The first 6 months, is survival.
Proving to yourself (and others if you have to) that you can do this.
You can ‘adult’, live life, and survive, while in an entirely new country, an entirely new space, surrounded by entirely new people.
The next 6 months, is all about the clock.
There’s only 6 months left.
Have you done all that you wanted to do?
Experienced all that you wanted to experience?
Taken advantage of the opportunities?
Planned properly?
Done what you’ve set out to achieve?
If that’s a yes, great. If you haven’t, you begin to freak out.
For my move to New Zealand in 2018, I’d opted for a year.
I’m extremely happy I did.
My first 6 months, I was able to tick a great deal of the ‘tourist’ must do’s off my list. With the remainder of the year, I was able to develop a routine, get a job (that lasted more than 6 months), build on new friendships, and in the end, just get a feel of what it’s like to ‘live’ in New Zealand.
I feel as though, if I were to move anywhere for 4-6 months, I’d be in ‘on the clock’ mode – all the time. And this my friends, does nothing to help anxiety. I feel as though I would constantly feel the pressure of having to ‘do’ everything, and try to fit in all the plans I’d had in the now ‘little’ time I would have.
With a year, I feel as though I have the first 6 months to float around. Get things done, make mistakes, feel things out. Then I have the next 6 months to power through, take all that I’ve learnt about my surroundings, and manipulate it to get my desired outcome – achieve what I want to achieve, fulfill the goals that I want to fulfill. Definitely more my speed.
Disclaimer: There’s nothing wrong with moving anywhere for less than 6 months or more than that either. For me and this trip though, I realize it just wouldn’t have worked for me.
Now, I wrote this piece at a time when I was ‘on the clock’ for New Zealand and trying to figure out my next move.
Funnily enough, I’ve posted it right at the 6 month mark into what that next move was.
However, I find myself asking myself the same question(s) now, that I did a year ago…
Alyssa, what will it be? Where to next? What’s the plan? What’s the move? How long?
So, what’s it gunna be?
Written on Thursday 6th September 2018
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