....but before we get there, why don't we take a look back and start at the beginning...
To be honest, this is something that I have always wanted to do. Work and live abroad. Ever since joining J&J 5 years ago. From the first day I started working (3 weeks after graduating from BU, mind you), this has been my ultimate professional and personal goal. To be honest, ask anyone that knows me, and they will tell you the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I have always loved traveling, but the idea of living somewhere for a longer period of time is what I always wanted. I was honestly willing to travel anywhere that work would take me. I didn't have any geographical limitations or hesitations.
So let's fast forward to February 2010. I was finally given the chance to do what I always wanted. I got the chance to apply for a product manager for our European team. Better yet, the position involved a relocation to Switzerland, Zurich specifically. I remember the day that I was presented with this opportunity. I had just landed in Las Vegas for a conference, and was feeling pretty good after that flight (let's just say that my flight into Vegas was a typical flight into Vegas, where no matter the time of day, people are enjoying adult beverages, and I just happened to be sitting next to a couple of guys who would not let me not join in our their fun!!) I remember checking into the hotel and hurrying over to the convention hall to meet my colleagues. As soon as I get there, my Director of Marketing needed to speak with me regarding some upcoming organizational changes. He proceeds to tell me that he has accepted a position managing our entire EMEA team for Spine. As I am processing the idea that I would lose someone in the building who I considered a mentor, he is telling me that he has the opportunity to create a new marketing team and he wanted to know if I would consider joining that team. Talk about mental overload!! I think I just nodded my head, but really couldn't come to terms with what he was talking about. The rest of the convention was really a blur to be honest. Luckily, I had the chance to go home to Cali after that trip and finally had a chance to process what was about to happen. I remember sitting with Mom and Dad and thinking that this is just too good of an opportunity to pass up and I have to jump on this right away. Here was the chance that I have been waiting for....
So now let's fast forward to the summer. By August, I had flown to our Leeds office to interview. I was offered the job, accepted the job, and was ready to start my new job. I should probably mention that I accepted the job without ever having been to Zurich or Zug....you could call me crazy?!! But as I mentioned, this is something that I always wanted, and I know I will love whatever this experience will bring. I won' take time to talk about how long the whole employment contract and those logistics took. Let's just say that my official start date isn't until 15 Nov....What I was given was the chance to spend the month of September in Europe doing the job earlier than my official start date. So 29 Aug I left for a 4-week whirlwind of doing the job that I would eventually be doing. I said good-bye to my counterparts in Raynham and began on my European journey.
Here are some images of the sites I saw while traveling around Europe.
11 hotels later, I came back at the end of the month to wrap up whatever I needed to here. But I honestly came back with the feeling that this is absolutely going to be the best thing that happened to me. I absolutely loved every minute of the month, no matter how grueling the travel schedule.
I have spent the last three weeks getting ready for the big move. This entailed getting cross-cultural training, making a trip to NYC to visit the Swiss Consulate to apply for my visa, selling my car, having my furniture being picked up, and finally making the last flight out of Beantown. The last three weeks have really been emotional and stressful for me. I could go on and on about the process of selling my car via cars.com or craigslist (if you ever want tips on going through that process, let me know!), or the emotions that came over me when I was sitting in an empty condo. I could go into details about how 2 weeks before the big move I lost my wallet and was running around to get that all squared away before traveling. I could go into detail about how bitter sweet it is for me to leave my friends behind, or the multiple good-bye parties I had (haha. I think the count was up to 3!!) I could go into all those details, but I think I may save those for another time.
I am sitting in Cali with my brother truly enjoying the time to be home before the big move. I am so glad that I got the chance to come to Cali before heading out to Zurich. There are so many unknowns that lay before me that have the potential of making me so nervous, but I am hoping to make the most of this new adventure.
I hope you have enjoyed my first post. Sorry for the length of this first one. I hope the ones to follow aren't as long! I hope to check back in next week when I have moved into temporary housing and finally am starting the journey in Switzerland....until then, sprechen Sie Bald (according to Google Translate, that means talk to you soon. Who know what it really means?! If you speak German, feel free to correct me!)
