fail forward
dear friend
Welcome to Dresden and its enchanting surroundings. Here, history whispers through the winds and the stones beneath your feet tales of ancient times. This region is more than a place; it is a living storybook where the craftsmanship and narratives of bygone eras unfold before your eyes.
What do you hear now? Is it the melody of a new language outside your window? Are you ready to take the next step in your journey? Sometimes, the simplest act is saying “Yes” to being here and staying. Before you know it, you might find yourself celebrating many years in this magical land, just as I am.
I can hardly believe it; this week my family and I have been here 8 years. Okay, in a little village that I referred to myself only as “Middle Earth”. Dare I not to say it aloud and then I might lose what hope I had. This village is an hour and 20 minutes away from Dresden and Leipzig and 35 minutes away from Chemnitz.
Hope? At first, I thought the hardest part of my journey was leaving Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and saying yes to this adventure. But often, the real challenge was staying. Those first years, I stumbled more than I walked. But with each fall, I learned how to fall forward.
How to Fall and Get Up Faster?
Have a Team: Find a community, a friend, or just one person who understands you. Sometimes, it`s easier said than done, but start with someone like Fatema and her team at InterLokal. Remember most foreigners who have been here for a while have been through culture shock. What happens after the newness wears off?
Embrace Change: It’s challenging to live here (or anywhere new) and not be transformed. I tried to cling to my old identity (a
metropolitan gal in a rural area) but eventually, I realized, as John C. Maxwell says “You don’t know who you are until you’ve lost your culture” Did someone say growing pains of the soul?
Learn the Language: Every bit of effort helps. One noun at a time with the correct article.
Engage and Integrate: Think of integration like wading through different bodies of water. At first, it might feel like standing in a mud puddle. Gradually, you move to a kiddie pool, then a deeper pool, and finally, the vast ocean. With each step, you gain confidence and fluency until you are swimming and surfing the waves.
Final thoughts on Falling Forward
Keep moving forward. If the job you want isn ́t materializing, you might need to seek a new path. I had to create my own. Last year, I
registered as a freelancer, stepping outside traditional boxes. My background in community change and public outreach campaigns for government initiatives let me to independent film. My short documentary film Open Doors premiered last year in Chemnitz and
Washington, DC and reached villages in Sachsen including a screening at InterLokal - Social Hub. Last year, I also worked on the film project “Hayden & Her Family” directed by May Tchao and Jamie Lee Curtis serves as the Executive Producer. Now I am currently working on the documentary directed by Eliza Hemenway “Beyond the Shadows” focusing on the topic of homelessness in Northern California.
Remember, things may unfold differently than expected. Be prepared and when you fall or fail, fall/fail forward. Cheers to your journey here. I hope to hear your stories and if you need a chat or a teammate, let’s connect.
All the blessings,
Presented on 17.05.2024 at InterLokal Connect event
