I think I have never written a personal post. Every time I try to show you some amazing places to go to, practical guides or inspiration to follow dreams. But that’s all, I guess. I am a little bit shy in that matter. Stepping out of comfort zone from time to time is healthy, they say. I know it too. So here we go, I am taking this little step you be personal with you and share my future plans.
If you have been visiting this blog from time to time you probably know that I have been living in Chile for two years now. Actually today it is an exact day when two years ago I put my foot on the chilean ground for the first time. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown. I still remember my preparations while I still lived in Scotland. I spent 10 years in this beautiful and windy country and although I was eager to move to another place, it was hard anyway.
Two years ago a decision to move to another country was a big one. Not only habit and culture-wise, but it was practically difficult and big. And besides…10 years, guys! 10 years of my life. I remember going through all the papers, books and clothes deciding what has to go and what I will save for later. The biggest pain was a decision to get rid of my beloved books. It was one of my favourite hobbies to browse around charity shops for new treasures to read. They had to go. Most of my clothes found new owners. The biggest and saddest ‘goodbye’ was with my bike. It was a birthday present a few years back and it was one of my most loyal companions ever since. No rain nor wind would stop me from using my bike (I was swearing at times at the weather conditions though). It had to stay in Scotland with my friend. I hope that Donna is taking a good care of it and takes it out for a ride from time to time.
I moved a few time before and traveled a bit. If I have to pick one lesson I have learned, it would be this one: I should spend money on things that I don’t need to carry.
After many days of sorting the things I owned and with the greatest help of my friends, I packed my whole life in 12 boxes that were send to Spain where are waiting for me now.
Those memories get fresh again at this moment of planning and preparing for another move. This month, it came time to start sorting the things that will stay in Chile and deciding which things I cannot live without. This chapter is coming to end. Chile and South America very soon will be a big adventure saved on photos, the blog and in my memories. So why I am writing this post? I suddenly had the need to tell you what struggles moving to another country is causing. The next move will affect the blog buy online doxycycline too. There will be no more stories from South America next year. Instead there will be stories from other amazing corners of the world. Which ones? Not sure yet.
The whole business of moving to another country is more complex than just organizing the trip or packing. Of course there are things like learning a language, looking for a job, finding a new apartment and million other small and big things that have to be solved. The thing is that I still don’t know what the new place will be. Chile, although it never strongly felt like, was my home for two years. It was my base for the travels around the continent. I was just a guest here. I could never feel at home in Chile. It is not the same as living in Scotland. That place totally stole my heart. There is a big unknown ahead. I know I am moving. I know I will be visiting family for a few weeks before taking the next big step. The thing is that it is a really big unknown…because I have no idea where and when I will go next. I have ideas and dreams…no plans. The whole world is open, but yet difficult to approach.
Goodbyes are tricky. It seems that I have already started meeting up with people I met just to say “goodbye”. We talk about me getting rid of clothes and bags. They call dips on them. We talk about my plans and we talk about flight dates. It has started. My moving to the next place will take a few weeks. It is different from traveling, even for long periods of time. You constantly move, it is difficult to slow down and get used to a place and its culture. Or maybe it is just me?
Living an expat life is like creating chapters in life that end . Each country is a chapter and I could write a few. It is a deeper experience than ‘an ordinary’ traveling, in my opinion. Not better, not worse. Different. I have traveled and lived in other countries. Both are amazing. Sure, I have traveled to some places that absolutely stole my heart, like Galapagos islands for example. I wish I could stay there longer. But it was a travel destination, a place to visit, to experince as much as possible in that short time, create memories and go. Being an expat is similar, one may argue, but so different at the same time. You are not a visitor and you are not a local. Not quite. And hence the nostalgia. A moment of reflection. A moment to be grateful for all the moments, all the adventures and the incredible places that South America has to offer. A moment to say my “goodbyes” and prepare myself for the next move.
I would love to hear about your experiences. Those of you that chose to live an expat life, how do you manage a transition? What makes it easier for you?
Did you like the post? Pin it for later:
Loved this! Definitely don’t feel embarrassed to share your feelings about travel as for me that’s what I enjoy reading about the most. I guess you could call me a temporary expat because I lived in NZ for two years and now in AUS for almost two years, but I don’t really see myself as one. I just figure my lifestyle is one that embodies slow travel. I like to take my time when I travel and explore every nook and cranny of a country, supplemented by travel. One day, my biggest challenge will be to do the same in a non-English speaking country.
Hi Meg, that’s for encouraging words. Slow travel I guess I could also use, except that I struggle between traveling almost full time and developing my professional career…which is much easier based that online. It is like gymnastics of planning :-). It is a wonderful experience to live in other places, there is so much learning involved. Enjoy yours.
I can relate to so much of this, although when we left our house in the US, the hardest thing for me to get rid of was my kayak, not my bike. I see so many travel quotes that make it seem like it’s somehow evil to get attached to material things. In reality, they can sometimes enrich your life in ways that travel can’t. We moved to Switzerland and then Germany and will be moving again in a year. For us it hasn’t gotten easier but it’s worth it for what we gain. Your post was a refreshing read to find tonight. Good luck with your next move!