.
So I thank Habib for proving what our friend/bird breeder Patrick had promised me: a good bird is a good bird no matter if it's hand-raised or comes from a difficult background. A "difficult" bird can be trained and helped but will always be more challenging than a "good" bird.
After all the upheaval of last summer and after saying goodbye to all those creatures from our own home, Habib's goodbye is especially sad, too. The reward is knowing that we were able to help another family and learning that we can make this work. The reward is also knowing he might, occasionally at least until he forgets, say "Cowboy, Yee-haw!" or "Beeeee-bo" or call out Hannah or Hank's name or, when asked if he wants a nuts, go, "Whoop!" like he learned to do here.
We're pondering what to do next. Another bird is likely, but this time bought and kept for sure (with a band/papers so we can bring it back to the USA).
I knew you said habib would be leaving you but had not idea so soon. I'm sad with you, it is awfully hard to let pets go and you've had more than your share this year. If you think you can get your very own good bird, I hope you do. Habib was a fun bird for all of you. Love to all of you, sure do miss you, XXXXXXXXXXXXX YM
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