Ten years ago I visited Edinburgh for just a few days with my family. I fell in love with the city and, when I left, vowed that I would someday live here. For many years, the city would continue to be in my thoughts, and my dream of moving to Scotland never disappeared.
Unfortunately, life happened. I had to get a real job. I had to make my own money and support myself. I was in serious relationships. Just picking up and moving overseas wasn’t in the cards for me. I worked teaching at a school for 5 years. I loved my job as I worked with great people and taught some amazing students. While I felt blessed to have a job I enjoyed going to everyday, and to even just have a job in the suffering economy, I always felt like something was missing.
Two years ago, the school I was working for had to make some cut-backs. Without any warning, I was let go. I was initially devastated as I thought I would spend the rest of my life at that school. I struggled trying to figure out what I was going to do, as teaching jobs were non-existent at the time. I remember sitting at home one night and my brother came over. We began discussing it and the first thing he said was “Why don’t you go overseas? It’s what you’ve always wanted.” That was all it took.
I applied to the University of Edinburgh and decided I wouldn’t start thinking about it until I knew if I was accepted or not. When I got the e-mail saying I had gotten in, the ball started rolling. I knew my life was about to change drastically. I was scared, but excited as I was finally realizing a dream that I thought would never come to fruition.
So far, my experience in Edinburgh has been better than I ever could have imagined. I still have to pinch myself some days to remind myself that it’s real, and after ten years it’s great to finally call it home!!!
