Memory & Motivation Board
Almost as soon as I moved into my new apartment back in March, I imagined having a big board above my desk with all my photos and post cards and trinkets from my life and travels. I finally had the opportunity to put together what I am calling my Memory & Motivation Board. Since it is a collection of so many fond travel memories, good friends, special moments, and also contains motivational phrases, I thought that was a more suitable name than what most call a vision board.
Plugging Away!
Work Station – The dining room table has been serving as my office, since I’ve returned to San Diego. At least I have a view of the pool!
Hellloooo! How’s the month of August treating you? Have you been enjoying summer? Have you gone on vacation? I hope you are surviving the heat and have had a chance to enjoy some leisure time with your loved ones.
It’s been just one week since I’ve returned from my travels. Still a bit weird to be back. In this short time, I think I may have created an unhealthy relationship with my Mac. Oh my Mac.
He went with me on my world travels, survived the humidity, saved all my photos, helped me book all my hotels and flights and allowed me stay in touch with you. He’s a good travel buddy. A Powerbook G4, he’s a little heavy, but nonetheless, he travels well. We survived five months together with nay a squabble.
Now I’m with him morning through night, pounding away on his keyboard, creating newsletters, videos, resumes, cover letters, endlessly researching employment opportunities online. I’ve even reorganized my photos from my travels. My poor Mac barely gets a wink of sleep!
You can see my work station here in this photo. You’ve got the ever-present cup of coffee on the left, with my calendar, notes, dictionary (for all those resume action words!) and pencil cup. Then that red book on the right is my travel journal. I’ve been using it as a reference for stories in my newsletters. Next to that is a travel guide for Spain. Still considering it. Finding some possibilities. The guidebook serves more as a geography reference. On the lower right is my binder with all my notes. My big TO DO list is on top, constantly reminding me that I have A LOT to do!!!
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
All Good Things Come To An End
After a terrific twenty-eight days, the European tour has come to and end. The tour ended in Greece, after just a few short hours in Athens. My flight schedule took me back to London, where I pondered the idea of traveling to Spain to find work. I mentioned in my previous post that I wouldn’t mind staying in Europe, particularly Greece or Spain.
Well, after greater contemplation, I realized I was unable to camp out in Spain, or anywhere in Europe. Hotels and transportation cost a pretty Euro or Pound and I simply could not afford to stay and look for work.
What that means, my dear friends, is that – SURPRISE! – I’m writing to you from San Diego! I’m back in the good old US of A. I just got back on Monday, and have spent the last couple of days recuperating from a long and delayed flight. I’m also adjusting to being back in the U.S. Reverse culture shock always seems to hit me harder than culture shock. How weird is that? I do love being immersed in foreign cultures!
I find it oddly coincidental, that I returned from my travels the same exact day I returned from Japan last year. Interesting how things fall into place that way. Even though a year has passed, I still miss Japan and often thought of my friends, students and life in Japan while I was traveling throughout the world.
My goal, while here in comfort of casa de papa y mama, is to polish up my resume, do some research, and figure out what the next step is in my life adventure. After five months living out of a backpack, I need a break, a job and routine in my life. I love, love, love traveling and exploring the world, but even “Shanna the Adventurer” has her limits! It was time to come home.
What I feel so grateful for is that I am in the unique position in my life that I can do anything and go anywhere I choose. Yes, I will look for jobs in Spain and Greece, as I said before. And I will still keep bugging Kurt in Vietnam to find a way to put me in that Sales and Marketing position in Hanoi. But I will also research opportunities a little closer to home and see what pops up. It just may be time for me to settle in the US again and plant some roots here. We’ll just have to see. Point being, I’m open and flexible.
I have posted my resume online here. And you know me well, so if you would like to forward my resume to someone you know, please feel welcome to do so. If you know someone who’s looking for a person like me, please put us in touch. Any efforts you make on my behalf are GREATLY appreciated.
Soon enough, I’ll be writing my OTBS newsletter, both an Asian version and European version, to highlight some of the experiences I’ve had during my journey. I know many of you have kept up with my travels here, but I’m hoping to tickle some of my friends and acquaintances who haven’t visited the website as frequently as you! Look for that news very soon.
If you want to reach me, you can find me on my cell. It’s the same number I had previously. I’d be delighted to hear from you and catch up in person. Thanks so much for being so supportive and I look forward to speaking with you soon!
Cheers,
Shanna
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