Hello my loves!
Last time I catched myself complaining about my decision of moving to Germany. During these years I’m living here I’ve tended to ask myself many times one question: “What I’m doing here?” – as a response to many challenges along the way… You know, as an expat you’re always challenged and you have also times of doubts. You try to find your “comfort zone” again and you don’t always find what you are looking for.
This world gives us a choice everyday and honestly – we’re never wrong about our past decisions. Our knowledge is limited from different points of view but we always do our best in the current situation or in the current state of mind…
We do what we feel is right at the specific moment of our life. Don’t get me wrong. If someone asks me if I regret to move in Germany, I will definitely say “No”. There’s no reason to regret anything in life.
What kind of life would we live if we didn’t experience new things?
I reminded myself that quote by Steve Jobs:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path.”
Everyone who lives abroad goes through some phases of adjustment. Moreover anyone who lives abroad goes through personal growth and changes. You can’t just fall back into the person you were in the past. I think each year we’re changing… we’re older and wiser.
Everyone who decide to live in another country will gain new experience of other cultures, understanding of different points of views. Meeting new people, discovering new mentalities and languages are the most valuable parts of living abroad.
I’m really grateful for the opportunity to live abroad in such a unique country like Germany.
I don’t know how long I’ll stay here.
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I can only say that the most valuable in life are experiences and the “life lessons”, which are given to us.
The experience of living abroad will give you the awareness of responsibility for your life. Btw., we are responsibly for our life as soon as we turn eighteen. We decide where we live, what we eat, what clothes we wearing…etc.
However, the decision of living abroad gives you a new meaning of responsibility for your choices (from the new point of view).
After few years of living abroad you learn to take nothing too seriously/personally. In other words, it’s just crucial. Each person has a right to have their own opinion and to have their unique point of view based on their belief systems. True power is not taking anything personally.
We are all humans… but we are so different and the same at once. We are born in different places and speak different languages. Regardless of where we live, we all have the same needs – we need to eat and sleep. We all need to grow and evolve in some way. And we all need love…
Well, that’s it. I needed to share with you guys some recent thoughts.
Thank you for reading my blog and I’d love to hear your thoughts about moving abroad. Did you ever lived abroad?
I have a friend who is stationed in Germany for the military. I personally have never left the USA but your pictures look so nice.
Changing countries is never easy, we underestimate how familiar we are with the culture we are used to. Even moving from Zimbabwe to South Africa was a huge adjustment for me and we are neighbouring countries.
Some of the life lessons are given to us but also interesting how it’s up to us to put ourselves in the situation that we are meant to be in.
In some cases it is lack of action, in some it is misguided action. As long as we can be mindful of it during, and afterwards. Then stare out into beautiful views like in your pics!
I never lived abroad because I’m such a homebody. The only city I see myself living in besides Ljubljana is VIenna, and that’s just across the border.
I just wanted to add, the pictures are so beautiful! I actually thought they were taken in Ljubljana on the castle 🙂 Looks just like it
I love going on holiday but have never lived abroad. I think it is a very brave thing to do. I have a lot of responsibilities at home and equally am a very homely person, so I think I will need to wait till retirement before we consider living in perhaps a better climate with a beach!
I love going abroad, but not sure I could move their as I would miss my family to much.
I have lived abroad half of my life and for me it would be quite difficult to move back and I have heard it from people as well. After many years abroad you feel like an alien in your own country and a foreigner in that foreign country. It’s just a thing you need to accept i guess.
Living abroad gives life so much more richness– for better and for worse. To experience another culture gives you a worldly wisdom not everyone can afford. It’s not easy living away from home, but one day you’ll come back or move somewhere else that fits you better 🙂
Well said, it must be hard living in a country that you were not born in and honestly I applaud your bravery. I don’t know if I would have the guts to do it but I hope you find the right place for you one day xx
I can definitely see how things would be difficult to adjust to in a new country. I like that Steve Jobs quote though. It makes a lot of sense.
It’s never easy to live abroad, I can only imagine how challenging it can be. But I love the way you view life, we can never regret our past, we just act on what we think is right. I’m glad you’re loving life there!
I could feel every word of yours. No matter what, let’s be responsible to our choices and enjoy every moment in the place we chose to stay.
Being an expat is hard at times. Being away from some of those you love. My husband, our two kids and I moved to Norway from the United States a little over a year ago. While most of the time I love being here there are times I miss home and my extended family. But I wouldn’t change anything!
I used to live in Turkey so can really relate to how you’re feeling. Coming home was the right thing for me.
Samantha xo | Blended To Perfection
I lived abroad for 4 years and enjoyed every moment. It was good to return home. Now just love traveling around.
I loved this post! Thanks for sharing and being so open. I can’t imagine how difficult changing countries must be, but some day you will likely look back and see how much you’ve grown from that part of life. Have a wonderful weekend, love!
This is such an inside view of the thoughts after a move like that. I appreciate your candor.
How inspiring! Love this post, hope you enjoy Germany <3
I love the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that life is a journey, not a destination! Moving to a new country does not only helps you to understand about new culture and people but expand your horizon! I moved to the United States last year and am thankful to my decision! I got tremendous learning opportunities that made me a better person!
I love that Steve Jobs quote! Thanks for sharing it. I’m too about to move abroad … to Spain. So I’m sure I’ll be experiencing similar emotions to these very soon!
Nina
aworldofdresses.com
I like how you said “we are never wrong in our past decisions”. And you are so right! So many times we get stuck in the past way of thinking and how wrong we were, that we can’t move forward. Thank you for the reminder!
My husband is from Germany, so I have spent lots of time there. I love learning the language and culture of new places. I have never technically lived aboard but spend about 4 weeks over there each summer. I would love to live there permanently at some point.
I have also moved to another country 3 years ago. I would have never imagined to do so in the past, but secretly, I wished for a better life. I think this is what drives us to move and search for that life that we dream of. Moving abroad takes a lot of courage and it’s not easy to leave everything behind. It’s a challenge to start from 0.
piękne zdjęcia! ja uwielbiam Niemcy 🙂 nigdy nie mieszkałam za granicą, ale w przyszłości na jakiś czas bym chciała pomieszkać gdzieś indziej 🙂
http://dalenadaily.com
Living abroad would have definitely helped me become a little bit more mature about life (making food, buying my own groceries, etc) because I didn’t really do those things even in college. There’s so much eating out to me done, but I have a feeling I would’ve been forced to do some cooking! xx adaatude.com
Living abroad is such an amazing opportunity and brings with it a lot of fun and adventure, but it can also have it’s challenges, particularly if the country you move to doesn’t speak the language of home. But that to me is just all part of the experience. I lived abroad for 5 months when I was 19 years old, in Japan, and it was one of the best times in my life.
Change is hard but sometimes its needed to continue our journey through life
Wonderful reflection. Thank you for sharing! Germany is such a wonderful country, and I love how you can easily visit so many other countries from there in a short amount of time. Enjoy!
Good insight about connecting the dots. We don’t always understand while we are in the moment the purpose for the events in our lives. Yet none of those events are without a purpose.
Living abroad is an intense challenge and you deserve credit for being so brave and adventurous. I would love this opportunity and you are inspiring for going with it!