Like a breath of fresh air

The picture of the blog post is just for illustration purposes, just to state this as a start, but the photo is there for a reason and the reason being is that I moved and left the United Kingdom after almost a decade.

Let’s not get too far too quick, I mentioned in a previous New Year’s resolution that I want change, I decided that I need a change and I also need to change myself so I started to put work into that project and took it seriously, its not that I wasn’t serious about it before, but this time, I wrote it down, I declared it and manifested it.

I had an interview for a positon in the beginning of December that came up with short notice to work with data/ big data for an international company based in Bern, Switzerland. When I received the email about being selected for an interview, I did not hesitate and dug deeper in the role and really studied the job description and had a feeling that this time I’m gonna get this role because I want this, I need this and when these two forces are meeting, they create a synergy, don’t know how to describe it any better but there are times when you are just feeling that it’s gonna work, that’s exactly what I felt.

On the interview I’ve been briefed quickly about the company and about the role, I also explained them what I want, that I need this job, I want to grow as a professional, I really want this role and can start in a short notice and two weeks later they asked me if I’d be available to join in January to the company, I said yes, even before knowing the salary, that’s how much I felt the need of change. I think this part is the key to make things happen, how badly do you want it? I was clear about one thing, I won’t let any opportunity to slip out of my hands and felt now is the time.

I had to inform my boss and my colleagues about the situation and they really understood my decision and were very supportive about it, understandably I worked more than 7 years for the company and change was much needed. I handed in my official notice and of course started to make myself ready for the move, the job is in Switzerland so had to move to another country once again and my German is pretty much forgotten as I haven’t used it at all in the UK the past years so had a little bit of scare but not enough to contemplate about moving.

So I moved in the middle of January to Bern and was super busy and still I am with things to sort out, furniture purchases, settling in, making bank account, insurace (yeah in Switzerland you must have your own insurance, it is mandatory and costs CHF300+ a month payable from your already taxed salary, it is not part of the social security in this country) making gym membership, hassling with internet providers and the usual moving abroad starter pack.

How do I feel about it? It really feels like a breath of fresh air, I am going to expand in more details in coming blog posts the process of moving, first impressions of living in Switzerland etc, but right now let me express that feeling of starting something new, the new job is challanging and it is a huge company and I am working with data which is vastly different compared to what I used to do, currently working from home ever since I joined, everybody is very supportive, but coming from a client facing role, it is very different and have to figure out many things on my own, which is good and helps me to learn these things but especially in the beginning I was really missing the human interactions, now I kind of getting used to the new working environment. Working with data is very complex and always there’s something to learn for me and doing my best to take on these challenges that arising daily at work.

On another note, I am feeling so much happier because I needed this change, I got too comfortable in my previous role, even though it was a lot more stressful at times, but made it almost routinly and didn’t see the light in the end of the tunnel, how could I grow as a professional there.

Since I started my new role, obviously everything is new, the environment, the city, the culture, the people and my routine also and it is really like a breath of fresh air. I felt stucked in London and now I feel like flying again, comfort is really a dream killer and I knew it for a long time now and I am so immensly proud that I made this decision, despite I left my parents in London and so many good things, but I needed this and needed this time of my life.

If you feel stuck in your routine and in your life, make the decision and make the change, you, dear reader, might be in the same boots like I was in the past years than its time to change, time to grow, time to fly.

Your sincerely

To/Minimal