Boarding to Start a new Life from Scratch on the other Side of the World.
I left my home office studio located in a rooftop apartment in Vienna with two suitcases and five thousand euros in initial capital in my pocket. Just 4 months before I turned Fifty.
"A crucial age in a human’s life when many face the so-called mid-life crisis and decide to start all over again."
The final weeks before departure were busy. Clearing my life and the remnants of the interior design & product development company I founded and directed for 25 years. All official obligations to leave with a clean slate were met.
A particular bank director trusted and believed in me. He supported my emigration, even though some debts still needed to be paid.
Two close friends helped me countless times to carry the heavy furniture and my entire belongings 95 steps downstairs from my home office. Sold all my possessions to raise the initial capital to set foot to start a new life. To begin from scratch on another continent in an entirely different culture on the other side of the world.
Some of my gear I could sell. While most belongings were given away to genuine friends – close humans who had earned my trust when I faced and had overcome hardship.
I’m a music aficionado. Sold my heart’s blood of 700+ vinyls, collected over thirty years, plus a professional sound system. Even my art collection, numerous shells, and artifacts from beautiful destinations I’ve been to around the globe.
Many months later, it appeared in my dreams, putting a favorite LP on the turntable … I had to let go of all things that used to be my well-kept treasures.
"One travels easier in life with light luggage."
My closest friends accompanied me to Vienna Airport, wished me well; we hugged, waved farewell. I carried two suitcases and a mindset like an adventurer exploring completely new territory. Boarded the big plane heading to Thailand armed with an optimistic outlook, my adjusted inner compass.
No Fears Attached!
I was there a month ago, applied to 3 big schools. Flew back to organize everything to clear my life in Austria. Powered by trust that all will BE fine, the way it was meant for me.
Taking the night flight from Europe to Southeast Asia offers the gift of flying straight into the sunrise; A red-orange fireball grows bigger & bigger; it feels like sitting in the first row of a cinema.
Soft touchdown of the heavy Boeing 747 at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after 12 hours airborne. It was a Thursday, right before Mother’s Day.
The 70s disco hammer, "One Night in Bangkok" by the English singer Murray Head, danced in my head. To live here, not with the purpose of a one-night stand, but a de novo life, felt quite exciting!
Two days later. The principal of a huge government school with 2500 pupils called to inform me that I could start teaching on Monday.