Hey there! By the time you read this, I’ll probably be halfway through the process of moving abroad. But before I get ahead of myself, let me take you back to a day that changed my life.

It was a normal work day, or so I thought. I came in thinking about finishing up a few creative campaigns that needed to launch by the end of the day. But as they say, life happens.

I was at my desk, getting ready to save my files when I got distracted. I looked up and took a moment to assess how I was feeling. Suddenly, I had an eerie feeling that something serious was about to happen. My first thought was, did I miss an email about a meeting that I didn’t know about or remember? Just as I checked my emails, I saw a company-wide message come through. In my gut, I knew it wasn’t good.

Not knowing exactly what it was going to be, I walked into a conference room with the rest of my team. As we waited for other members of the company to join us, I looked around the room feeling rigid and uneasy. The fear of the unknown was palpable for everyone.

Shortly after, it was announced that our L.A. office was closing and that all of the work for the company would be done out of the NYC location. Wow. I’ve never been in a situation like this before, but all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind. I was shocked and upset that there had been no warning or heads-up about this. All I could do was take it as it was. I broke down and cried next to my boss.

As I move forward with this exciting new chapter in my life, I can’t help but look back on all of the amazing experiences I’ve had over the past year with this company. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the most fun and dedicated people I’ve ever met. Despite any personality clashes or quirks, we’ve all come together to create an unforgettable year full of hard work and good times.

Saying goodbye to my colleagues and the relationships we’ve built is definitely the hardest part of this situation. However, I’m determined to stay positive and embrace this new opportunity to further my education by pursuing a master’s degree in Europe. This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’m thrilled to have the chance to live in Europe for the next year.

I’m sure there will be plenty of challenges ahead, but I’m excited to document my experiences and share them with all of you on this blog. I hope that by sharing my journey, you’ll be able to learn a thing or two about life abroad and find inspiration for your own adventures. Here’s to staying strong and positive as we embark on this new journey!

Ciao,

ASA