There can be many reasons why people want to change. And whether people would like to change oneself or just the circumstances, it is often connected to some challenges, courage and leaving your comfort zone. During the last year I experienced one of those self-driven changes, when me and my partner decided to realise our dream by going abroad. Today I would love to share some of my impressions and reflect all the things that happened within the last 12 months.
For me it was always obvious, that I want to live abroad. Not forever and not focused on a certain place, but I just wanted to experience something new, open my mindset, get to learn another culture and new people. And I really wanted to experience all that not only while traveling a country for some weeks, but really to LIVE somewhere else. And so we did it. It was one day before New Years Eve two years ago, when my better half proposed to me. And there we were sitting while thinking about “Alright, what’s next?”. Marriage, house, children and career? Somehow we realised, that feels not right to us, at least not now. And so we discussed, what we wanted in life, apart from all the expectations around us and how our future should look like. Of course we would love to have some children (and a dog, to two?!) one day, a good job and all what comes with it, but I always had this wish to go abroad and it never get out of my mind. Luckily my partner felt the same way and so we decided to change the life we had. We both had great and well paid jobs, a lovely apartment in one of the best cities of this planet (I am talking from Berlin, babe), the best friends we could wish to have and a great and loving family as well. Nothing we could have missed, but still driven by an inner voice that wanted more.
After the decision was made, we were thinking about where to go. We were not focused on a certain country or even continent, but sun and ocean sounded great to us. So we started to send out some applications by using some contacts and suddenly we both got an interview for a company in New Zealand. Well, New Zealand was not my dream destination and we also got some rejections for other job applications, but we were happy about this chance and took it. I think if you want to change something, the first and most important thing to do is to really decide to do it. And not to wait for the perfect thing to happen, but you need start trying and taking the chances you get. I never regret our step even every change can be strongly connected to some challenges.
It was not easy to leave our friends, family and the city I call home. When my dad picked us up with the last things we needed to move out from our beloved apartment and we drove along the silent streets of Friedrichshain in the morning while the sun started to rise, I couldn’t hold my tears back. But now I am sitting here in Australia (How ended up here? Wait a sec and continue reading), enjoying the sun from another spot, and I have seen, smelled, heard and experienced so many things within the last year, that it was worth every tear and doubt. It wasn’t always easy and sometimes quite grey times, and NZ was not the place that made us happy. Even we met some lovely people and new friends, the life we had was not what we expected to fulfil our dream. But so what? Be ready for the unprepared. And so we changed our plans, quit our job (again), moved out (again), said goodbye to our friends (again) and booked a ticket to Australia. This time without any plans, without any fixed jobs and with nothing but a backpack (ok…. Three big luggages and a backpack). And this was the best decision we could have made and finally we are, where we wanted to be: free, down to earth, time for self-reflection, away from the stream of expectation. It’s all about us and the moment and we are open for all the new. I could have never imagine me living in a campervan, being happy by just spending a day outdoor, but that’s what changes are about I guess.
♥ The end ♥