April 3, 2014
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A Sense of Adventure!
Em and I went to high school together and connected over a love of books along with an obsession with Ireland. For years we’ve talked about how amazing it would be to live in Ireland, and discussed going there together as neither of us loved the idea of travelling to a foreign country alone.
So when I decided to do a SWAP, I had to tell her about it. She said she’d look into it but never did, not until I told her about figuring out how a person could actually live in Ireland for FOUR years if they wanted (aside from the time between that one must return home in order to apply for a new visa).
To me, this is the perfect time to go! Neither of us are in debt, nor have jobs or family to keep us here. Em is actually an author so she could just as easily write a novel somewhere in the Brit Isles as she could from home. In fact, she said she wanted to go there as research for a book!
Because of all all that, I was a bit astounded by her response as it was entirely lacking in enthusiasm about what an amazing opportunity this is. I just can’t figure out where her mindset is and perhaps she thinks the same of me considering I haven’t heard from her since.
I’m going to copy below what she wrote me:
I suppose you have to look at the long-term. What’s your ultimate goal? What do you want to do as a career? Are you going to get there and end up working in a pub or an office? What if the career you want isn’t available there? What if you assume you’re going to love it, but you actually hate it and you’re miserable yet you’ve put a lot of time and effort into getting there?I don’t know you ALL that well but from what I DO know I imagine you’re thinking, ideally, you’ll get there, fall in love, find a career, and make friends. But what if none of that happens? What if life is no different than it is here? I know that all sounds REALLY negative, but you do have to be realistic.
As much as I love the idea of doing the swap, I don’t want to work at some random job just to make money so I can live there. Also, I can’t imagine being away from my family that long. I hate it when I don’t see my nephews for a week, so I can’t imagine going weeks or months without seeing them.
I’d love to do a few weeks or even a few months in Ireland and, while I’m there, see the other things I want to see – a ferry to Scotland, a train to England, the Channel to France, etc. And the actual Ireland swap is 18-35 which made me feel a bit better than the one that’s just up to 30.
Have I really sounded like I hadn’t put much thought into this? I’ve only been dreaming of Ireland for fifteen years and considered doing the SWAP thing off and on for much of that time. Maybe I haven’t planned as much as I could have, but I don’t want to just take a few weeks to see what I can and then come home. Why would I when I can spend the same amount of money to move there for two years and establish myself in a job so I’ll have time to see everything and more?!
Do I expect to love it? Yes, but I am not ignorant of the fact I might downright despise travelling… Yet the only way to learn is to go do it! I was homesick for a while when I moved for school, but I got over it. Everything has its good and bad points, but the whole reason of doing something like this is for the adventure of it all!
My ultimate goal is to follow my dream of travelling to the British Isles. No matter how much time and effort and money I put towards this, I’ll know that I tried and succeeded. By doing this, even if I find it isn’t what I thought it would be, I’ll have a better understanding of who I am and what I can do.
Quite frankly I don’t see how what I want for a career even matters. I am going to the UK for the adventure, and if I happen find a position that forwards my career plans then BONUS! I fully expect I might end up working in a dead-end job just for the privilege of living in a foreign country, but I’m okay with that. It’s no different than my current situation of trying to get anything that will pay the bills except all the people will have accents and there will be locations I haven’t yet handed out resumes to.
The thought that I won’t make friends is completely bogus, because I almost always make friends. I will have five freaking countries full of potential mates, and I’m sure at least a few of them will be willing to make my acquaintance. I’ve already been talking to other past and future swappers online, so I may have friends before I even leave my home!
As for falling in love…Well…I hope so. I know it might not happen and even if it does the relationship could end badly, but the same might occur no matter where I am. You don’t choose when or where you fall in love, it just happens when it’s meant to happen. I happen to think it will happen in Ireland, but that’s just me.
I am so sick and tired of putting off my dreams, of hearing naysayers, of feeling like I’m in a holding position until my life can start! I know I’ve got to do this, I’ve got to leave this country because there is honestly nothing for me here.
❤ SUMR
