Choosing to move abroad, or as my mother reminds me “you’re just living there, per the US government and myself you are just living…not moving,” takes a LOT of planning, navigating bureaucratic red-tape, and repeatedly asking yourself, “is this really worth it?” or “do I really want to do this?” Most of all, it involves a lot of “hurry up and wait.” Meaning; there are periods of time where you’re driving, or flying, around submitting paperwork, background checks, picking up life-altering government documents, packing and unpacking at least four times. Hurry Up. Then, there are also times when there is nothing to be done to move yourself closer to the adventure or the dream. Wait. This is the part I find excruciating. This is the part where my brain starts to race and my mind wanders towards all the things that could possibly go wrong on this adventure.
However, since this phrase “hurry up and wait” has been woven into the narrative of many of my childhood, adolescent, and continued young adult experiences, via long (tablet free) road trips, working catering events with my parents, and especially in rowing. I find that I am starting to handle the “wait” part a little bit better. I have been shifting my thoughts away from all the negative “what ifs” because, believe it or not, sitting in anxiety has rarely helped me to accomplish anything, but moving in spite of it has.
Another key factor in being prepared for an experience like this is surrounding yourself with the most supportive friends and family. This is not something that comes quickly or easily. But, then there comes a day where you wake up in a house with a girl and her boyfriend, neither of whom you knew a year prior. Then you’re having Family Dinner every Sunday and attending weekly Trivia on Tuesdays (please carry on the Cool Beans Legacy) at your favorite pub. And then they throw you the most magnificent going away party, and you’re tearful on your way out the door because you can’t believe the community you’ve built over the past three years. In addition to the friends, there are also the parents who will drive through the night to move you out to avoid the snowstorm that only blows through Tennessee once every four years…naturally.
In addition to the family and friends that have supported me through this transition, I also have the most helpful partner. A quick shoutout to the boy who said “absolutely!” when asked four months into dating if he’d like to come with me if I moved abroad. Christian, it’s boy and girl against the world and I am so excited so our adventure together!
January 18th, 2024
Seemingly endless packing, unpacking, repacking, and trips to the storage unit on repeat. I am sure I don’t have everything I need, but I simply cannot think about it anymore. Plus, I am out of room in my three suitcases. The hardest part? Picking what shoes to bring! I’ve always been a shoe girl ever since I worked at Off Broadway in the Opry Mills Mall at sixteen (the only job I’ve been fired from…oops). I am also a serial over-packer, as I always want to feel prepared. However, teaching has been good exposure therapy for that. You can have the world’s greatest plan, and it will always find a way to go awry. Murphy’s Law, right? You can only prep, plan, and prepare so much; sooner or later you just have to do it. So a big thank you to all my littles over the years that have helped me to expect the unexpected and to find joy in organized chaos.
MGD Overseas 