Moving to another country was not a decision to leave life behind; it was about pursuing dreams and making them a reality. After graduating as an architect in mid-2022, I discovered my interest, which I had developed as a hobby. I later transitioned into a part-time profession, and now it has become a full-time career as a researcher and writer. With a settled career as an architect, I had a craving to move to a different country and pursue further studies. Then, I decided to move to Australia. This beautiful land seamlessly blends history and modernity, allowing me to pursue urban planning with a strong ambition to stretch my research and writing skills and explore a whole new life. 

The journey has been more one of reorientation than reinvention, as I have been grappling with what it means to start over while carrying the lived experiences of my family and friends. The story I am sharing is not about moving abroad as a writer but about redefining. It’s about uncertainty with intentions, listening deeply in an unknown place, and learning how to find myself again; now, it’s the new accent of understanding, like Aussie slang. This is my story of life after moving to Australia, one of uncertainty, growth, redefinition, and a gradual return to confidence. 

Before the Move

I was happy and secure where I was. I was working on quite good architectural projects, nurturing myself for writing and translating designs into narratives that spoke to professionals and the public. Those days were full of clarity and conviction. I collaborated with magazines, architects and designers, translating ideas to life. And though I felt the nudge, not of dissatisfaction but of possibilities. I wanted to know the details of the planning at the systemic levels. I wanted to understand how cities are not defined by their enclosed boundaries but also shaped by their streets, influenced by policy and politics, and the people who live there. This desire led me to the Australian world, where I studied Urban Planning and wrote from a new vantage point.

The Transition to Aussie Life

Moving here, the initial months were about understanding the place and adjusting to a new location. The challenges of relocating internationally hit quickly: quiet days, long walks, and moments where I doubted if I had made the right decision. Suddenly, I was no longer that confident Architect and Writer with a familiar network. And again, in a blink, I was a student outside, decoding the nuances of an urban system that I wasn’t aware of. 

Then came the cultural shock, which is sometimes spoken and unspoken; to me, it felt slippery. I was learning how to introduce myself in a new space, literally and metaphorically. The cultural shock and identity shift were subtle but powerful. Then, introducing myself, whether professionally or socially, required an explanation. The experience didn’t translate, slowly, then I stopped to catch up and started observing, rebuilding not just a career but an inner compass. I was able to answer those questions by seeking help from my new friends. Then, the city, streets, and people were my reference points. The in-between state was disorienting but humbling, reminding me that the transition I opted for is not a failure of mine; it’s a friction that can be refined. 

Restructuring myself in an Aussie place

As I began to find my rhythm, not by rushing through the past but by honouring and accepting the present, I started volunteering, attending design talks, and networking in the planning and publishing fields. Slowly and steadily, I found something that aligned with me. 

That’s when the real journey of rebuilding a career in a new country began. 

People saw my value as someone bringing a fresh perspective. Then, the evolution of writing began, and I started contributing to local publications and working on community-based projects. The small wins, published articles in other lands, a research assistant role and coffee chats began to assist me. Then, I was not just adapting; I was shaping myself, holding past and new identities in balance. I started from experience rather than from scratch. 

Looking forward to myself

Today, I find myself in transit, both intellectually and emotionally, rather than geographically. I am still an Indian writer abroad, but also a researcher and planner, finding my path in a new place. I carry that courage, questions, curiosity and passion every day. 

If you are someone who is moving abroad as a writer or someone with a similar transition, here’s what I have learned; 

• Your present does not invalidate your past; it is enriched. 
• Your uniqueness is your strength. You matters. 
• The small steps are achievements. Celebrate them. 

Such stories are not rare, but they are rarely shared. For many migrants, the process of identity reformation is emotional and nuanced. It is more than moving; it is recalibration altogether. Anyone facing this friction knows that you are not far from it. You are becoming.