My journey moving abroad has been transformative in every possible way. I officially moved overseas on September 8th, 2025, but the process began nearly a year earlier, in October 2024, right after quitting my retail manager job. One late night, while having a mental breakdown and feeling completely lost after leaving my job, I stumbled across RVF. I thought I had no direction then, but was guided toward a new beginning. Moving abroad alone comes with a price both literal and emotional. It has been the most significant investment I’ve ever made in myself. Thankfully, the legal process of moving abroad was smooth and straightforward. RVF made everything as simple and stress-free as possible, and staying organized helped ensure the process flowed easily. Still, a wave of emotions, shame, guilt, fear, and sadness arose as I prepared to leave my hometown, family, friends, and the comfort of everything I knew. As my departure date approached, life began to feel heavier. My body knew a massive change was coming. On the day of my flight, everything that could go wrong did: my flight was delayed, my luggage was overweight, I missed my connection, and my new itinerary included three layovers. I passed through four countries in just 24 hours. To top it off, when I finally landed in Spain, all my luggage had been left behind in Germany. I spent two days without any of my belongings. Yet, my spirit remained grounded, strong, and positive through it all. Even people at the airport couldn’t believe how calm and cheerful I stayed despite the chaos. Once I finally settled in and received my luggage, everything started to fall into place. That same week, I got a Spanish phone number, a public transportation card, and opened a bank account. The following week, I found my apartment, explored the city, and even began traveling to other regions of Spain. Everything seemed to align perfectly, but that didn’t mean emotions and old triggers didn’t surface. Spain has been nothing short of loving and amazing to me. I moved into my apartment the day before the first day of school. Fortunately, I found a beautiful apartment just 20 minutes from the school, in a charming town 45 minutes outside Madrid, where I live with my dream roommate. The first day of school was incredible. From the moment I arrived, the staff and teachers welcomed, appreciated, and celebrated me; they were even more excited for me than I was! I love everything about my school, the students, the coordinator, and the staff. My coordinator lives nearby and often gives me rides. She even invited me to events at her church, where I’ve since made wonderful new friends. By my second week, I was already being offered opportunities to tutor students after school, and now I’m booked Monday through Friday, earning extra income doing what I love! I am overwhelmed with gratitude and blessings. I see breathtaking views of mountains, horses, and landscapes daily during my bus rides. Sunrises and sunsets that constantly remind me how far I’ve come. At times, I still feel uncomfortable because everything is new and unfamiliar. Part of me has felt like I’m starting over, or even moving backward, after leaving behind everything I once knew. The thief of comparison crept in, and I realized that my discomfort wasn’t unhappiness but growth. I was finally reaping what I had sown all my life, and my body just wasn’t used to it. That discomfort became a gift, the pillar of my faith, blessings, and growth.