It's funny that almost exactly three years ago, one of the driving forces behind my decision to move to France was "you'll never have this chance again....you'll never be this uncommitted, have this much freedom to just pick up your life and go somewhere else than you have right now" since I had just graduated college, and didn't have a boyfriend/house/car/pet.

Welp. Flash forward three years, and I'm doing pretty much exactly the same thing again. What does that say about my life?

It means that I can choose to live my life selfishly and wonderfully, knowing that every decision I make is made solely dependent upon what I want for the betterment of myself and my goals in life, without having to weigh what I want against what someone else wants. And that is so incredibly freeing and beautiful, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the biggest life lessons I've learned since moving to Denver is that of independence. I guess that goes for most people entering into adulthood, but I really think that I've gained an understanding and appreciation for being alone through my experiences with friends, acquaintances, and the mountains that I had no real understanding of before my time here.

I keep a note in my iPhone, the name of which is simply that blushing smiley emoji that, to me, portrays a sense of humble and simple contentedness. I started this note right before going to France to teach english and have filled it with drunken (literal and metaphorical) anecdotes about why I love my life, whenever I suddenly become overwhelmed with a warm realization of how wonderful the life I live is, and how fortunate that I am to be living it. It's safe to say that a majority of these moments occur when I am going through a big change (or else, expecting a big change) because that is what truly makes me realize how fortunate I am.

How fortunate that I have friends and family who totally and wholeheartedly support me doing what I want to be doing, and believe in me enough to be openly excited about it.

How fortunate I am to be constantly surrounded, whether in Chicago, Ohio, France, Denver, or by the ever present spirits wherever they are in the world, by more people than I can count who I can only describe as "unlike anyone I've ever met before".

How fortunate I am that my employer has enough faith and direction that they see in me in order to support this trip and the risks and expenses that come along with it.

How fortunate I am to have been raised by wonderful parents who only want the best for me; parents who have supported my higher education and my flighty life plans, and have lead me towards the people who have connected me to more and more people which have eventually lead me to right where I am supposed to be.

There are so many things in my life that I have been unsure of. I cannot think of a single big decision I have had to make in my life that I was absolutely and undoubtedly sure about....ever. From choosing my major in college in Ohio, to taking the teaching opportunity in France, to moving to Denver thereafter and going back and forth about job offers and my choice in career, there has always been a hesitancy because of the unknown risk factor and opportunity cost that I have never been able to kick.

Until now.

This opportunity has been one of the very few things I have ever jumped at without hesitation. Although there was some back and forth about timing and logistics of this rotation, there was never a doubt in my mind about wanting to seize this opportunity. I have never been more sure about anything than I am about my love of travelling and constantly changing environments and my desire to go and see everything, and this trip will allow me exactly that.

That being said, there are still just so many unknowns. I had a sudden moment of clarity about my thoughts of what the expat experience is and how my perception of that won't match at all what I will be experiencing in India over the next 3-4 months. Working with so many international travellers at my job, I feel comfortable saying that I know everything (and I do mean everything) that goes into the logistical, financial, numerical, and assignment policy/benefit area, but knowing about the emotional and personal aspect is something that is still a bit foreign to me.

What I mean is that this will not be France. I don't know much about the country's history, or language, or work environment, or politics, or religion, as I haven't been studying it for the majority of my life, as I had with French and France. I will not have an incredibly caring, patient, wonderful cultural ambassador/boyfriend to help with the ups and downs of expat life. If I meet someone who does not speak English, it will be nearly impossible to communicate with them. I will not be able to read signs in stores, the transit will be unlike anything I've ever seen before, and if I'm lost, or have a simple question, there's a very real possibility that I will not be able to find help.

These will be things that I will learn to cope with, and I could not be more excited about finding out how.



After that very long introduction, I have compiled a little FAQ for the questions I get often regarding these upcoming months.

1. Where are you going?
 I will be spending the next 3 months in Kochi on the southwest coast of India, and then another 3 weeks travelling southeast Asia (and looking for recommendations of places to visit!)

2. What will you be doing?
In Denver I work at a large accounting firm, which has two processing centers in India, so I will be doing some instructing/training over there with the Indian team. My firm supports short term international rotations for three months, which is exactly what I'll be doing.

3. Are you nervous about anything?
Honestly, one of my main concerns is about the safety, but I know that my company would not send me (or any of their expats) somewhere where they did not feel comfortable about the safety risk factor. Other things: making friends at work, learning names I'm not familiar with, legitimately pooping my pants at an inopportune moment, and coming back home and realizing everything has changed.

4. I want to see photos!
Not a question, but I will try and update this (what shall now be deemed) travel blog as frequently as possible.

5. What happens afterwards?
Back to Denver to resume life as usual, with a very different perspective.

ming.