Home is where the blackbird sings

April’s letter to paid subscribers.

“I have heard the blackbird. I have lived.”

— Henning Mankell, Swedish writer

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Dear friends,

It’s hard to believe that in less than two months, Jose and I will celebrate one year in Belgium. One year since we packed up our life in Uruguay, boarded a plane with Elena — who was just 14 months old at the time — and arrived in Antwerp.

That means it will also have been a year since I heard a blackbird sing for the very first time:

During our first few days here last June, we barely left our hotel room. 

Even though Elena was so young, we could still tell she was feeling unsettled from all the movement and change; and as eager as we were to see the city, the best thing for her was to lay low and be together as our little family — playing with her toys we’d brought and reading her familiar books in a place that was so unfamiliar to all of us. 

Finally, on day three, Jose and I looked at each other and said, right. Let’s do this. Let’s get to know our new home.