This year-end feels like one of the most pivotal stages in my lifetime. Looking back, it almost seems unreal how much has shifted in just twelve months. To begin with, resigning from the job I had for two years in Asia to move here to the US wasn’t an easy decision (as I mentioned in some of my earlier blogs). I keep telling my family that it was a tremendous alteration in my life, like a 360-degree turn in all my routines. Suddenly, everything familiar was left behind, and everything ahead felt uncertain, yet full of possibility.

Then came the wedding, and we had to make it happen before my 90-day visa expired last July. At that time, it felt like a rush, a race against the clock, but somehow we pulled it through. Looking back now, I feel so grateful because it wasn’t just about tying the knot. It was about gaining a whole extended family. I now have a sister-in-law, parents-in-law, and other extended relatives I can call my own in this foreign land. Names that once sounded hollow when I was single now carry warmth, love, and connection that make my journey even more meaningful.

Soon after, we faced the next big hurdle: the green card application. I remember those late-night talks with my husband, running through all the uncertainties and what-ifs. The process can feel daunting, filled with questions that have no immediate answers. But in less than three months, it was done. I feel incredibly blessed. I truly believe that when one enters the US legally, things tend to fall into place more smoothly. Of course, it still took patience, planning, and a fair share of worries.

But once the wedding frenzy and paperwork were behind me, I found myself confronting something unexpected: me doing nothing. The initial thrill of being here, adjusting to a new culture, climate, and people, started to fade after a couple of months. And then came the ennui- the quiet, persistent feeling that I wasn’t really doing anything with my days.

That’s when my husband stepped in, as he always does. Patient, supportive, and encouraging, he helped me find a place to volunteer. He even drove me there multiple times, enduring long hours and late evenings at work, just so I could have something meaningful to pour myself into. It wasn’t a problem, but it did add a new layer to our lives, something else to factor into the rhythm of daily life.

With my extended family here, I also realized that holidays and visits now needed planning. It’s a joy, yes, but it also became something I needed to consciously schedule. Something I needed to carve into our calendars, into our yearly plans. And that too is part of this adjustment- learning to balance relationships, responsibilities, and routines in a new environment.

Finally, the biggest hurdle remains: finding a job. Navigating the professional world as someone who isn’t yet a citizen brings its own set of challenges. I know I’ll be learning, adapting, and adjusting again, but I also feel ready for the growth that comes with it.

As the year ends, I look back at the chain of events: resignation, wedding, green card, volunteering, family, and now the job search, and I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed and thankful. Each hurdle, each decision, each late-night worry has brought me to a place where I am more grounded, more connected, and more aware of the life I’m building here.

As 2026 approaches, I hope and pray for continued growth, patience, and joy. I hope to keep embracing change with courage and grace, to keep building connections, and to find fulfillment in both small and big moments. This year has been a whirlwind, but it has been mine-and I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it.