It was one of the most heartbreaking moments in my life – in the Aiport. Holding a one way ticket to a totally different life, I was saying my goodbyes to the people that I knew I might not see ever again. Everything in that turned out to be even worse than I thought at that moment, but I’ll leave it to another heartbreaking post.

I know I am not the only one. And there will be even more people doing it as well, due to the whole mobility aspect of the modern world – people want to live where they belong and itb is finally not that difficult. So I decided to sum up things that I learned as a person who left the previous life behind and share some tips for those who is going to make a big move or going through it right now.

The life is divided on Before and After. And there is no way around it. New experiences and new people do not only mean different surrounding to hang out with – it alters your plans, dreams, preferences and tastes. New experience brings changes in your personality, way of thinking, approaches, opinions, views. Even if you think it’s not going to happen to you, – it will!

And there is no way around it. New experiences and new people do not only mean different surrounding to hang out with – it alters your plans, dreams, preferences and tastes. New experience brings changes in your personality, way of thinking, approaches, opinions, views. Even if you think it’s not going to happen to you, – it will! There WILL be a gap between you and those who were left behind. Because they stayed where you were just a few months ago. Their every day life and surrounding hasn’t changed, whereas your every day is now a caleidoscope of new things and faces and none of them is the ones you used to know for few years, graduated from school with or were missing the lectures with laughing in the nearest coffee shop. None. Of. It.

Because they stayed where you were just a few months ago. Their every day life and surrounding hasn’t changed, whereas your every day is now a caleidoscope of new things and faces and none of them is the ones you used to know for few years, graduated from school with or were missing the lectures with laughing in the nearest coffee shop. None. Of. It. Disappointmen. Those who was with you every second, was holding your veil on the wedding, shared all the secrets AND promised their friendship forever – might dissolve in routine at home withing next couple of months or even weeks after your departure. But I have good new for you. Aside from disappointment there will be plenty of…

Those who was with you every second, was holding your veil on the wedding, shared all the secrets AND promised their friendship forever – might dissolve in routine at home withing next couple of months or even weeks after your departure. But I have good new for you. Aside from disappointment there will be plenty of… Surprises . People who you weren’t that much in touch or weren’t even sure if you both will make it to the next year – they suddenly become an example of support and they’re there when you need them. In a year time you might be very surprised evaluating who stayed with you and who didn’t…

. People who you weren’t that much in touch or weren’t even sure if you both will make it to the next year – they suddenly become an example of support and they’re there when you need them. In a year time you might be very surprised evaluating who stayed with you and who didn’t… It is hard. Not only the novelty is scary. Now – you are for sure on your own. At home there’s the language that you grew up on, dad’s connections when you’re looking for a job, mom’s gentle hands when you failed/hurt and crying on her shoulder and “walls that help”. But on this continent – you are on your own. There’s absolutely no way to prove and establish yourself other than showing that you have brain, ethic and can work hard. And no, nothing will ever prepare you to what you WILL have to go through.

But I have good news for you. It IS possible. And don’t ever listen to anyone with their “Nobody is waiting for you there”, “The grass is greaner on the other side”, “You think you are the smartest?” and many many others that I personally heard… Because the answer to all of them – YES, someone IS waiting for my work ethic and competence; YES, it is actually better in a place you chose to move and YES, I am smart enough to prove it.

There’s few tips that I can give so far:

Don’t listen to anyone – pursue your dreams. The explanation is above. Plus – people talk, advice, demotivate and then they turn around and go back to their life like nothing happened and don’t ask you how you are dealing with your life when you meet in a month. Not worth it.

Make efforts to keep in touch. It’s better to act and show that your relationship is important even if you are 2000 miles away from each other. Keep being a bigger person even when someone is not that responsive and proactive. The life will put everything and everyone on its places, but it’s better to know that you did everything you had and could do. Skype, e-mail and million different messengers – it is all possible, there’s no excuse with nowadays technology not to be in touch. With my best frient I text every single day pretty much, I sometimes know what he had for lunch. But with the rest I’m not.

Share. You will have incredibly busy life. You will have incredibly difficult life. Especially in the beginning. You will struggle with many things. Don’t close up. Your friends and family from the past are always there, one call away (God bless technology). They have the right to know what is happening with you, besides they can sometimes provide a very unexpected help. You will only benefit from it.

Work hard. Forget about everything for the first year and focus on getting education, finding work and establishing yourself there. It’s like at school – at first you work on your reputation and then your reputation works on your behalf. You will have a chance to go to all those amazing parties few months later. Trust me, parties won’t go anywhere.

Make time for yourself and enjoy doing what you like. There is so much happening that you NEED to reflect on things. A quiet evening with a book and a journal, talk on Skype with a friend, just staying in bed with a cup of tea/wine/hot chocolate on Sunday – a great opportunity to think about your new life and make the information to sink in instead of accumulating stress in a go-go-go pace.

Explore! New park, new coffeeshop, new streets. It is your new home now. Get familiar with it and make it YOURS. It is so much fun! That – I can promise.

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Have an amazing day!