Is life a holiday now?

My parents decided to rent out the spare room next to mine when i moved out of home for the first time in 2012. The occupant is a guy in his mid twenties, Chinese, works at a restaurant as a waiter and is basically one of those guys that wants to avoid trouble from everyone and everything. He's quiet, sensible and keeps to himself. Living for a year, my impressions of him were not strong. He didn't' seem like someone interesting or worth really speaking to. I was polite but i never really made an effort to talk to him or anything. To be quite frank i didn't like his constant presence in the house whenever i trekked back to my parents house to visit. I didn't' like how i couldn't' watch tv loudly past 9pm. I didn't like how i'd have to look him in the eye when i said hello ( I don't like looking at people in the eye when i don't feel like i have to, but you always have to you know? ).

As recently as a couple of months ago, his wife came to Australia for the first time. Where else would she have to go? She couldn't speak english, had no job and wanted to be with her husband. She moved into my parents house with him in that room. As if one stranger wasn't enough, now there were two. Much to my surprise though, i've taken a liking to the girl and she to me as well. She's young like her husband, just shy of 30. Her speaking voice is breathy, reticent and as if she's wanting to speak louder but stops herself from doing it because it might startle you. She has black bushy hair and really pale skin. In my conversations with her, i imagined myself in her place. Coming into a new country to be with my husband, leaving the only home i've ever known, not having a job or any stable income and living in a strangers house in my husbands tiny bedroom. When i put all these facts together, a feeling is invoked within me. She must feel like the ultimate floater right now. A drifter in a new country where everything is new and everything is a possibility. I mean, everytime i see her i feel so excited for her.

The other day, we were talking in the garden and i asked her how she felt about being in Australia. She says that she feels bored and lacking companionship. " Everyday i basically don't do anything. It's so boring". She stated to me with genuine flatness. I can see how this is true, but i couldn't help but want her to take reigns of her new freedom and surroundings. Being around her, you can't help but sense how all of her still belongs to China. Her voice, her clothes, her mannerisms, her general vibe. Nothing about her has been gentrified yet and i wonder if that'll ever happen. She's been here for a month or so and even though that's not a long time at all, she could've literally have stepped off the plane a day ago to me. She says that she misses her family a lot and that she calls them once a week. I can imagine her thoughts are with them, but i also wish that she'd forget about them a bit and plunge herself into Australia. Into the freedom and liberty that a foreign place grants you. A part of me wants to live vicariously through her. Yesterday, she went to the beach with her friend. When i heard this, i felt really happy. Imagine what that would've been like. I know i have such an exalted view of this whole story but i just feel like there's so much to be had for her if she'd just go for it.