And just like that (sorry, I had to), our time abroad is coming to an end. It feels bittersweet to put these words to (digital) paper when I constantly feel a wide range of emotions. We’re headed back to Boston, which for the purpose and name of this blog, makes total sense. Everything else about the move feels a little less meant to be.
It’s no secret that our time abroad hasn’t been anywhere near what we thought it would be. Just two months after our big move, COVID came along and threw the entire world’s plans off for two years and counting. It changed the way we adjusted to a new work environment. It hindered us from making friends in our new home. And it threw a big wrench in our plans to spend our 30 days of vacation traveling.
In the end, we actually did get to do a LOT of travel. We went to places I probably wouldn’t have gone if we weren’t limited to trips by car when COVID was bad. I spent more time actually living in Nuremberg than I would have otherwise. And yet, there were so many aspects that were harder than I thought they would be. I learned a little german before the move, but the language is extremely difficult and even being immersed in it every day, my chances of ever becoming fluent in our short time abroad were slim from the start. As the city has many other expats, we thought enough people would speak English to help us get by. While it always worked out, it wasn’t without issue. Besides the language barrier, there were also cultural barriers; medications have different names (birth control is literally called antibabypillen), the way you get ibuprofen is over the counter, and their number one prescription is tea (yes, tea). There are about 10 different ways to dispose of waste here, a job notice is three months, not two weeks, and for some apartments, you have to bring your own kitchen. While a lot of these I take as positives, as a foreigner and someone who doesn’t understand the language, it was all very tough to adjust to.
I say all this knowing how extremely lucky I am to have done this as a choice, and to have the option to return back to my home country. While I’ve always been pro-immigration, I have an entirely newfound understanding and respect for those who have left their home country permanently to start a new life. I also have a greater perspective on how different and wide the world is, and can only hope to bring this learning home and have a more open mind to different ways of life, living, and thinking.
And now let’s get back to my opening statement about not being thrilled to move back to Boston. My main qualm is that I wanted to move somewhere warmer and continue on with being able to start fresh. I spent almost a decade living in Boston and grew up close by. While there are so many things I love about Boston, the things that make me nervous to return are the cost of living, weather, and being a little too comfortable.
While making friends as an adult is hard, I feel I’ve connected more with people I’ve met in Germany than ever before. I’ve met people who get my desire to travel and lead a more ‘unconventional’ life. People who value experiences over things. And unfortunately in Boston, and to be honest most of America, this isn’t the mindset. Perhaps this is my chance to branch out and not only meet new people, but also inspire others with the new European mindset I’m bringing home.
While I’m sure one day I’ll look back on much of this time with rose-colored glasses, if you are thinking about moving abroad, note that it doesn’t come easy. It’s a bittersweet end to a wild adventure, and I’m excited to head back home, reset, and bring back all my weekly Boston events and tips. Stay tuned and follow along on this next adventure.
