You're From Miami, So Why Austin?

I was born and raised in Miami. The first time I left was to go to college in Syracuse, NY. After four years of harsh winter, I got my snow fill and went straight back home.. I love the ocean and year round sunny Miami weather. However, deep down I always knew that I would fly the coop and move somewhere else someday. I had no clue that Austin would be where I’d go.

It was 2021 and I was working my first job right out of college.I absolutely HATED it. The job fell nowhere near my desired career path and the company itself wasn’t the greatest either. The management and overall office culture was horrible and at its very best, shallow and empty. I’m sure we all know what that’s like. My hectic job life, coupled with my dysfunctional home environment (I was living with my entire family of 6 people at the time) started to drive me crazy. Both situations took a toll on my mental health. I quickly had to get the hell out of dodge.

It all felt too soon, but I knew I had to take the leap of change. It wasn’t until a trip to NY that showed me that Austin was on the map. It was a rainy Memorial Day weekend in NYC. So rainy, that of course the sun didn’t come out until my very last hour there. I came to visit my friends that I hadn’t seen in two years since graduating college. Thanks Pandemic. The reunion was amazing and we were all catching up at a ramen restaurant. My friend said she had plans to go to Austin for 4th of July. Something inside me told me I HAD to go with her.

I visited Austin for the first time, that 4th of July weekend.I instantly fell in love with the vibe of the city. Everything felt so relaxed and so communal. Everywhere I looked, I saw groups of people hanging out outside, or doing fun activities such as biking, kayaking, and yoga. It gave me a very neighborhoody, backyard feel. I’ve never gotten that feeling from any other city I’ve visited. It was a short weekend, but I immediately felt welcomed by some of the locals that I met. I even watched the fireworks and joined a bonfire in their backyard. We had only met the day before.

Life moves quickly for those who act fast. After coming back to Miami, I made my decision. I had to move to Austin. I needed to find a job and an apartment. I couldn’t spend another minute living my life that way it was, in Miami. One month later, I did it. I found a job and an apartment, both in Austin. I moved at the end of August. I ended up staying in a temporary Airbnb until my lease fully started. I moved all by myself and with a leg injury to bat (a story for another day).All in all, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Through this experience, I learned you have to decide to make the jump ahead in life. You should never just wait around for something to happen. It has only been a year and a half since my move and it has easily been the best decision I ever made. I’ve gained so much independence being here and made an entire community of friends that I can truly rely on. It is now that I feel called to share my journey and new adventures in Austin.

I want to inspire other people to make the leap. Whether its Austin, another city, country, or an entirely new opportunity, take it! Make the jump towards it and make it yours. Decisions can be scary, especially when things move fast. My advice is make a list of what you want and set a practical goal for each idea and how to get after it. Once you organize, you’ll begin to see things clearly. Good luck and happy adventures!

By: Chloé Gouraige