From Lisbon to Stockholm - the 1st big adventure

At 22 years of age, I had lived in the portuguese countryside for 18 years, studied in Lisbon for 4 years and planned my adventures around the World for about 16 years. When I learned to read, during my first year in primary school, I started hoarding books. I didn't really realize it back then, but looking back now I see that there was a pattern already at such a young age: most books were about travels and adventures. The first book that I ever read from beginning to end was "Viagem a Um Mundo Fantástico" (Trip To An Amazing World), by Jostein Gaarder. I was fascinated by all the places the characters visited and all the adventures they embarqued on. I couldn't wait to go out there myself and explore the World as well.

So, unsurprisingly, the very first thing when my college graduation was approaching, was to plan my very own first big adventure. I had a few requirements: it had to be abroad, far away and in a place that was completely different than the environment I had been a part of for my whole life. When I found an opportunity to move to Stockholm, Sweden and work with an NGO related to sobriety and youth work, I knew that was it. I applied, got called for an interview, was accepted for the spot and my life changed. Or, as it felt back then, my life began.

On a sunny day in August 2016, my parents and I packed the car with all my huge bags and drove to the Airport in Lisbon. There, I would step out into the big World - and I was more excited than I had ever been about anything. I said goodbye to my teary parents and went to the gate, where I sat thinking about that far-away country that I knew so little about, where I had never been and where I didn't know anyone at all. I wondered what the people were like, what daily-life looked like and how cold it really got in the winter.

Four hours later and TAP Portugal had taken me to the other side of Europe, where it was pouring down. In August. My first thought was "Oh boy, what did I just do?". There I was, coming from 30C+ and landing in a place where I apparently needed a jacket. In August. Confused as I was, it felt like part of the experience. After all, there was a reason why I wanted to go somewhere completely different than the country I had grown up in. I wanted to put myself outside of my comfort zone, challenge myself, see what lessons can be learned by forcing yourself to experience things you are not familiar with.

Long story short, it was the best decision I have ever made. Sure, there were many difficult days, but that is part of life and they just made me appreciate the good days that much more. Looking back, I don't see any other way I could have learned so much about life, than through that experience. Challenge yourself to move for a year to a country where you have never been, where you know no one, with a totally different climate, with another currency and where a foreign language is spoken - you will learn more things about yourself and about life than you could ever imagine.

So, if you are waiting for a sign to finally take that step into the unknown, this is it. Take it or leave it, but I can promise you that the chances of regret are much bigger if you leave it than if you step out of your comfort zone and take it. It could change your life, like it has changed mine.