✨ Your Integration Bestie ✨

In 2022, I made a decision that had been brewing within me since the pre-pandemic days. I had a thriving life in Sydney abundant in opportunities and connections. Yet, at the peak of it all, I decided to walk away.

Looking back now, it was a difficult decision that made no sense, to say the least. While Sydney was golden, I just knew that I wanted to be somewhere else. The longer I stayed, the more I was just delaying the inevitable.

So I decided to gift myself a year, following the persistent pull of my heart to Europe. Europe has always had this unique way of claiming a piece of my heart with each visit.

This time, marking my 4th visit, armed with time and means, I went away with a sense of freedom and curiosity with the big question lingering in my mind:

“For the past couple of years, I never felt quite ready to settle down because deep down I knew I wanted to live in Europe for an extended period. So, I’m giving myself a year with total freedom, curiosity, and imagination to see if Europe becomes another home, or… if I find myself back in Australia?”

Starting with a loose plan of three months from Oct – Dec 2022, I found myself back in Sydney by January 2023, realising that a few months weren’t enough. I wanted to go back.

Except this time, I craved a base, a place to truly live, just like back home in Australia.

So I came back to Europe in March 2023 and did exactly that.

The quest for a longer stay led me to Croatia, a country on my bucket list, completely unfamiliar until then. Croatia was supposed to be a temporary pause, a chance to recharge, rediscover, realign, and gain clarity.

Little did I know I’d find a full life in this supposedly temporary pause.

As my “gap year” approached its end in July/August, decision time loomed. Memories of homesickness resurfaced. Not knowing how on earth I’d orchestrate this relocation to Europe long-term if I were to do so…. etc

“To stay or to leave? And if I were to stay, where to call home in Europe… and how?”

Questions I asked myself on repeat a few months back.

[to be continued… ]