Have you ever thought about moving to another country? Or thought about what it would be like to live in another country? This is something I have always wondered about. I always knew I wouldn't live in South Africa all my life. From applying for jobs in the UK to starting the process to immigrate to Canada. Well, here we are. Living in Europe. Almost like I always knew this would happen.

It all started with family friends that purchased a place in Europe and absolutely loved the way of living. Our family then visited (without us) and fell in love with it too. This lead to purchasing a property and ultimately opening the doors for us to apply for European Blue Cards.

At the time, which was 2021, it seemed like a far away dream. I mean at that stage we’ve never even visited the country that we now live in! In December 2022, we decided to visit to see what it is all about, to explore and to see if we could one day potentially live here. We visited for 8 weeks so that we can get a proper feel for the country as a whole but also the city where we live now. Part of this holiday was to meet up with the lawyers and to hear about the process and how to go about us applying for our Blue Cards.

I remember walking into his office and thinking that we are really wasting out time here and I would rather be shopping and sipping on a coffee. Well, we left shocked. While we were at this meeting, we were told that we may as well apply while we are in the country because to apply you have to be physically present and since we didnt know when we would visit again, we decided to just do it. A very big piece of information that was left out for most of the meeting was that we had to remain in the country indefinitely until they have all the documents that they need, which could be months. We were so wrapped up and overwhelmed - we agreed.

I remember driving back to our apartment - short of breath, queasy and teary eyed. My husband just nervous laughed (as he always does).

A few days went by and once we came to terms with our potentially new normal, the lawyers called and told us that it is actually not needed. The documentation can be sent from South Africa. He then went on to tell us that it is a long process and might even take years. We were disappointed but relieved all at the same time.

After our 8 weeks of visiting were up, we returned home to South Africa and slowly started sending documents. This took months of back and forth emails, registered mail, phone calls and messages. Logistically everything seemed upside down. Then we came to the point where we were told to wait… So we put it to the back of our minds and carried on with life as we knew it - because we were told this could take years.

About 2 months later, July 2023, we were told that our application has been approved, my card will be ready and that Jarrod now needs to register his fingerprints at an embassy within 60 days (which happens to be in Cairo of all places). We were dumbfounded. This took 7 months?! Not 2 to 3 years!

We had to find flights, accommodation and make arrangements to get to Cairo asap and then report to a Slovene Administration Office within 7 days after Cairo.

The time flew past and before we knew it we were on our way to Cairo - a blog post for another time, we registered in Slovenia, we got our Cards, we explored the seaside in Slovenia and we found ourselves back in the office of our lawyer, yet again. A place where my anxiety loves to thrive.

This time was not a joke. We were under the impression that all 3 of us can come and go into Europe as needed and still keep our cards. WRONG! I can, as the main applicant, my husband and my daughter have to be back in Slovenia every 60 days.

Every 60 days…

Flying across the world, with no direct flight, with a toddler, every 2nd month. Not to mention the exorbitant cost involved for every flight.

Not happening.

Plan B?

Well, we have to be back in approximately 60 days… So what if we go back home, sell everything, pack our bags and then just move here. Seems way less stressful? Right?

Yup, you guessed it… Plan B it was.

We had to do EVERYTHING between October and the end of November. No pressure.

As I am writing this I am actually laughing out loud. It was a rollercoaster and still feels like this never happened!

We managed, by some miracle, to sell everything! From the house, to the cars to all the contents. We were left with clothes and a few valuable / sentimental items.

Our flights have been booked. Also, because this isn't stressful enough - my dearest husband decided that a very long stop over in Turkey is the perfect way to kick off our adventure. During the stop over we will explore Istanbul. Can't say I was ever a fan of this plan. If you’re a regular traveler you’ll understand that long stopovers with a toddler is not a joke. Now I am also limited to what I can take with me on the plane because we will be leaving the airport. I mean I just got rid of my entire life, now I'm told to also leave behind whatever doesn't fit in my check-in luggage because itll be impossible to be taking all this luggage with us while exploring Istanbul.

Istanbul was nice to see - also a post for another day.

The months flew by and before we could say our goodbyes to everyone we would have hoped to see in person, we were at the airport, giving our last goodbye hugs and smelling the last bit of South African air for the last time in who knows how long.

One way tickets here we go.

This is us.

Practically homeless.

A little lost.

Nervous but excited.

Struggling to relax and fighting back tears.

At least i was fighting back tears for months and knew that at some point they would flow and I would have zero control. For most of the flight I controlled my emotions for the sake of my daughter.

We finally landed in Ljubljana. As we stepped off of the aircraft and we were making our way to collect our little lives (that we prayed would arrive safely), I just couldn't fight the tears anymore. I burst out in tears. Sobbing. Uncontrollably. That was a good cry.

A cry of relief, of sadness, of happiness, of excitement, of fear, of frustration. Every single emotion wanted a time to shine.

We collected our luggage, which all arrived in one piece.

We made our way to our taxi.

Then to our apartment.

And we stepped into our new life when we were dropped at the apartment.

…what an adventure this was going to be!

Liza

xoxo