My Life in the US - Year 2 - 3

Continuing my relocation story, with year 2 and 3 in the US. The theme of this phase was learning and developing especially professionally and financially. Looking back on this time in my life, I can see the immense growth and learning that I experienced. While my focus in year one was getting settled and situated in my new home, in year two and three, I was able to focus on other parts of my life such as my career. There were many firsts and doing things I never thought I ever would.

In this post, I will share my experiences, learnings, and insights from my second and third year of living in the US. If you missed the first year, read my previous post My Life in the US - Year 1.

Settling into my new life
By my second year in the US, I started feeling more at home. Compared to my experience in Germany, I felt more settled in a very short time. The fact that there was no language barrier was a huge win. Also, not being alone here was great for my transition. Looking back, I'm very grateful that it didn't take seven years to feel at home like in Germany.

Learning and professional development
At this stage in my career, it was crucial for me to expand my knowledge and improve my skills. I was ready to grow my career and take on new responsibilities. Taking classes at UC Berkeley extension provided me not only new knowledge but also budding professional network. I learned what was necessary for professional success in the US.

Growing my finances
Moving to the US helped me increase my income. This new phase created the need for me to educate myself of ways to grow my finances. It's been an exciting journey learning more about managing my wealth. I was already proficient in the basics of financial management, so I needed to concentrate on the next level which was investing and making wise money choices. I'm still exploring and learning more about financial planning.

Making new connections
Attending events and courses helped me grow my professional network a lot. As I was new in the US, being able to learn from other people's experiences was important to me. I'm still in regular contact with some of the great people I met during this time. Building a new community has been a continuous task on my relocation journey.

Staying connected to my family and friends
Especially when you live so far away from your family, it is crucial to stay connected to the people that matter the most to you. I have been extremely fortunate to keep in contact with my niece who is growing up very quickly.
The communication tools that are now available are amazing. Staying in touch with my family and friends was a very crucial part of me feeling at home in the US.

Visiting Germany
After being in the US for two and a half years, I finally visited Germany for my Niece's first day of school. The first thing I did when I landed in Frankfurt was to buy a pretzel. Speaking German and knowing where everything was, made me feel at home again. I missed being in Germany where I had lived for fourteen years. Interestingly, on this trip, I discovered that you could feel at home in multiple places at once.

Preparing for new roles
My career grew exponentially in my third year. I made it a priority to say yes to new projects and roles. Often, I stoped to assess how far I had come and how incredibly grateful I was for the opportunities I had been given and accepted. Looking back, I'm delighted to have worked on some amazing projects and learned so much.

Exploring new cities and countries
Travel used to be a very stressful experience for me. So, when the opportunity to travel for work came, I wasn't too pleased. However, I decided to take this opportunity to learn how to make travel work for me. Traveling provided me with the excellent opportunity to explore more places in the US and new countries. Looking back, I have great memories of my adventures.

Making time for things that matter
The greatest lesson I learned was the importance of finding time for the things that matter the most in my life. With everything I was doing, I neglected some key relationships and self-care. Thankfully, I was able to rebuild relationships and take care of myself more before it was too late. Now, I set boundaries around the things that matter the most.

Rekindling my passion
Living in the US provided a safe space for exploring ways to make my dreams a reality. Seeing people live out their dreams and passions motivated me to go back to the things I always wanted to do but didn't think I could. For the longest time I thought about starting my coaching business and launch my blog. In 2017, I finally believed that I could and took the first step.

Top 10 Tips and Lessons
Over the three first years of my relocation journey to the US, I have learned so many valuable lessons, that I would like to share with you.

1. Strive to keep learning - knowledge is power.
2. Know your worth and ask for it - don't let anyone define your worth.
3. Prepare for where you want to be - anticipating and planning will help you succeed.
4. Do the things you are afraid of - take a bold step.
5. Say yes to the scary roles - take on new assignments.
6. Prioritize your relationships - your connections are an essential asset.
7. Take care of yourself - there's only one you.
8. Grow your wealth - learn more about financial growth.
9. Celebrate your achievements - especially when you feel discouraged.
10. Enjoy your new home - this is where you are now.

Final Thoughts

• There are valuable lessons to be learned from all our life experiences - make time to reflect.
• Enjoy where you are now while you plan for the future - this time will never come back.
• If you missed my previous posts on My Life in Germany and My Life in the US, check out the "Her relocation" Series