When we discuss our experiences as immigrants, a lot of the focus is on what prompts us to move abroad, or our initial shocks as we arrive and learn how to build a new routine, a new community, a new sense of home. But sometimes, the time and process to prepare for our immigrant life is a whole life period in and of itself.
That is what we discuss in this new episode of Lucky to Be Here with Osvaldo Sosa Echanis. Osvaldo is a Project Manager & Business Operations professional with 10+ years of experience in SaaS Solutions, Customer Care, and Business Development. He is originally from Argentina and has since moved to France, where he is now a citizen. But to get to where he is now, he also dedicated a decade of his early adulthood to prepare: from language learning to shaping his career in a way that would accommodate him moving abroad. We discuss all of this and more as part of our episode.
There are a few things that stood out to me from our conversation with Osvaldo. For example, we discussed how his experience was one in which his personal desire and lifestyle vision drove his steps and the type of professional life he built throughout his early adulthood. For many of us, we are used to having professional goals and ambitions that drive and shape the rest of our life at each point, including whether we move abroad, but he let himself be guided by his vision of what his life could be like more broadly. Of course, that comes with some costs, and he shares more about it in our discussion. It spoke to me in a similar way to our previous episode with Nicole Moreno-Deinzer and her pursuit of a year around the globe later in her life (if you have not yet, you can catch up on that episode here).
But more importantly, Osvaldo shares how his life in Buenos Aires was fundamentally shaped by his desire to move to France. So much so that he dedicated a decade to preparing for it, and in his own words, maybe overpreparing. This is an important point if you are considering moving abroad, in particular. Does it mean it takes you a decade to do so? No, not at all. But it does mean that the more we emphasize the outcome (migrating) without discussing the process (pre-migration preparation), the more we are oversimplifying what it takes, and even what the experience has been for many of us. I remember it clearly. For several years before moving to the United States, I dedicated most of my life to building my portfolio of experiences, training, and certifications to make sure I had a competitive profile for graduate school. Did I also turn down dates because “I should not start dating anyone since I’m moving anyway”? Yes, that part too.
For today’s reflection, I want to ask you: What is one goal that you pursue or want to pursue that gets flattened out when you think about it? It may be that you are thinking about moving abroad. But it might also be that you are seeking another job, or fulfilling a life milestone of any kind. This is my invitation to pay attention to the journey before the journey, so your life feels less of a “Did I get it?” and more about “What have I learned along the way?” Think about one of your latest accomplishments. What was one milestone along the way that meant a lot to you, even if there was still a long way to go before the main goal?
I hope this helps you remember some of the ways in which you showed up for yourself along the way.
What resonates with you from today’s episode and reflection? Send it my way, or make sure to comment on our Patreon to continue the conversation within our community. Join me on our first live monthly chat next Thursday, April 23!
Can’t wait for hear from you,
