My Life in the US - Year 5
On Feb 20, 2015 I boarded a plane from Frankfurt, Germany to the Bay Area in the US. I can't believe it's been five years already since I moved here. The last years have been very eventful. I am very grateful for the opportunities that I have had on my journey. The theme for my fifth year in the US was “thrive in uncertainty and celebrate the good.”
In this blog post, I will reflect on my fifth year in the US. This post continues my Her Relocation series where I share my experience living in multiple countries over the past 19 years. Check out My Life in the US - Year 1, Year 2&3 and Year 4.
Discovering that my relocation experience is different
Thinking back to my first five years in Germany, it was extremely difficult. Some of the differences include being financially stable, having companionship, having a clearer plan and being more mature. I was definitely able to deal with new experiences better than when I moved to Germany at the age of fifteen. There have been ups and downs on this journey, but I have felt more equipped to deal with them and thrive.
Realizing that time flies by very quickly
When I started writing this blog post, I was surprised at the speed at which time has gone by. I guess it's true when they say, "time flies when you are having fun". So many things have happened since I moved to the US. There have been lots of lessons learned, experiences had, people met, and dreams realized. I'm looking forward to my journey over the next years.
Learning that stability is cool too
One thing that I realized recently is that this is the longest time I have spent in a single house and city for all my life. I have been living here for five years straight. Although I enjoyed moving around on my relocation journey, it does feel very good to be stable. Having a stable home and loving partner has made my time in the US amazing. I have had some practice adapting to new cities and homes over the past 19 years. However, I am now learning the valuable skill of building my life and home in a stable environment.
Accepting things that are outside of your control
One of the most challenging parts of my journey in the US was waiting for my immigration status to be updated. As an immigrant for the past 19 years, I have gotten used to having to go through the immigration process. This time it was different, there were a lot of things going on outside my control and all I could do was check the website regularly and wait. After months of waiting and being anxious, I was able to complete my immigration process. It definitely took a lot of mental and emotional energy to stay calm through the process.
Living out my passion is fulfilling
In my previous posts, I have shared that one of my favorite parts of living in the US is that I finally got to make my dreams a reality. Over the past year, I really leaned into the work that I had started with following my passion. In my fifth year I took on new challenges and continued to build on the strong foundation.
Overcoming a challenge and thriving professionally
I kicked off my 5th year in the US knowing that I needed to transition to a new role. It wasn't something I planned but I knew it was necessary. One big part of moving to different countries is that I have learned a lot about myself. I know when it is the right time to pick up myself and move. Change has been constant in my life. When the time came to change my role unexpectedly, I reminded myself of all the change I have weathered in my life and how I have succeeded in the past 18 years. It was all worth it in the end. I'm growing and thriving.
Final Thoughts - 10 Lessons I learned
Believe in yourself - you have what it takes to succeed in any environment
Accept the uncertainty - Don't be discouraged by unplanned circumstances
Build your home - it takes some time and it's totally worth it
Celebrate Change - it is good and necessary to make progress
Surround yourself with great people - who are learning and growing
Don't lose your identity - Stay in touch with yourself and be grounded
Follow your passion - you will find fulfillment here
Don't take no for an answer - if you want something, go get it
Motivate yourself - especially when things get difficult, be hopeful
Keep striving for more - there is so much more that you can achieve
Call to Action
What is one thing you won't have been able to do if you didn't move to a new city or country? Celebrate the opportunities