Failure and Optimism

I found out that Beau and I won't be leaving the country anytime soon. Our applications to various teaching abroad programs were declined, so we're moving on to our back-up plan.

On the bright side, at least we were both rejected, and didn't have to deal with the possibility of one us moving abroad and visiting the each other on occasion.

I was really disappointed that we didn't get in, and not just because we were told by everyone that was familiar with the programs said "Don't worry, you'll get in". Not that I'm placing blame on anyone else. We could have prepared more, reviewed and studied the languages and turned out applications in sooner - there's a lot that we should have done. But I was very hopeful that the whole process would be a breeze, and that by applying to multiple programs we were sure to get into at least one. But alas, it is not meant to be.

I do not take rejection well, so it's been a rough couple of days.

However, our backup plan is still exciting, if not more challenging. We want to move to a new city, a place that neither of us have lived before and that has great potential for jobs and recreation.

I'm excited and scared.

Scared that I won't find a decent job. Scared that Beau won't find a job that he likes. Scared that we'll end up poor in a strange city, cut off from our friends and family. Scared that I won't like the city. But all of that is not enough reason not to give it all a try. You never know; we both might find amazing jobs, land into a great group of people to hang out with, and never want to leave the city. Anything and everything can happen, but at least Beau and I will go through it together.

I hat to resort to a quote, but as my fave heroine O'Hara said, "Tomorrow is another day".