It's been 10 years

I am in a limo from JFK airport to Manhattan and I can't believe that I am really here. I made it, I overcame my tears at the airport in Munich, saying goodbye to my boyfriend and earlier at home to my family and friends. And although I am still sad about having left them behind, I am very proud that I took that huge step into a new world, a world that is totally unknown to me and I will conquer it all by myself, with the help of new friends - hopefully.
Seeing the skyline of New York City for the very first time takes my breath away. It is so beautiful, I don't know what to say. There is downtown with the twin towers and the other high buildings of the financial district, then there is midtown with the Empire State and the beautiful Chrysler Building and after all there are the bridges from Brooklyn to Manhattan.
It looks like in the movies, just better and I am in love!

Exactly ten years ago I took a plane to the US to be an aupair in NJ.
Exactly ten years ago I started to fulfill one of my dreams.
Exactly ten years ago I fell in love with the US, more exactly New York City.
Exactly ten years ago I started to become independent.
Exactly ten years ago I started to learn how to stand up for myself without any support from anyone.
Exactly ten years ago my life in my second home started and I am still thankful to have had that opportunity. It changed me and partly made me into the person I am today.

If I had known what would happen to me within the next 13 months, I don't know if I had ever gotten on that plane, but isn't life about the risks you take? Isn't that what makes life interesting?
I think it is and I wouldn't be the person I am today if not especially for the first four months after 7/7/98...

And if you ask me today... Yes, I would do it again!

Feelings Flashback

It's strange how after ten years you can still remember a certain feeling. Is that even possible? Can people remember how they felt exactly at a certain time or event?
After what I experienced lately, I would say: Yes!
Yesterday I "got my way" and I find myself pushed back 10 years when I did get my way once before in a similar situation.
And I can't help but wonder - does that feeling have to come back every ten years? do I find myself at such a crossroads every ten years?
Maybe this is what makes life special? Those crossroads where you can't decide easily which way to go, but you fight, balance reasons to go the one or the other way and then when you decide to go down the road you don't know, it feels scary, but in a good way.
Well, last time it worked out quite well and so I am trying it again.
After all, mankind is a creature of habit!