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Together we welcomed, with open arms, the new expats as they came, wave after wave, eager to explore. New friends were made, old friends moved on, and memories were made.
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My friends know how to play bridge, model for the Australian Melbourne Cup Hat Show, dig for opals in Australian opal mines, captain sailboats, organize balls, run charity events, and get the best prices for airline tickets all over the world. They are skilled at selecting fabrics of silk, cashmere, or cotton while securing a seamstress to fashion the latest styles. They keep files of holiday destinations and generously share their bounty with other expat travelers.
These are the women who have held one anothers' hands when loved ones have been ill. They have cheered one another on when contracts were closed or promotions were due. They supported one another through life's toughest moments and laughed together until tears have run down their cheeks. Friendships forged in a foreign land are necessary for survival and grow slowly, but tenously, until their bonds are unbreakable.
These women are my forever friends. And although we now reside all over the globe, we meet at least once a year to renew our special bond of friendship. Last year we gathered in Las Vegas. This year it was at Phyllis' beach house on the lake in Canada. It was a girls get-a-way, this time, but it could easily have been a couples cruise or a villa in France. No matter how we gather, we know that we are linked by a very unique experience; that of being a Tai Tai in Shanghai!![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUy2Q4I36n6VZII97av0hazhz1VtNZjngGWlnyUPr-gsoTwyuVISY32NjgTbkQNtYTopNmAfFhzFPtl0Cln5tHPs92fRY7e4lkue_9deWa4MeXihMxNyQQd3HWi_NA2RM8jPbwCuTWiUV/s320/IMG_7424_edited-1.jpg)
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1 comment:
That is truly a wonderful thing to have. I was hoping for the same experience here unfortunately the expat community is small here considering this is a small city with little American companies. enjoy!
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