Am I too young to take a sabbatical?

Ahh, the South of France. What’s not to love? Sea, sun, fresh produce… delicious French wine for the cost of a loaf of bread back home in Toronto. I was lucky enough to experience la vie en rose in Nice for a whole year in 2012, and have been itching for a chance to get back ever since.

The thing is: even a 10-day vacation is too short for me. It would be important for me to drop an anchor, settle in, and really understand the ins and outs of the local people and town. Most importantly, I didn’t want to wait until retirement to experience it.

‘How about a sabbatical?’, a close friend suggested. It piqued my interest, and quick to follow was a rollercoaster of highs and lows that left me questioning whether or not to go. Lost in the reverie of a rosé-induced Provencal autumn one moment, and riddled with self-doubt the next. Am I too young to be taking a sabbatical? How will this impact my career? If I prioritize this sabbatical, does it take away from other societal goals, such as home ownership or starting a family? Wait, can I even afford this?

Well, I’m currently in month 2 out of 3 of my sabbatical. That means yes, I am sitting on a terrace and having a cheeky glass of rosé as a write this post.  I did it. I took a 3-month pause from life and work in Toronto to live in the small town of Arles, France. While I don’t have all the answers to my insecurities (& beyond!) yet, I have some preliminary learnings and interesting observations from abroad that I am happy to share. 

Stay tuned!