move to europe

I forget sometimes how powerful my students can be. My struggling seniors were reading “I will arise and go to Innisfree”, discussing the repetition of the title within the poem. We eventually agreed it’s because he’s hesitant to give up everything and go, but he’ll think of the cabin he might build and the lake lapping forever. I likened it to my wanting to move to Europe.

So, a student pipes in…”You should go.”

“Yes,” I respond, “but I’ll be giving up everything—my job, my home, my friends, my money….”

“But,” he responded, “you may end up loving Europe more than here. And you could rent your house. And your friends can visit.”

It was annoying…a 17 year old kid had better insight into my happiness than I did. And the worst part?

He’s right.

Game (back) on.

The prospect of leaving everything I’ve ever known for an experience abroad is simultaneously frightening and exhilerating. I have been thinking about this LITERALLY for years and it still makes my mouth water! I want to go, but what about my house? What about my job? I will give up so much and I’m terrified that I will never regain what I have fought so hard for. At the same time, if I don’t go, what am I losing that way? Everything. I would honestly love to go for my second masters and work part-time in a pub or some such nonesense, but how does one do this? Overwhelemd, but still wishful! =0)