As the first snow of the Winter began to fall this week (isn’t there something magical about the first snow of the year?), it occurred to me that I’ve been living in England for 2 years. I can’t even say exactly why I decided to just up and move country (indeed, hemisphere), other than an overwhelming desire to see life from another perspective, to push myself out of my comfort zone, to experience new opportunities and to seek new adventures.
I remember discussing this idea with the Clever Boyfriend and, when a week later he’d been accepted to study for a PhD at Cambridge University, all the chips seemed to fall in one place. I graduated from my (multiple) University degrees, said farewell to my job and friends, and packed several weeks supply of all the creature comforts I knew I would most likely miss. And just like that, we moved!
Uprooting to a new country is not in any way like being on holiday. Though we did not have a language barrier to overcome (apart from several rather embarrassing episodes where I was completely unable to interpret the stronger British accents), everything else was, in many ways, foreign for several months. Settling in a new place requires one to hunt down new favourite places, new friends, and new jobs. I rather naively presumed I’d fall off the plane and everything would slip into place, but the reality was, of course, a lot more effort on my part.
And then, Spring arrived. I was comfortable with my new home, and ready for all the adventures my life here would hold. And watching the banks of the Cam become a sea of yellow as the first daffodils burst through was, I still recall, one of the happiest moments of my life. I realised that until I had endured a European winter (after which Australia’s 8 weeks of mild coldness seemed like nothing), I had never fully appreciated Spring.
As the sun arrived, punters filed on to the river, cricketers took to the green, romantics sprawled on the banks to spend afternoons reading the English literary greats, Market Square filled with jewel-like fruits and cheeses just begging to be packed for a picnic in the countryside, London’s parks filled with lovers and children, and the days grew blissfully long.
Now, being here well and truly feels right. I have a wonderful job, wonderful friends, and I love experiencing the wonders of Cambridge with the Clever Boyfriend. Though I’m not quite sure where ‘home’ is these days, I like the perspective being in such a position brings; I’m familiar enough to no longer feel like a tourist (and tut at the map-wielding flocks of tourists clogging Kings Parade and Oxford Street like the most seasoned of locals), but foreign enough that being here still feels like an infinite possibility of opportunities and adventures are just waiting to be had.
I firmly believe that the scariest leaps in life – those events that push one well and truly out of the comfort zone of familiarity – are also those that turn out to be the most satisfying, life-defining moments. I’m not sure where home will be in the future (and perhaps once I get too comfortable here, it will be time to move on to a new, as yet undiscovered city), but for now I’m enjoying all that life here, in London and Cambridge, brings with it.
So tell me, dear readers, have you ever taken a great leap out of your comfort zone or moved to an entirely new place? I’d love to hear how it felt for you.
Love, Miss B xx
I have never done anything like it and at my age there are a couple of things I regret. I really wished I had lived in London for a while before I had children whilst I worked there, it would have saved on a long daily commute and my other regret is never having gone to New York. I know the last one could be rectified but I am pretty petrified of flying these days, which I wasn’t when I was younger. I am so glad you are enjoying life here and hopefully you will never have any regrets xx
A darling post sweety…
My first solo trip to the States this year was a big leap for me, and one which I will always feel proud of doing. I survived a tornado, a punishing work load, and lots of travel miles and it will always stay in my mind as being one of the most glorious and carefree times of my life.
Make that leap, keep the faith and you will be sure to benefit from the successes! 🙂
I just stumbled upon your blog and I love this post! It is very inspiring and honest. It can be so scary moving to a new city, and even when everything starts to feel more settled and comfortable, there’s always a little twinge of homesickness (for me, anyway!). I hope all goes well 🙂
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Wonderful post B! so sentimental and full of bounce and life energy. It’s almost like spring. And I know that feeling too. I felt very familiar in London from the beginning. It felt like home right away! But also that feeling of possibility when you come somewhere new was so exhilirating. I try to recall it every once in a while just to remind myself how life can be good when you feel like that! 🙂
M
You are a girl after my own heart – I just love that feeling of travelling somewhere new and unexplored, and feeling instantly connected and drawn to it. I float home on a cloud of inspiration and a renewed love for life and this world of ours. I will forever travel as far and as often as I can, just to get that feeling.
B xx
Lovely post!
Your words made me think…and so am posting up a comment, which rarely do though so appreciate and adore your blog here…and should do more often, even to say hello…You’re a grand read Miss B 🙂
I was born in Wales…relocated to NY at 4…lived there til finished art school there…and relocated again to the southwest, Arizona…have been here for thirteen years…and love love love it. Is best of all worlds, being able to travel back/forth to see family in UK, holidays there & through Europe, and still have my dear NY to come back to (finally purchased townhome there three years ago so have own place to use when there so don’t have to live with family again when go home there, so nice to have a little room of one’s own) and then live mainly in Arizona. I have traveled much & often, and find my “place” in world is where ever a good blog entry, or journal note, or line from song, inspires me…Home is where the heart and passion is for me…
However…I find that going home, being cooked for and having my family around me, is when I cherish life the most.
Happy travels and thank you for you! Cheers, xo
Meg, thank you so much for this lovely comment – I’m very touched! And I loved hearing about all your moves – it’s funny how after moving so often (I had travelled and moved about a lot before, but this was my first ‘permanent’ move), home becomes wherever we find comfort and joy and happiness, rather than the place we are necessarily most tied to.
Thank you for your lovely words, B xx
I always admire anyone who has the guts to leave family and friends behind and go to a whole new place. I would love to give it a go but I don’t think that my husband would be so keen. I wish I had travelled more when I was younger but now I have commitments that, although not impossible, make life harder to change so drastically. I would love to spend half a year travelling around Central and South America or spend a summer in France, but if I was going to move anyway on a more long term basis, I think that I would choose New Zealand.
