My readers, I’m about to let you in on something life-changing, Earth-shattering, and mind-broadening. At least it was for me. Just over 10 years ago I was 20 years old, fearless, and in search of adventure outside of my tiny little hometown in Tennessee. An opportunity to live and work in Japan practically fell into my lap, and I couldn’t wait to get started.

The Chairman of Tennessee Tech University’s Communications department passed on an e-mail from a former professor seeking a native English speaker to live and work at a private language school in a small town called Ise City. After receiving the job offer, the owners of the school realized I could not have the job when they tried to apply for my work visa–I needed to have already graduated, not work there and take classes online as we’d thought I could do. But just when my hopes were dashed and I thought the opportunity had been snatched from my grasp, I received a glimmer of hope: the owners offered to allow me to live and work there for three months in the summer. That way, I wouldn’t have to apply for a work visa, and I could get to know the job before I committed to a full year. Sounded perfect to me!

• 

• 

• 

This is the tale of a small-town girl’s first ever experience crossing an ocean, living in a foreign country, and discovering the fearlessness she didn’t even know she possessed. Maybe you can relate, or maybe this series of blog posts will help you find the courage within you to go out and adventure your own life. For the next several weeks, I’ll be sharing my Japanese experience for Motivation Mondays and Throwback Thursdays. I hope you’ll join me in my reminiscence, and maybe you’ll find yourself inspired to take the opportunities you’re given in life. Never look back on opportunities lost; only look forward to the fresh opportunities coming.

Check back soon for my first experiences from my letters to home! Find out how a small town girl went from this:

To this!