I have been considering writing on here again for quite some time now. Since it's Thanksgiving break and I have a full day where I do not have to worry about the copious amounts of writing I have to do for my master's degree, I figured, "what better time than now?" Though, do I ever truly not worry about getting my work done?
This way, I am also covered for posting in the year 2015. ;) In light of it being thanksgiving, I figured I should start with things that I am thankful for. In a brief nutshell: family, friends, cats, TSFL, traveling, teaching, students, and so much more.
Man, this year has been full of changes. This artilce truly says it best:
http://blogs.wsj.com/expat/2015/04/15/repatriation-blues-expats-struggle-with-the-dark-side-of-coming-home/
There is a real challenge to coming back home from living overseas. Especially, returning to your "home town." Things that were nuances to me while I was living in Kuwait are now things I miss so deeply. Things that I once missed about home seem so distant and irrevelent now. I am extremely glad that I had decided to start this blog before going on my adventures in a different country. One of my favorite stories was when I decided to jump out of an airplane prior to moving my life overseas. As I went back and reminisced on old memories, I realized that from this experience, I truly did find myself. I mean, I literally had a post titled "Who am I?" My experience encompassed a vast range of emotions and personal triamps and struggles. Things I never knew I was capable of until I followed one of my dreams to live abroad.
One thing that I have found that has helped me immensely with this transition is to travel. There are always places on this earth that I will be happy to visit, and visit again. My family and I took a trip with some friends to NOLA (New Orleans) this past March. We saw some fantastic musicians, had aligator and crawfish Na'lins style, saw some people earn some beads, went to a southern plantation, went to a swamp, went on a graveyard tour, and much more! You can find so many things to do in this world, in any country or state. These unique things about the deep south helped to feed my curisoty about this world and what it has to offer.
I plan to visit the Grand Canyon for the 2nd time this March as a celebration of completing my master's degree. MARCH 27TH Y'ALL! October 15th, 2015 marked my one year anniversary with my master's degree. It has been a long haul, which has required a great deal of perservation and constant reading/ writing. I am officially down to two in a half classes and a portfolio. Then, I will be off to Roatan this summer! By then, I will have lost another 20 pounds and will be beach-ready. When I first got home, I had gained a lot of weight and I was actually at my all time high. Before our trip to NOLA, during our health check-ups, I discivered that I also had high blood pressure. At that moment, I decided to do something about it. So, I challenged my parents to a weight loss competition. One of my former colleagues from Kuwait had gotten in contact with me about this proram call Take Shape For Life. It is an AMAZING program. I have lost over 35 pounds so far and I plan to keep that going until I reach a weight I haven't seen since high school. Since I have had so much success with this program, I decided to become a health coach. March is going to mark a gigantic milestone in a lot of areas in my life. I will have my master's degree, and I will be at my goal weight. (Maybe a cornhole champion too?).
In lou of having a lot of drive and motivation to be successful and reach my goals, I have taken a spot on a team for the Gillette "Triple C Holers" cornhole league. We play on Thursday evenings. It is really nice to have things that you look forward to each week. For me, it's cornhole and community and jazz band.
Well, that's all for now. Let's all raise a glass to the holidays and only three full teaching weeks until Christmas break!
This way, I am also covered for posting in the year 2015. ;) In light of it being thanksgiving, I figured I should start with things that I am thankful for. In a brief nutshell: family, friends, cats, TSFL, traveling, teaching, students, and so much more.
Man, this year has been full of changes. This artilce truly says it best:
http://blogs.wsj.com/expat/2015/04/15/repatriation-blues-expats-struggle-with-the-dark-side-of-coming-home/
There is a real challenge to coming back home from living overseas. Especially, returning to your "home town." Things that were nuances to me while I was living in Kuwait are now things I miss so deeply. Things that I once missed about home seem so distant and irrevelent now. I am extremely glad that I had decided to start this blog before going on my adventures in a different country. One of my favorite stories was when I decided to jump out of an airplane prior to moving my life overseas. As I went back and reminisced on old memories, I realized that from this experience, I truly did find myself. I mean, I literally had a post titled "Who am I?" My experience encompassed a vast range of emotions and personal triamps and struggles. Things I never knew I was capable of until I followed one of my dreams to live abroad.
One thing that I have found that has helped me immensely with this transition is to travel. There are always places on this earth that I will be happy to visit, and visit again. My family and I took a trip with some friends to NOLA (New Orleans) this past March. We saw some fantastic musicians, had aligator and crawfish Na'lins style, saw some people earn some beads, went to a southern plantation, went to a swamp, went on a graveyard tour, and much more! You can find so many things to do in this world, in any country or state. These unique things about the deep south helped to feed my curisoty about this world and what it has to offer.
I plan to visit the Grand Canyon for the 2nd time this March as a celebration of completing my master's degree. MARCH 27TH Y'ALL! October 15th, 2015 marked my one year anniversary with my master's degree. It has been a long haul, which has required a great deal of perservation and constant reading/ writing. I am officially down to two in a half classes and a portfolio. Then, I will be off to Roatan this summer! By then, I will have lost another 20 pounds and will be beach-ready. When I first got home, I had gained a lot of weight and I was actually at my all time high. Before our trip to NOLA, during our health check-ups, I discivered that I also had high blood pressure. At that moment, I decided to do something about it. So, I challenged my parents to a weight loss competition. One of my former colleagues from Kuwait had gotten in contact with me about this proram call Take Shape For Life. It is an AMAZING program. I have lost over 35 pounds so far and I plan to keep that going until I reach a weight I haven't seen since high school. Since I have had so much success with this program, I decided to become a health coach. March is going to mark a gigantic milestone in a lot of areas in my life. I will have my master's degree, and I will be at my goal weight. (Maybe a cornhole champion too?).
In lou of having a lot of drive and motivation to be successful and reach my goals, I have taken a spot on a team for the Gillette "Triple C Holers" cornhole league. We play on Thursday evenings. It is really nice to have things that you look forward to each week. For me, it's cornhole and community and jazz band.
Well, that's all for now. Let's all raise a glass to the holidays and only three full teaching weeks until Christmas break!
