I remember boarding the plane, leaving Shanghai back in May 2017 (how was that three years ago?!), thinking I would never love a place as much as I did in that moment. I cried so much on that flight. The truth was, I was leaving not by choice-- I was dealing with medical issues and needed to be home. I remember thinking "there's no way I could love my life any more than I do living in Shanghai." I had everything, friends, travel, a boyfriend, and most importantly a job that I loved. Turns out I was wrong, and that I would find a place that fit me like a glove just a few months later.
I remember job searching back in Ohio and feeling like nothing fit right. One weekend when I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Atlanta, I decided to apply to some jobs near them. That was also the weekend that my boyfriend, who I was (so wrongly) completely obsessed with, and I broke up. That weekend changed my life. Just a few phone interviews and a packed car later, I was on my way to my new life, knowing just family and an old friend in the city.
Now, as I sit with just a few days before I leave Atlanta, I am left with a heavy heart. I hope I am making the right decision to move to Hong Kong and leave this amazing community I have built behind. (I know that as humans, we must change and grow and challenge ourselves, so I do believe I am making the right choice to try a new adventure. I would, however, be lying if I said there wasn't some fear with me). I am so beyond grateful for every opportunity given to me, my amazing school, and students, my friends, and a city I've fallen in love with.
This was not the goodbye I intended. I wanted to be able to tell my students in person how much they meant to me. I wanted goodbye dinners with coworkers, a party with my friends, and a chance to visit all my favorite spots and museums, but the pandemic had other ideas. So instead, I say thank you.
Thank you to the school who took a chance on me and helped me grow into the best teacher I've been. There were hard days, but more often there were good days, fun days, and days full of joy.
Thank you to new friends, some who I met on the internet, some via friends of friends, who let me into your group where we traveled to weddings, bachelorette parties, brithdays, friendsgivings, and more. We will be lifelong friends.
Thank you to the guys I dated... you were all wrong for me, and you led me to the right guy.
Thank you to my Aunt and Uncle, who let me live with them while I was starting over.
Thank you to my community, who held and supported me when I lost my brother in August.
Thank you, Atlanta.
Group chat and best friends Meg and Becca
I remember job searching back in Ohio and feeling like nothing fit right. One weekend when I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Atlanta, I decided to apply to some jobs near them. That was also the weekend that my boyfriend, who I was (so wrongly) completely obsessed with, and I broke up. That weekend changed my life. Just a few phone interviews and a packed car later, I was on my way to my new life, knowing just family and an old friend in the city.
My door my first year at NGMS. I had never had my own classroom before and was excited and terrified!
Now, as I sit with just a few days before I leave Atlanta, I am left with a heavy heart. I hope I am making the right decision to move to Hong Kong and leave this amazing community I have built behind. (I know that as humans, we must change and grow and challenge ourselves, so I do believe I am making the right choice to try a new adventure. I would, however, be lying if I said there wasn't some fear with me). I am so beyond grateful for every opportunity given to me, my amazing school, and students, my friends, and a city I've fallen in love with.
This was not the goodbye I intended. I wanted to be able to tell my students in person how much they meant to me. I wanted goodbye dinners with coworkers, a party with my friends, and a chance to visit all my favorite spots and museums, but the pandemic had other ideas. So instead, I say thank you.
Thank you to the school who took a chance on me and helped me grow into the best teacher I've been. There were hard days, but more often there were good days, fun days, and days full of joy.
Thank you to new friends, some who I met on the internet, some via friends of friends, who let me into your group where we traveled to weddings, bachelorette parties, brithdays, friendsgivings, and more. We will be lifelong friends.
Thank you to the guys I dated... you were all wrong for me, and you led me to the right guy.
Thank you to my Aunt and Uncle, who let me live with them while I was starting over.
Thank you to my community, who held and supported me when I lost my brother in August.
Thank you, Atlanta.
Yours,
Rachael
