Thanks for writing this! My dad always said, “no matter where you go, you take yourself with you.” I’ve found that to be very helpful for myself when I think escaping will help me!
I have a different rite passage, there being I went around backpacking solo for years, looking for "home", and indeed, it turned out, it is something I need to search inside of me. I would not trade my backpacking days for anything else, they were the best times of my life, and it became the foundation of who I am today. So, yeah, I think it is great you leap and went to try living abroad. But I agree with you that we all need to work on our own healing.
How cool you did the backpacking thing! I actually did that for a month in university, which is what sparked my desire to move to Oz. I do think that sometimes we need a change of scenery to figure out what it is we want, but also a very expensive decision lol.
I liked this a lot, Sarah! Your observations resonate a lot with some of the things I've been thinking and writing lately. And I think I understand the feelings more than I would like to (I also moved back in with my parents briefly at 26, which was NOT MUCH FUN).
Thank you! It as been reading your posts that inspired this post. I have lots more to say about my time in Australia, though it's more to do with my thoughts on "risk" and how it relates to moving abroad. And haha, moving back in with my parents wasn't fun, but I'm glad they were supportive about it for the few months I was there.
I know. Bless our parents for their patience and forbearance. I think lots of people are very interested in the topic of risk as it relates to moving abroad. So I would say keep going!
'humbling' and 'heartbroken' are words that only those who experienced living abroad would ever consider applying to moving back home. And it's even harder to explain it to our loving parents.
PS: that paragraph from Pema Chodron reminds me of the tarot card of the Tower. Usually seen as a sign of destruction 'the end of an era' kind of thing, it is actually the only way to make room for the new and the healing :)
ohh I never knew that about the meaning of that tarot card (just learning tarot). What's interesting is that when I did move back, my parents didn't say anything and in a weird way glad I was back? All I know that I had such crazy expectations for when I moved abroad that when it fell even slightly short, I panicked lol. But looking back I wouldn't trade my experience for anything.
I've always assumed that only American parents can't wait for kids to be independent and move out. The fact that in Italy our politicians have called us 'mama's boys' says a lot about the vibe... You're lucky to have such great support system! :) and it's okay to feel a certain way, as long as you're grateful and I'm sure you are
Thanks for writing this! My dad always said, “no matter where you go, you take yourself with you.” I’ve found that to be very helpful for myself when I think escaping will help me!
ohh I love that phrase! I'm tempted to draft a part two to this, and how after I left Australia I really learned this lesson hard.
I’m here for it!
I have a different rite passage, there being I went around backpacking solo for years, looking for "home", and indeed, it turned out, it is something I need to search inside of me. I would not trade my backpacking days for anything else, they were the best times of my life, and it became the foundation of who I am today. So, yeah, I think it is great you leap and went to try living abroad. But I agree with you that we all need to work on our own healing.
How cool you did the backpacking thing! I actually did that for a month in university, which is what sparked my desire to move to Oz. I do think that sometimes we need a change of scenery to figure out what it is we want, but also a very expensive decision lol.
I liked this a lot, Sarah! Your observations resonate a lot with some of the things I've been thinking and writing lately. And I think I understand the feelings more than I would like to (I also moved back in with my parents briefly at 26, which was NOT MUCH FUN).
Thank you! It as been reading your posts that inspired this post. I have lots more to say about my time in Australia, though it's more to do with my thoughts on "risk" and how it relates to moving abroad. And haha, moving back in with my parents wasn't fun, but I'm glad they were supportive about it for the few months I was there.
I know. Bless our parents for their patience and forbearance. I think lots of people are very interested in the topic of risk as it relates to moving abroad. So I would say keep going!
'humbling' and 'heartbroken' are words that only those who experienced living abroad would ever consider applying to moving back home. And it's even harder to explain it to our loving parents.
PS: that paragraph from Pema Chodron reminds me of the tarot card of the Tower. Usually seen as a sign of destruction 'the end of an era' kind of thing, it is actually the only way to make room for the new and the healing :)
ohh I never knew that about the meaning of that tarot card (just learning tarot). What's interesting is that when I did move back, my parents didn't say anything and in a weird way glad I was back? All I know that I had such crazy expectations for when I moved abroad that when it fell even slightly short, I panicked lol. But looking back I wouldn't trade my experience for anything.
I've always assumed that only American parents can't wait for kids to be independent and move out. The fact that in Italy our politicians have called us 'mama's boys' says a lot about the vibe... You're lucky to have such great support system! :) and it's okay to feel a certain way, as long as you're grateful and I'm sure you are