So obviously I’m here, but here’s a throwback to my final freakout in America.

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The countdown has begun and it is less than a couple of weeks until my departure time. My room is packed (ish) goodbye have been said (ish) and I’m totally ready (ish) to leave. So let us continue with our normally scheduled program.

Step 6 – Say your goodbyes. This is the most cliché thing I’ve ever said but it’s true – there’s never a perfect time to pick up and leave. You can always find a reason to stay and not say goodbye. I look at life in parts – personal and professional, some people might say when one is good the other is not, while one is flourishing the other must suffer for me this was not the case. At the time that I made my decision to apply everything was going just peachy; my job was great, my milkshake was bringing all the boys to the yard (well not all, just one) and one of my best friends was planning her move to the city. Why would I want to leave? Lucky for me life is not kind and what comes up must ultimately come down. The boy left the yard, my job started completely changing and the rollercoaster was back down. I got into the program and was ready to leave, like yesterday, but of course a few weeks before my departure things started to look up. Once again and I questioned myself, is this the right time? Things are going so well for me again, am I making a mistake? WTF am I doing. I’m leaving in the middle of my lease, quitting a perfectly good job (with a ton of perks might I add) to go and flail around in a city I’ve never been too, I don’t even know anyone on my program and will be jobless. Whereas in New York – I’m making new friends, the job change might not be so bad, and the yard, well you get the point. There is no such thing as perfect timing, something will always be off balance, but you just have to ask yourself, is this is as close too perfect as you’re going to get? If the answer is yes, then do it.

Step 6.5 – The goodbye parties. If you’re like me and went to school and now work in the same city you’ve probably amassed a good amount of friends who will want to say goodbye with lots and lots of parties. My departure just also happened to fall around the holidays so tie in Holiday parties and you’re looking at a massive set back in your savings. Usually I’m always down to party, rounds of shots, goodbye dinners, the whole shebang but remember you’re supposed to budgeting. My advice and life motto – ball on a budget. Have a goodbye happy hour, host a brunch at your apartment, and that creepy guy in the bar who offers to buy you a drink? Just say yes – you’ll be happy you saved the $11 later.

Step 7 – Do not share your business with everyone. Believe you me, not everyone will get, or understand why you’re leaving and they will doubt you 10349%. At the time of my acceptance here were the 3 things I heard ‘Is this really a good time in your career to be doing something like this?’, uh I think yes, it is and I don’t think I signed up to sit on a beach and paint my nails (although I would absolutely love that) ‘What about finding a boyfriend? You’ve talked about wanting to get married what about that?’ So apparently now it’s impossible to leave the country for a few months and still get married. My absolute favorite one is ‘well it seems like things were going great for you and now they’re not and you’re just running’….and your point is? Whether I’m running from my problems, looking for scratch a travel itch or just happened to apply and be accepted into a program that is starting with timing that makes it seems like all of the above is none of your business. The justification for why and how you do what you’re doing is nobody’s business. If you want to share, then share if you’re escaping something, escape. Do what you want – you don’t have to explain, justify or reason with anyone (except maybe your wallet, but we’ve already covered that part).

Step 8 – Start packing. Ok this might seem pretty obvious but if you’re like and have been living in your same apartment for the past 3 years you have accumulated a ton of stuff and need to seriously do a cleanse. I started this process at the end of the summer and am so grateful – thus far I’ve sent about 5 suitcases full of things home and given away 4 bags of clothes. Thank you fall cleaning. Especially if you’re subletting your apartment to someone you don’t know. You would be surprised at how therapeutic this whole process has been for me – I’ve learned a lot about myself, my shopping habits, my hoarding habits – I’m shocked at how many packs of sticky notes I have actually. But really it’s an interesting exercise having to pack your life in suitcases 0- trying to think ahead to the next 4 or 5 months of your life, what you will and won’t need, what you can and can’t survive without. Even if you’re not traveling try some fall cleaning see what it does for your spirit and your wallet! I like many people have eyes bigger than my wallet and tend to occasionally splurge on items I cannot afford – because of this I’ve amassed quite the collection of designer handbags and clothes that are new or slightly used. Take this as an opportunity to either sell or donate your clothes and other gently used items. I know there are a ton of sites but for me eBay’s always been the best. It’s super easy out use, there are a ton of items on there from shirts, to shoes, accessories jewelry etc so you can sell literally almost anything on there. Alternatively, if you want to donate your items be sure to ask for receipts for tax returns! Just think about how nice it will be to see a couple hundred extra dollars pop up in your bank account while your browsing the baths of Budapest!