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• After falling in love with the TV present “Outlander,” Hailey Beaupre moved from the US to Scotland.
• The lack of her greatest buddy in 2020 made her notice life is simply too brief to not observe your goals.
• Hailey says living in Scotland is best than she ever imagined as she’s discovered her personal Jamie Fraser.

This as-told-to story is predicated on a dialog with Hailey Beaupre, 25, a fan of the Starz collection “Outlander” who moved from her small city in Connecticut to Glasgow, Scotland, after falling in love with the present and all issues Scotland. The next has been edited for size and readability.

I first found “Outlander” greater than 5 years in the past. It was 2018, and I used to be in my second yr of school and searching for a little bit of escapism as examination season started to wind down.

My mother had talked about the present to me earlier than and thought I would get pleasure from it as a result of I’ve all the time been involved in historical past, and it is a historic collection set largely in Scotland. I additionally had a visit deliberate to Scotland that summer season. 

However after I clicked play on the primary episode of the Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe collection one Sunday night time after a protracted day of finding out, I had no thought my life was about to vary. 

I stayed up watching it till 4:30 a.m. and took my last examination on barely two hours of sleep (I handed it).

By Wednesday of that week, I had inhaled each episode. That very same day, I began studying the ebook collection the present is predicated on by Diana Gabaldon.

It left me much more enthusiastic about my trip to Scotland. My mother helped me plan the journey and figuring out how a lot I had been having fun with the present, went on-line and requested in a Fb group if anybody knew about any “Outlander” excursions. There was one and it simply so occurred to have areas out there the sooner or later of my journey I had a day free.

After I visited Scotland for the primary time aged 20, I fell in love with the nation’s quaint streets, unimaginable folks, and comfy pubs virtually instantly. 

On the day of my “Outlander” tour, I used to be naturally excited however had no concept that within the area of just some hours, it might change every thing for me.

I keep in mind strolling up the lengthy, scenic drive to Midhope Fortress, the Fifteenth-century tower that doubles for Jamie Fraser’s household dwelling within the TV present, and changing into overwhelmed with emotion. 

I did not fairly perceive at first however then, with full readability, I did.

I noticed that I had discovered my calling. That is the place I needed to be and what I needed to do. I had solely been on the tour for 20 minutes, however I felt one thing shift inside me. It truthfully felt like I had been sleepwalking by way of life and I had lastly woken up.

As soon as I acquired dwelling, three issues occurred: I dumped my boyfriend on the time, I acquired a therapist, and I modified my main at school from schooling to historical past.

My complete focus academically and personally grew to become nothing however Scotland and, by extension, “Outlander.” 

Realizing in my coronary heart that Scotland was my religious dwelling, I made a decision to use to check overseas there. Sadly, the one time I may do that was within the last semester of my last yr, that means I needed to wait two years to return.

Throughout these two years, I spent my time getting concerned within the fandom, studying the remainder of the books, watching the present on repeat, and studying as a lot about Scottish historical past as I may.

When it lastly got here time for me to check overseas it was January 2020.

Simply three months into my program, the world shut down due to COVID-19, and I used to be requested to return dwelling for my very own security. I had waited so lengthy to be again in Scotland and having to depart so quickly simply sucked.

Again dwelling, I discovered myself celebrating my twenty second birthday alone whereas self-isolating in a campervan in my dad and mom’ yard, and dwelling on how I had gotten so near my goals solely to have them torn away from me. I believed issues actually could not worsen.

However then they did. 

Just some days later, I realized that my greatest buddy in the entire world had been killed in a automobile accident.

I had by no means skilled a loss like that earlier than, and it plunged me right into a horrifically darkish place. After I got here out of isolation and the world started to open again up, the final place I needed to be was in my small hometown. There have been reminiscences of my greatest buddy and the life we shared collectively on each avenue nook. 

I grew to become much more resolved to get again to Scotland, and for good this time.

I am going to by no means say I am grateful for what I went by way of however I can acknowledge what it led to as a result of now, three years on, I am residing in Scotland full time.

Within the fall of 2020, deep within the midst of my grief, I pulled myself collectively to use for grad college in Scotland. I knew it was what my greatest buddy would have needed for me and needed to make them proud.

Despite the fact that this system was utterly on-line, I didn’t care in any respect as a result of on the finish of the day, my toes had been on Scottish soil, and that was all that mattered to me. 

After graduating, I started working as a tour information at a Highlands fortress. It was such an incredible expertise. I’ve now arrange my very own tour information firm, Sassenach Historian Excursions, which makes a speciality of excursions of “Outlander” filming areas.

It has been so heartening to see different “Outlander” followers from all around the world go to Scotland like I as soon as did and fall in love with the nation. I completely love what I do, and I am so pleased with myself.

From the very starting, I knew deep down that “Outlander” meant extra to me than to the typical TV watcher.

It wasn’t only a present or a ebook — it was every thing.

Actually what acquired me by way of my deepest, darkest occasions was my love for the present and the inspiration I discovered in Caitríona Balfe, who performs the present’s brave and compassionate lead character, Claire. I’m so glad to say that I’ve had the privilege of telling her this on multiple event.

I’ve additionally discovered my very personal Jamie Fraser, so to talk.

My fiancé Grant is a Scot by way of and thru and is simply probably the most unimaginable man. After two years of courting, he proposed to me on the steps of Midhope Fortress — the place the place my Scottish journey started. 

We’re getting married subsequent yr, and also you most likely have already guessed that “Outlander” goes to play a component in our marriage ceremony.

Our ceremony can be on the kirk — a Scottish phrase for “church” — the place Jamie and Claire marry on the present. I am counting down the times and may’t watch for my household and mates in America to return over and see for themselves the unimaginable life I’ve constructed for myself right here in Scotland. 

You’ll find Hailey on Instagram at @sassenachhistorian.