I really enjoy reading your blog as not only do I enjoy the topics that you choose but I also enjoy the relaxing way that you have with words.
Best wishes,
Hannah (Vintage Dumpling on Twitter) xx
the snow was so horrible this week xxxx
You’ve really captured the spirit of the expat traveller B! I went to live in Japan just after university and that was an exhilarating thing to do as I was completely on my own. I don’t think I would have done it the same way now though! 🙂
Ooh Lorraine, I’m seriously considering living in Japan for a year or two a few years from now so was thrilled to hear you’d done the same! And leaving your job to devote yourself to your blog was a huge step of your own – and one which has, I’m certain, proven to be the right thing to have done countless times over.
B xx
Great post I am quite boring in that I have not really done anything quite as exciting (yet there is plenty of travelling for the future) I guess part of it is the kids. can’t go anywhere without sorting them out first, but I will definitely remember this post for inpsiration about taking a leap of faith and trying to find some adventure xx
What a fabulous and wonderful blog Miss B…you had me hook, line and sinker by the end of the first sentence as I felt my whimsical self (which I’m only just learning to reacquaint with) turn happily green with envy over the the adventure I failed to take before marriage, mortgage and motherhood. Not that I would swap any of what I have now but rest assured I will be encouraging my babies when they grow up to persue their dreams and follow their hearts and just see what happens. We will always be here for them if they want return. My big move was across the Nullabor from Perth to Melbourne 11 years ago on, I am proud to say, a whim. Who would have thought that my solo flight across the country at 26 yo with the nothing but a new job and two relatively unknown acquaintances would result in a loving husband and two beautiful girls and frequent trips overseas to fulfill my ‘other’ dreams albeit only briefly. Sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith and as I have already said, see what happens. I’m proud of you, if one can be proud of a stanger and wish you all the happiness in your adventure. Look forward to chatting with you more soon
MFSxx
Milla, thank you for your very sweet words! And moving across the Nullabor is vast in any sense, and it seems it opened so many of life’s doors for you, so hurray to you I say! Don’t regret what you haven’t done, but just embrace all the opportunities that will fit within your life now (and yes, traveling often is a brilliant way of doing this in small doses).
B xx
B,
I moved from Los Angeles to New York City in 2004, which really is not as ambitious or intimidating as a move from Australia to the UK. But I admit, I’ve often fantasized of crossing the pond and getting cozy with my British Citizenship. There are still days where I think about continuing my education and making London the city to do that, but I’ve grown so attached to this city which has become my “home.”
It takes a lot of courage and bravery to uproot oneself with such an enormous distance. I really admire that bravery.
xo nicolette
Nicolette, moving from West to East is still a major, life altering move in my opinion! I just adore seeing NY through your eyes – the city really seems to suit you. That said, I’d highly advocate a stint in London if life ever allows it – it really is a wonderful city. Let me know when you’re next back here and we can have a wander about Mayfair and go for tea xx
i just stumbled across your blog today, and what a great post! three years ago, out of nowhere i got the opportunity to move to Vienna for a year. i had thought about traveling in europe a lot, but never about moving there, especially so soon. but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. i totally agree with you that the biggest leaps in our lives are the most satisfying!!
i’m glad your so happy where you are, London is on the very top of my travel list right now!
Thanks for stopping by my blog Miss B. I’m always glad to meet a fellow afternoon tea enthusiast. We should definitely try and sample some sweet delights together soon. we’d have plenty to talk about what with tea, blogging and Cambridge (where I used to live). Tiny circles eh?
I have never moved anywhere dramatic as life and career always seemed to get in the way but seeing my sister up-sticks and move to Australia has been difficult enough. And if I’m honest moving south of the river in the last few months has felt like quite an adventure for me. After that I feel I could probably move anywhere…
Superbes photos!
Just stumbled upon your blog and loving this post. I’m from Australia and my husband has just been offered the opportunity of a lifetime to work in London – we’re weighing it up and I’m on the hunt for London blogs to get a feel for things!
Thank you so much! Oh, how wonderful! Moving here was the best thing I’ve ever done, so I say embrace this big opportunities when they present themself. Hopefully you find some inspiration for the move on here 🙂
B xx
I came across your blog during school on wordpress and have since entirely poured through posts of yours and loved all of the inspiration!! I just moved to an entirely different town/highschool/new family. (I switched parents) and its been tough to say the least. My homelife has greatly improved living with my other parent, but school has been so rough. Its so different in my new town, and I’m very different than the students in my highschool. No one dresses fashionable (something tough to comprehend haha) and people are so foreign so I can relate. This post has made me realize I can pull through it and use it to my advantage!
<3 thank you for that!
Taylor, thank you for your very sweet comment. Major change is always incredibly hard to deal with at first (and I’ve had my fair share – both major life decisions as an adult, but also fairly dramatic upheavals when I was younger that I had little say in). But it’s also those big, scary changes that push us out of our comfort zone, make us see life from a whole new perspective, and shape us into more well-rounded creatures. And in hindsight, it’s always those things that really shape us as a person, so I wouldn’t take back any of the dramatic things I’ve done – they’re what make life an adventure!
Miss B xx
Your journey to England is reminiscent of my journey from Texas to England. We’re here for now and excited about where we may go next.
I’m making the move to England soon and I’m having so much trouble packing. I know clothes are extremely important but at the same time I want to bring small trinkets that’ll remind me of home. Any advice?