It just keeps getting better....

Lets see, where to start.  Honestly I feel like it’s been a lifetime since I last wrote…feels like I’ve done and learned more in the past 6 months than I have in the last 27 years.   Reality has sunk in, and I know it sounds silly and maybe even a little egocentric to say but I’ve come to terms with the fact that people, friends, ex’s, Minneapolis and life in general has carried on fine without me.  The first year of my adventure seemed like just that, a temporary journey – something that would last for 365 days, something I would return from, a period of time that would end and allow me to resume my ‘normal’ life.  Now it’s been 16 months and this life (yachting, flip flops vs. heels, new friends & new zip codes) – has become my new reality.  I’m starting to realize that my “plan” is slowing taking a direction of it’s own, and for the first time in a long while I’m letting my head take a rest and I’m following my heart.  And I'm happy... happier than I've been in a very long time :)

So here’s a VERY quick recap of the past 6 months.

City under water

- The boat I joined in South America turned out to be quite an interesting (hellish doesn't begin to describe it) situation so after we got back to the U.S I decided I needed a break.  I was approaching my 1 year mark but didn't feel like I'd gotten everything I needed out of this experience and so I bought a ticket to Thailand.  I packed my bags, flew home for Thanksgiving and then off to Bangkok I went.  I had the whole flight, 23 hours, to plan my 6 week itinerary and here’s where I’ll insert my first of many kudos to The Lonely Planet – that book saved my life, literally!  I flew in right when the flooding began so you can imagine the grief I got from my parental units (love you Linda and Dougie :).  So after a day of touring the city I booked another flight up to Chiang Mai (buses & trains had stopped going in/out of the city).

Sukhothai

Full Moon Party 2011

 I could go on for 100 pages about each of the 16 cities I visited (honestly, my journal was my best friend throughout those 6 weeks and I filled well over half) but in the interest of time I’ll spare the details and just say this – holy hell what an experience!!!  It’s hard to explain the perspective and appreciation I was able to gain  being alone in a 3^rd world country thousands of miles away from home… it was life changing to say the least.  From the full moon party (20,000 people on one beach celebrating for 24 hours straight), to diving with whale sharks, riding elephants through the mountain, cuddling baby tigers, and hiking to Temples so beautiful they literally took my breath away.  Renting a bike and cycling through the most desolate, poor city you can imagine, sharing rooms with complete strangers who have now become close friends - I look back on the emails I sent while I was away and can't help but get a little choked up.  I've never felt more alive and I will never, ever forget that trip!

Diving with a whale shark in Koh Tao

Koh Phangan Full Moon Party

Lithuanian bestie
  

Ko Phi Phi - The Beach

So after my trip I spent a week at home, catching up on sleep and attempting to figure out my life.  Should I go back to FL and look for another boat or should I appreciate that year for everything it was, stick to my original plan and jump back into the real world??  After a lot of thought and a lot of journaling I decided to go for the first option, pack my bags yet again, and head back to FL.  I spent a week with friends, lounging pool-side and soaking up some rays before starting my job search.  I posted my resume on a Monday, started interviewing Tuesday, accepted my DREAM boat Wednesday (Chief Stewardess on a high profile charter boat), moved aboard Thursday and was off to the Caribbean on Friday!!

Little did I know when I took the job I'd be spending New Years with the greatest NBA player of all time, Michael JORDAN and crew (some of which also happened to be professional athletes)!!!!  Unfortunately I signed a lengthy confidentiality agreement which means I have to save the details for later but let me tell you, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity!   And now, after 16 months away from everything I know and love I feel like it's all been worth it.  I have achieved everything I could hope to achieve from this experience...I started as the most Jr person and am now running the interior, have traveled to South America, Thailand, and almost every single populated island in the Caribbean, removed myself from everything that was comfortable and finally found figured out who I am (without friends, family, and work to define me), and have kissed Michael Jordan (twice!) on the cheek :)   Had you asked me when I was little who I "loved" it would have been Michael Jordan so although a kiss is no proposal I'm still crossing it off my bucket list!

So yeah, that's where I'm at!  110% thrilled with my decision to come back for one more season...I never expected to be Chief Stew on a mega yacht, entertaining celebrities all over the Caribbean, but then again I didn't expect a lot of what's happened over the last year and half.   With that said it's becoming clear to me that it's time to start thinking of coming home.  I mean I've seen pigs fly for christ sake, er no wait swim...either way,  I think I can say I've just about seen it all!

Three little pigs, swam all the way home

BuT in saying that (there's always a but with me), I look back to the reasons I choose to do this in the first place, and I'm left with a feeling of uneasiness.  I thought I'd outgrown Minneapolis before, and now 16 months and 29 countries later I'm realizing just how small that city really is.  Yet in the same breath I think of the people who are dearest to my heart, a career I've spent the past 4 years building, and a condo that has become my comfortable little nest, and I'm left in the same position I was before this crazy ass adventure began.  I know if I were to walk into the Loop next weekend I would see the same 50 faces...sure some of them have gotten engaged, married, or pregnant, but it's still the same scene with the same people doing the same lame shit.  And although Minnesota is the only home I've known, I'm starting to wonder if comfort will equate to happiness.  Either way,  I've committed to this season (and I'm a woman of my word) which means I have four more months to figure it out :)   

As always, it feels good to write!  

xoxoxo,

mE