From Lanai to Fire Escape

Moving internationally posed a lot of challenges. I thought I had an idea, but I didn't really. I moved from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Reading, England just a few months ago. I am like many millennials in the case that I lived at home up until this move. Living at home just really made the most sense for me. I had no intention of staying in Oklahoma after I graduated from my undergraduate studies for a handful of reasons. If you are familiar with politics in the state of Oklahoma, then I'm sure you understand why. It isn't that Oklahoma came without it's charms, but as a Southern California native I had been planning to leave.

The most difficult part of the move was definitely the preparations. I had to part with a lot of my belongings in order to fit what I need for a year (at least) into three suitcases. I'm sure this would have been substantially easier had I not decided to pack almost all of the vinyl records I own. However, now that I'm here and settled I am so very happy I did bring them. The move itself wasn't the difficult part. I got on a plane, got off, got on another plane, got off, and got my belongings. Once it came time to physically move into the new flat, I was so excited that I was determined to get it done as soon as possible and make it home.

Homesickness is very common amongst people who come abroad for fair periods of time, but I don't really have that tendency. I end up missing very specific things and never for a prolonged period. I miss my friends, I miss my pets, I miss my pillows, I miss my extensive wardrobe, I miss my family, and I miss my lanai. I mostly miss my lanai simply for all of the time I spent sitting out there reading, laughing, talking, enjoying the company of friends. I wouldn't quite say I'm homesick (even though I would gladly be on a beach in CA any day of the year), but I do miss things.

I am not sure what it was about that lanai. It was my quiet space, my place to make plans, my hang out. When we moved into the house only a couple of years prior, the lanai was covered in small pebbles with a bucket of water. It turned into my project to make the lanai usable. I designed a plan and started on making it my perfect little space outside. The worst step in this whole process was having to remove the rocks. My brother and I thought it was going well when we threw rocks over the bordering wall and into the bin; it wasn't. My aim is already questionable and the inability to see the target made it all the more difficult. I had planned the design with my father who helped me with building the flooring and bench. Although it was my personal project, it was also a lovely time with my family.

I spent more of my waking hours out in my lanai than I did in my own room. After two very short years I had grown pretty attached to my lanai and the memories I had there. I had to part with the space to pursue my future goals.

Saying farewell to my lanai was in essence saying goodbye to the comforts of living at home. I was heading off to the great unknown. I was moving to a city that I had only visited once prior. It was all a bit nerve-wracking. I took my anxiety and framed it as excitement and pushed on. The evening before my departure I had a party to see everyone one last time. I had multiple people tell me that night how brave I was for making the decision to move and pursue my Masters. I was a bit puzzled because all I had thought I was doing was taking the next step in my plan.

Once I moved into the flat in Reading, I was surprised to find a fire escape out the living room window that we were not aware of. I'm looking forward to making new memories in a new place. I'm excited to see where life takes me.