Bobby Twidale, 57, and her husband Marcus, 58, from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, had the opportunity to move to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
"If we don't say "yes" now, they won't ask twice - and we'll always wonder, "what if?" That's what I said to my husband Marcus when he told me about the three-year job he had been offered in the USA. It wasn't the answer he expected.
No one would ever have described me as a risk-taker. In spring 2021, with the pandemic still raging, I had just completed a master's degree after 30 years as a teacher. Our sons Isaac, 28, and Gus, 26, were building careers. They wouldn't be coming with us. We would also leave behind our ageing parents, so the wrench would be tough. But it was a definite 'yes' from me. Marcus was promoted to be the president of a leading fishing supplies company after working at a UK brand within the same group. It was a great move because it's a hugely popular sport in the US. We visited in November 2021 for three days, and found and purchased a house. This was a massive leap of faith - I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to work. It wasn't an automatic right when we applied for the visa but a month before we arrived, the rules changed and my right to work was the same as Marcus', meaning my new career as a freelance journalist could continue.
We arrived in snowy Minneapolis in March 2022. The goodbyes had been hard - there are still tears every time I leave my boys - and when my best friend of 50 years visited last summer, we hugged and cried uncontrollably at the airport. But the locals, whose warmth is in sharp contrast to the brutal Minnesota winter, quickly embraced us. Still, when on the third night in our new home, Marcus away on business, my phone lit up with a tornado warning and I found myself sheltering alone in the basement, I did question the sanity of our decision.
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Woman & Home UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Woman & Home UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Sporting SENSATIONS
Olympian Tessa Sanderson CBE reflects on winning gold and shines a spotlight on some of Team GB's outstanding women
The ROYAL REPORT
One of the many privileges of working alongside the royal family is to see them up close and unvarnished.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF Dame Denise Lewis
The Olympian and BBC pundit, 51, lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband Steve. She has four children.
BRIGHT & breezy
Diana and Andy Irving set out to recreate American East Coast living at their Merseyside home, with spectacular results
Why a slim body MIGHT NOT BE A HEALTHY ONE
This month, our expert Annie Deadman reveals why eating well is essential, no matter what size your clothing labels say
My mother's GIFTS
When Genevieve Kingston's mother learnt she was dying, she found a poignant way to mark her children's milestones
IT'S GOOD to talk
The last six months have seen unprecedented candour from the Royal Family. Emily Andrews asks, is this the end for 'never complain, never explain'?
Sultry southern CHARM
Stretched along Italy's heel, Puglia offers a slice of the Italian good life, with peaceful hotels, indulgent meals and low-key glamour, says Lucy Thackray
FRUITY PUDDINGS
Easy crowd-pleasing desserts that can be made ahead of time
Are weddings OUT OF CONTROL?
You can’t put a price on love, but marriages these days can be eye-wateringly costly, as Christabel Smith discovers