## The Rainbow Passport Promise: How Love Almost Turned into Financial Ruin They say love conquers all, but what about your bank account? I believed the romantic clichés, the Instagram-worthy glimpses of expat bliss. My heart yearned for adventure, for a life less ordinary, and I cradled the fantasy that moving abroad for love would be the ultimate fairytale. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Sure, there were breathtaking sunsets and shared smiles, but beneath the surface lurked a terrifying truth – a financial nightmare that nearly swallowed me whole. Buckle up, because I’m about to spill the shocking truth behind my “love abroad” experience.
The Unromantic Truth
My inability to work and my reliance on my partner for everything led to a loss of identity and purpose.
The Wake-Up Call
Recognizing the Red Flags: How I finally realized that love alone was not enough to sustain a fulfilling life abroad
The Breakdown of Our Relationship: How our differences and struggles eventually led to our breakup
Finding Myself Again
Rediscovering My Identity
How I returned to the US and started rebuilding my life, including finding a new sense of purpose and independence
Unexpected Opportunities
How a chance encounter with a sales representative led me to a new career path and a sense of fulfillment
As I struggled, so did our relationship. We fought more frequently, slipping into a cycle that followed us across continents, one that eventually led to our breakup. Now, I know love alone isn’t enough to build a full life.
My Return to the US
I was getting government-subsidized internet installed in my house — one I knew I was about two months away from losing when my life changed for the better.
By the end of 2023, I was living with my 8-year-old son, Gabe, near Milwaukee, while my 10-year-old, Benji, lived with his dad in Chicago. Gabe, who is neurodivergent, in many ways behaves more like a 3- or 4-year-old than a kid his age. It became unsafe for him to be around Benji, so we separated households.
To be close to Gabe’s school in case of an emergency, I worked as a lunch lady at a nearby school for six hours a day. I knew I couldn’t pay our bills for much longer on my salary. I asked for a raise and was able to get one when I took over another person’s role. Just a few days after I started, that person asked for their job back, so my hours were cut.
I was enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program for internet access, which provided discounts to low-income households. That’s how I met Quentin. Quentin worked for AT&T’s in-home sales team and oversaw the internet installation in our house.
I offered him something to drink and made sure he was comfortable. As we chatted, he asked me if I had ever considered working in sales. Within a month, I quit my cafeteria job and started working at AT&T. Since I’d mostly been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, I had no idea how I’d fare or if I’d like sales. Over a year later, I’ve doubled my salary and feel like I’ve finally hit my stride.
I worked lots of people-facing jobs Growing up, I felt like I took a different path from the high-achievers in my Wisconsin hometown. While others took on white-collar jobs, I worked in food service, eventually becoming a manager at Lou Malnati’s in Chicago.
Looking for a change, I briefly worked in door-to-door sales for a T-Mobile B2B campaign. I met my sons’ father at that job. I became a stay-at-home mom about a year later. For the next decade, I worked odd jobs in addition to watching my kids. A few months after giving birth to Benji, I briefly worked at a restaurant again. After Gabe was born, I looked for work opportunities as they came up, from babysitting to marketing essential oils on social media.
I often got job leads by talking to people — a neighbor friend recommended me for the lunch lady position. Working became tougher during the pandemic. I was watching my kids full time in my mom’s home because we couldn’t afford to be on our own, and she needed caretaking help.
My sociability made me stand out Business Insider USA
Even though Quentin was there to do his job, I still treated him like a guest. When he mentioned a sales role at AT&T, we got frank with each other and talked. He said he appreciated my demeanor and hospitality. He fast-tracked me for the job. After I applied on the website, he connected me with his boss, who is now my manager.
I interviewed during Christmas break and started in January 2024. The job had a lot of learning curves. I spent a month preparing for the role, including hands-on training. Every day, I get dispatched to different areas to visit customers. I’ll do some research on the client and what they’re getting installed before I meet them.
I work a minimum of five days a week, starting the day around 7:30 a.m. and ending around 6 p.m., though my hours can vary based on where I am with meeting my goals — I’ve worked until 10 p.m. on a Saturday before. The job can be challenging, but I also love what I do and feel like I’m great at it.
I finally feel like I’m getting my life together
Conclusion
Embracing the Uncharted: A Bittersweet Reflection on Love Across Borders
In our recent article, “Shocking Truth: Moving Abroad for Love Nearly Broke Me,” we delved into the uncharted territories of love, exploring the highs and lows of relocating for a romantic partner. The article shed light on the often-overlooked challenges of maintaining a long-distance relationship, from cultural and language barriers to the strain of navigating two separate lives. Our writer candidly shared their personal struggles, exposing the harsh realities of adapting to a new life, managing expectations, and finding identity amidst the chaos. The key takeaways from this article highlight the complexities of loving across borders, where two people must navigate not only their own desires but also the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with building a life together.
The significance of this topic lies in its timely relevance, as more and more people are taking the leap and choosing love over borders, often with devastating consequences. The implications of this trend are far-reaching, with far-flung relationships often leading to feelings of disconnection, isolation, and ultimately, disillusionment. However, our article also serves as a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. By sharing their story, our writer hopes to raise awareness and spark a much-needed conversation about the complexities of love across borders.
As we navigate the uncharted territories of modern love, it’s essential to acknowledge the risks and rewards that come with loving across borders. In the end, it’s not the miles that define us, but the love we share and the strength we find in each other. As our writer so poignantly puts it, “Love is a choice, and sometimes, that choice is to love unconditionally, even when it’s hard.”
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