our family semester abroad

It started out as a hypothetical, what if, could we, is this even possible, a wild whim that we had a couple years ago. A few google searches turned into a couple phone calls, then a Zoom interview, and an official offer opened the door to our next adventure. Even then, a contract signed, it didn't quite feel like it would really happen. I didn't mention it on the Christmas card, didn't want to jinx it, because the mountain of logistics, the hoops that needed to be jumped through, made our crazy dream seem like just that, a dream. 

But now I have paid a deposit on the most charming, four bedroom home. Plane tickets have been purchased, updated passports have been secured. The movers came last week and the kids and I are soaking in sunshine and time with family before our departure. The final boss level was getting T.J.'s work visa but that's officially taken care of so I can stop holding my breath. It still feels like a dream but I think it's safe to say it out-loud (online). We have put everything in storage, forwarded our mail, and packed up our bags. Next week we head across the pond to England!! 

So why and how are we doing this? Short answer is T.J. has accepted a six month fellowship. Long answer is we know that once he is settled in his more permanent job, the opportunity to pick up and leave our life for months overseas will be next to impossible. When we were in South Korea we started considering overseas fellowship programs as a way to continue our adventures abroad. T.J. looked at programs in France, several in the UK, and even Australia and ultimately the timing and application process for the England position worked the best. 

It was a slightly hair-brained idea that we assumed would mean a lot of stress and ultimately closed doors.  But then he was offered an interview and then came a contract. And suddenly the "it doesn't hurt to apply but will probably never happen" chance actually happened. One by one the doors opened, the stars aligned and T.J. and I just looked at each other, laughing somewhat in disbelief, and asked "are we really doing this?" And then we took the next step with hopeful faith and excitement.  Why not? 

We will be living in Cambridge and I'm so excited to get to know this beautiful, charming, historic city more intimately. We've secured a long term rental that's a short bus ride to the hospital TJ will be based out of, walking distance to a grocery, a little public library and new parks to explore. The train station and London are just a quick jaunt.  I can't wait to find "our places." The pub we go to each week for Sunday roast, the cafe I let the kids pick out a treat from, neighborhood holes in the wall (hole in the walls?). 

 He starts his Cambridge post in the beginning of August and we'll have a short buffer to get us there and get us settled and over the hump before he dives into work. I have to remind myself sometimes that T.J. is going there to work and not just traipse around England with me and the kids. We will do as much traipsing and wandering and exploring together as a family on the weekends but during the work week I imagine life will look similar to how it does now.  Except we'll be in England. Homeschool will happen but maybe it will happen on a picnic blanket next to the River Cam. Trips to the library will happen but the library might just be the Wren Library at Trinity College to visit A.A. Milne's manuscript of Winnie the Pooh. 

Yes. I know. I'm totally romanticizing this. In my head I picture us having tea time reading books in our garden or watching my kids run around the grounds of castles pretending to be Robin Hood and King Arthur. I see them eagerly climbing the steps to the top of a double decker bus and holding my hand as we mind the gap on the tube. I can just hear T.J. telling us Churchill anecdotes when we visit Blenheim Palace and imagine him rolling his eyes (with love) as I tear up when we visit my old home. We'll still listen to Tyler Childers in the car except we'll be on the left side of the road marveling as we drive to the next place on our UK bucket list. 

Of course I know personally, from experience that there will be challenges and hard days that will definitely not be romantic. Kids will still be kids, even in England. Moving overseas, while at first might feel like you're leaving your life and stepping in to a new one, like it's just one long vacation, in reality is often messy and stressful and the unknowns and unfamiliarity can be exhausting.  But T.J. and I often talk about what we want our story to be. Sometimes you do something wonderful but inconvenient, unexpected, untraditional, just down right hard because the story you come back with makes it all worth it. I think this next chapter we're writing is going to be a good one.