Imaginary Lives in Faraway Places

I remember my last months in high school as if they were yesterday. Almost graduation, free to do whatever I wanted. But what should I do? That thought occupied my mind for a long time. I considered possible choices, listed future goals and imagined life in faraway places.

For some reason, I didn’t think about staying — at least not for a year or two. I wanted to experience something less familiar.

Recalling our past vacations in Greece I thought, perhaps I should get a job as a waitress in a neighborhood restaurant in an idyllic Greek seaside town, wake up to warm weather, clear blue skies and the inviting Mediterranean Sea, eventually open my own restaurant, meet a charming Greek man and buy a house somewhere along the coast.

Or, perhaps I should book the first best ticket to Fuerteventura, rent an apartment in that famous surf town, take surfing lessons and become the next female equivalence of Kelly Slater.

Or why not California, acting classes in LA, find an agent, audition for a movie, star opposite someone famous and earn a seven-figure salary as an actor in Hollywood.

Or keep studying, apply to Uni, get a degree in journalism, move to New York and secure a job at the New York Times.

Or that Africa Programme at a college in northern Sweden. Volunteer with street children in South Africa.

Or The University of Hawaii, study international relations and journalism while living in paradise.

Or become a surf instructor and lifeguard in Sydney, belong to the crowd of those incredibly fit surfer types at Bondi Beach, save tourists from drowning in the Australian waters, and kick back with a beer after work before heading back to my apartment overlooking the ocean.

Or foreign correspondent. Report from Iraq and Afghanistan and risk my life to tell stories the people can’t tell themselves.

Or fashion. Study at Central Saint Martins College of Arts & Design in London, work as an assistant to some well-known fashion designer in Paris, attend fashion shows clad in the latest Hussein Chalayan creation and Manolo Blahniks, make my own spring collection, which takes everyone by surprise and gains me an everlasting repute in the fashion industry, open my own clothing boutique and…

Or apply for a US work VISA, take the first best plane to Chicago, work during the day, learn to play the guitar and piano, visit blues joints, sing at open-mic clubs, get discovered by some great music producer…

Or perhaps I should travel, hook up with that guy who also longed for Thailand, spend months backpacking in Southeast Asia, have no goal in mind except than finding a hostel to stay, a beach to chill on, a restaurant to taste local food, a bar to make new friends and practice Thai.

Or travel to Asia on my own; check into the best hostel I can find, wander around Bangkok with my digital camera, notebook and pen, take snap shots and jot down my thoughts. Live cheaply. Eat cheaply. Spend my days as an aspiring travel writer until I get my break in the tough world of print publishing.

I had more than a dozen scenarios like these. Imaginary lives.

With so many options, how do we know what to choose? No matter what you select, you heart will know whether you made the right choice. And remember, envisioning ourselves in another place doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not happy where we are now.

Since I hadn’t won any big amount on the lottery prior to my graduation, a journey around the world with week-long stays at luxurious resorts and spas was out of the question. I decided to do something I didn’t have to pay for. Work as an au-pair. I love kids, the lodging is free, the food is free, I would see a new country, learn new customs and get to know new people. What could be better? When I saw the ad “Au-pair to Swedish family in Perth” in a local newspaper I didn’t hesitate. But even though my interview went well, the family didn’t think my strict vegetarian eating habits was a good match for them and their barbecue loving pals. Understandable.

Eventually I applied to Camp America and got a job as a Special Needs Counselor at a summer camp in Michigan, followed by an au-pair job near the French Alps. Those weren’t my dream jobs, they weren’t paying that well, but it was fun (and challenging).

Most people don’t get their dream job or reach their goals at once. It takes time. And even if we — despite hard work, blood, sweat and tears — don’t end up where we hope, one dream might lead to another that leads you to embark on a new career, move to another city, take up a new hobby, get a new best friend, or learn something significant about yourself. So keep dreaming. And no matter what you choose to do, as long as you are happy with your choice, everything’s fine.