Happy is What Happens When All Your Dreams Come True. Starting My Journey as an Expat.

If you have ever seen the musical Wicked, or at least heard the soundtrack, you will probably remember the song referenced by the title of this blog. Glinda is loved by all in Oz and everyone is united against the Wicked Witch, Elphaba, and Glinda is singing about how happiness happens when your dreams come true.

My husband and I are leaving for Zurich, Switzerland this evening and I feel this same way. I have wanted to live in Europe for the last 6 years and when Tony and I got together we had all of these grandiose plans of living and traveling through Europe together. Tonight we leave for a 2 year stint and I am feeling….

….a million different feelings. It’s strange! I have been excited since I knew we were going and now these last 3 days, other emotions have taken over. I cried when our condo was emptied of everything. But then later that evening I got the excitement butterflies in my stomach and I started thinking of all of the great cities we are going to travel to.

Last night, I cried again when my in-laws and best friend left – I was sad because I didn’t know the next time I would see them. And yet this morning, Tony and I were jumping up and down talking about all of the fondue we were going to eat.

The closest I can liken these feelings to is my wedding day in Paris. I couldn’t wait to see Tony at the end of the aisle, but I was so anxious and excited leading up to it, and trying my best not to cry at any moment (didn’t want to ruin my make-up, of course).

I re-listened to Glinda’s song and there is a point where she says, “Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true. Well, isn’t it?”

And I realized how much I can relate to that line. Being brave and doing what you know will make you happy and push you outside of your comfort zone does just that – pushes you. I know that this is going to be the most memorable journey of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but to all of my family and friends, I will miss you terribly and I love you all.

I will see you soon, and thank goodness for Skype!