It's Official: We're Leaving

We are actually doing it! Since before Nate and I got married, I wanted to go on an adventure. What I really wanted was to move to Europe and work in a little pastry shop (I know, I know I don't bake--however I make amazing pies!). Nate, on the other hand, was completely content to stay here in Utah for the rest of his life. Surprising right? I mean, based on our personalities, I definitely wouldn't have suspected that of us! I am normally the home-body, and Nate is the adventurous one!

Anyways, it took months and months to convince him to even consider the idea of moving somewhere crazy. First he crushed my dreams of Europe by informing me that Europe had different licensure process than the United States, so we had to pick one continent or the other. Boo. However I quickly settled for either New York or Chicago (New York being my first choice). Next came the battle of the finances. Another boo. Nate, in all his practicality, could not see why we needed to leave Utah when it would cost ALOT more in living expenses, tuition costs, and there was the tiny fact of my loan. I paid my way through college with a loan from the state of Utah that would be forgiven if I taught in Utah for 3 years. Nate didn't think that we should throw this opportunity for free education away. Needless to say, he had really good points. The only thing I had to argue with was: 1. He would receive a MUCH better education (The U isn't really known nationally for its architecture program) which would 2. lead to a better job after college. Also 3. he would have more opportunities to grow/gain experience in his field outside of Utah--let's face it, Utah isn't the architecture capital of the world.

After many, many arguments/discussions--after me telling Nate he was just afraid to take a chance and go on an adventure, and Nate informing me that I was being completely irrational we agreed to just see what would happen and to keep our minds open to different possibilities. We would have to see what comes in the next couple of years.

Well, here we are 3 years later and we are about to accomplish that dream. Last November I received a job with Teach For America teaching English to inner-city High School students. I was also placed in Chicago. Nate, however, had yet to apply to graduate schools! We decided to accept the job, and prayed that Nate would get into a good school out there. Luckily Nate did get into Illinois Institute of Technology, one of the best architecture schools in the nation--basically the birthplace of modern architecture. So we are pretty excited. Ah! I am so proud of him!

Things are way different from when we first started dreaming about this. Now it seems like everyday I am panicking about how we are going to get out there, where we are going to live when we get out there, and how far away the closest Costco is, while Nate tells me that everything will work out and not to worry so much about everything. We have completely reversed roles!

I cannot wait to start this adventure. I have been hoping/dreaming about this for a long time.