As I mentioned in my previous post, I haven’t been able to come here and write new content for the past few months because I moved. Once again I decided to take on a new journey and move to another country. In 2018, I moved from NYC to Barcelona and lived there for 1 year. By the end of 2019 I moved to Norway and I am now living in Oslo and let me tell you what a change it has been.
Before I get into my journey I want to talk about the anxiety behind such a change. Most people wouldn’t categorize me as an anxious person if I’m able to do something so intense like this. However, that’s so not true. Sometimes you can make the biggest decisions in your life but you live with the daily anxiety regardless and cannot compartmentalize what is actually going on in your brain.
Moving from NYC to Barcelona was the biggest decision of my life. I realized after that it was also the best one I could have made. It forced me to look at life in a completely new and different way and it was so exciting. However, there were many anxious moments. I didn’t speak the main language, I didn’t know anyone and I left my family back in the US. Moments like, “What happens if I get sick?”, “What is I have a problem with finances?”, “What if I never make any friends… EVER?!” These questions were running through my head on a daily basis as well as times of feeling extremely lonely and homesick but I would make the same decision every time. I have to go.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to listen to your gut and when it’s telling you to do something that might scare you but in the end you know it’s the right decision for you, I always say go for it. I was terrified the moment I sent in my deposit for my new place and purchased the one-way flight ticket. That was the, “Oh shit this is really happening I feel like I’m insane what am I doing I think this is the stupidest thing I could have done oh well here it goes!” All that said in my head so fast I couldn’t keep up with one thought. And then after a few months I had a moment where I thought, I can’t believe how well this worked out for me. Yes, it’s hard, like really difficult. But I’m hoping the same will happen for me in Oslo.
I won’t pretend the move to this country has been easy. The culture and lifestyle is completely different than anything I’ve experienced before. Also, unfortunately, I am someone who suffers from serious seasonal depression so this is definitely a, “get your mental shit together moment” but I believe in the end it will work itself out. What other option do we really have than try.
Let me know in the comments below if you have ever moved to a new country and what your experience was like. I would really love to know! Next post I will tell you all about the different culture shocks I got in my first two months in Norway!
Photo Credit: Picjumbo.com from Pexels