You can try to prepare yourself to move to another country before you go. You can read blogs, guide books, and every available Wiki page. I did all of this, and more, prior to departing for Hamburg, Germany for two years. These preparation attempts fueled my excitement, but did not fulfill their duties enough to prevent the nauseating, “What was I thinking?” that rushed through my body like a tidal wave as we approached the end of the last leg of our flight. Once I convinced myself to stop thinking about the things I left in Michigan—family, friends, a fabulous teaching job…and of course 75% of my very important materialistic things—I was able to open up my eyes and take in my surroundings. Seeing my fiancé next to me, calm as usual and sleeping soundly, had the same effect on my mind that multiple Dramamine had had on my unhappy stomach—peace. I have always believed that the two of us can do anything together. When you feel that in your heart you never really need proof, but I could not have been more ecstatic to have the chance to prove it then.
Shortly before we moved a friend reminded me that everything would be fine as long as Reggie and I stuck together. Her words echoed in my heart as we landed in Hamburg. By the time we exited the plane I was ready to face the world, one country at a time, together.
Before leaving Michigan a friend gave me a journal that is blank on the inside but has a quote that discusses the beauty of following your hear in bold block writing on the front cover. In the card she wrote that she hoped the journal would be helpful with documenting my adventure. I remembered the journal as we collected our 8 over-sized pieces of luggage and stumbled sleepily out into our new city. The journal pages, blank but many, reminded me that as we move forward we are presented with the opportunity to write our own story any way we choose. The title, which in this case couldn’t be more apropo, symbolizes the complicated vision of what I would like my life to be. This vision serves as a vague guide book which has been written and re-written by my experiences and will surely have multiple sequels.
My intention is to show you our adventure the way we see it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy describing it for you. Thanks for reading.
Lauren Dean
Detroit, Michigan + Hamburg, Germany
