1 more year goes by

I've been reflecting on the past year every July 3rd for several years now.

Last year on July 3rd I was working at Luz y Vida, feeling a tug that it was time to move on, but really no clear sense of direction about what was next.  I was anxiously hoping that by September I would make up my mind about staying in Colombia or about leaving so I had time to prepare myself.  And, I was either just days away from "discovering" Finland, or I was only just beginning to consider it.

It's hard to believe it's only been a year since those feelings of angst, to now- making the decision, applying to schools, wrapping up everything in Bogotá, saying good bye to dear friends, visiting Venezuela, re-integrating back into the US, working for 5 months at a daycare, hearing back from all the schools I applied to, a second (angst ridden) decision making process, the residence permit application process, and now, here I am, studying Finnish, ticket purchased, housing secured. . .  This has been a year of changes.

This July 3rd I gave notice at work.  I was surprised how nervous it made me- not just to start the conversation, I know myself well enough to expect that.  Quitting my job itself made me nervous, despite the fact that I knew when I was hired that I'd be leaving in August.  Despite the fact that I'm very excited about going to Finland.  Despite the fact that my job doesn't challenge me, or inspire passion, or make me feel like I'm working towards my dreams.  Because the one little thing that job does provide that Finland doesn't is the stability and predictability that come with a paycheck and a full time job.  And moving to Finland- that's the unknown.  That's unpredictable.

So, I know already that this year will be full of surprises- new experiences, new friends, new countries. And I know, geographically, where next year should find me (Regensburg, Germany), but I wonder how much will have changed by then.  I'm excited to find out.