Here we go again...
Almost exactly 11 years ago I embarked on a one-way journey to New Zealand. I knew I could only stay a year but it felt like such an adventure. That decision changed my life in ways that I couldn't have expected at the time. Now, eleven years later I'm standing on the verge of another international journey with my one-way ticket in hand. This time though, it's not the same. I'm older. I'm a home owner. I'm maintaining my career during the move. My friends have kids who are growing fast. Other friends have careers and lives that are taking them out of Chicago. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. And new relationships have been formed that could be lost when I leave. It's harder this time. Much, much harder. Up until now it's been six months of playing a hurry up and wait game. My job needed to be sorted out, visas needed to be obtained and lockdowns needed to be lifted. And now that my departure is within just two weeks, I'm feeling all the sad