telling myself

25Feb08

I realized recently that telling my dad, my friends, my work everyone was hard, but really facing my move has been the hardest part. I am moving. This time next year, I will not be living in the country I was born and raised in. I’ve done study abroad in England. I know what it’s like to pack up and leave, but I’ve never moved away from my home for longer than a year. I think I was slightly in denial about the change.

I’m, in all likelihood, not going to be able to work for my company anymore. I love my company. I’m having a wonderful time. I even think I can swing working with the London office. But I can’t assume that will happen. So while I’m making this difficult decision easily, I’ve just had a hard time really visualizing my new life. 

I’m going to live in a country where I don’t read, write, or speak the native tongue. I’m going to miss having thai food delivered to my house. I know every coffee shop on my block, and I can tell you which one has the best vanilla soy latte. I won’t have any of that in Belgium; at least to begin with.

But I have to balance my fear with my opportunities. I’m getting the chance to be with the kind of man I’ve only dreamed about. I’m getting the chance to change my life and even my career track if I like. I have the chance to be with someone who loves me for me and wants me to be happy. I also have, for the first time, the joy of supporting someone who feels like my other half; someone I think I can support. 

So facts are facts. I’m making this change, and it’s time to start. My first step is talking to the people in my office that I think can help me move. I’m really interested in working in events and charitable donations and there’s no one doing that for us in London right now. So I’ve scheduled lunches with the people working in the corp. office to get detailed info on the next initiatives. With that, I can give more concrete reasons why I’m the next logical choice for their office. I also just got word that my boo’s mom might have found a cool job opportunity for me. How sweet is she! 

Wish me luck. I’ve got 44 weeks and counting to pull this off… 

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Tags: belgium, countdown, europe, expat, expatriate, fear, joy, moving