Quick LIfe Updates - Precious Little Time

Life has been continuing nicely these past couple months. Work at Nordstrom as been full-filling, fruitful, and full-time. I enjoy myself immensely while practically living there, and have been cranking the numbers recently. Everyday, they post the top 25 sales people from the day before, and my name is now a regular appearance in not only the top 25, but the top ten. *Insert victory dance here* Home, sweet home.

The Miami heat has infiltrated my bloodstream - temperatures that may at one time have seemed deathly hot and impossibly humid are now, dare I say, pleasant. I'm making a trip up to Chicago soon, and I'm sure I will need to bring the old Parka to stave off the frost that is the Chicago summer.

I recently got a job I had been LUSTING over in Japan, putting a nice cap on my travel hiatus in the States. It begins in September, and last for a short 3.5 months, bringing me home to my family for Christmas (which I sorely missed last year). I'll be teaching english at a university, the location to be determined. Exciting!

That's about it. Oh, I turned 23 on the 7th... and realized I am not at all where I thought I would be. When I was young, I pictured myself married, possible with one on the way, at 23. Haha, how far from the truth!

Change is Constant!

Well, it did seem too good to be true.

After enduring odd troubles in obtaining essential visa information from the family I was going to be traveling with, the deadline was upon me. I called them one last time, stating that if I did not get the information immediately, I would not be able to go. I was leaving the next day for Indiana, making it impossible for me to get the visa for Brazil (you need to be in the Miami area). They shot me an email about an hour later, explaining that the reason they had not gotten back to me was that they would probably have to stay in Miami for the summer. "Sorry!" Their email proclaimed. 

I couldn't believe it, but kind of knew the whole time. To be honest, I was a bit relieved - I hadn't realized how much I would miss my family, and how much I was going to miss spending the summer with everyone back together again.

Long story short, I got my job back at Nordstrom, and returned the majority of stuff I was told to purchase for the trip. Then, I headed off to Indiana for some wedding celebrations!

My cousins' bachelorette party was so fun. We spent the day chilling at her lake house with the bridesmaids and her friends from Indy. There were about 9 of us in total, and we meshed well together.

That night, we built a bonfire to further celebrate the occasion.

That week, my family and I drove down south Indiana to Evansville, where my Grandparents on my Dad's side live. It was great to see them again! Thursday, we drove back up to Fort Wayne to assist wit the last minute wedding preparations and visit with more family. We played games and laughed hysterically most of the days, when we weren't setting up for the big day, which turned out beautifully.

The church ceremony was beautiful, the bride beautiful, the reception beautiful, the cake beautiful! We danced the entire night - my family the last ones to leave the dance floor. My Grandma was especially enthusiastic about dancing, and lead me several times in a polka, which I tried my best to duplicate. It was such a fun time!

Now, I gear up for a sweltering summer in Miami. I wait until July to find out if I got the job in Japan, and, if not, will have to pick another location for my next adventure. One thing is for sure: in this life I've chosen, change is constant!

Visits and A Travel Opportunity of One-in-a-Million Lifetimes

The reason I haven't written in awhile is, quite frankly, that there hasn't been much worthy of an update. This past month, I have settled back into working full time, adjusted nicely to the Miami heat, and enjoyed some great quality time with my family. It's been especially great getting back in touch with my sister, who just got home from school. My mom just smiles when we interact, and wonders who our REAL parents are.

Now that the school year is coming to an end, we've had a few visitors. My cousin, Serena, just finished her medical internship, and came down to visit in celebration. We had a nice few days together, laying on the beach, watching films, and just plain catching up. She graduates this week with her Doctorate in Pharmacy, and moves to Indianapolis to begin 2 hard years of residency. You go, girl.

We also have Craig, my sisters boyfriend, staying with us. I like him - he's passed an extensive series of tests to gain my positive affections. You go, boy.

Nordstrom is a great place to work, and I've loved (mostly) every moment of it. I like the personal connection with the customers, my coworkers, and my manager. Though it has been lovely living in Miami, I've had this growing urge inside of me to travel again. I was very upset to find out that teaching in South America was not a feasible option, as the pay is extremely  low, on site interviews are required before you are hired (rhymes!), and jobs are less available because of the economy. Bummer.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I helped a woman at work. Somehow her kids came up in the discussion we were having, and I mentioned that I had a degree in education, and student taught for about 6 months. She told me that she was looking for someone to tutor and watch her kids this summer, and inquired more into my training and experience. I ended up giving her my number, not thinking she would call back. You know how people are.

Think again! Yesterday, I got a call from her husband offering me a job. His family will be going on vacation to South America and Europe, and need a tag-along to tutor and care for their 2 boys. Food, accommodation, and airfare is all included - plus a bigger salary than I would make at Nordstrom... and tax free. 

After hearing what he had to say, I agreed to meet with him the following day, which was today. I arrived on time at a swanky condominium complex, yachts somewhat obscuring the ocean front view. After checking in via two different locations and confirmed as a valid visitor, I took the aquarium-lined elevator to the 25th floor, where I stepped onto the private doorstep of my prospective employer. In a white-and-black room that looked like it had come from the pages of a designer magazine, I chatted with 9 year old Victor, quite the gentleman, and his father, who had clearly been Victor's model of a gentleman. I learned that this was much more than a stint in Argentina, and was consequently floored by what was being offered.

To cut to the chase, I said YES. I'll be leaving in 3 weeks (literally the morning after I get back from my cousin's wedding) for Brazil. After 2 weeks or so there, we'll hop on his private plane to spend a week in Uruguay. Buenos Aires is next on the list for about 4 days, then south to snowy Bariloche, Argentina for 3 weeks. By this time, it will be the beginning of August, and we'll hop of a plane to France for a week, and then to the Greek Isles for another 10 days before returning home. 

Let's just stop and breathe here for a second. This is something out of a movie. But it's happening to me. In 3 weeks. Someone pinch me, hard!

I am so blessed, grateful, and excited! It's going to be a whirlwind this summer, that's for sure!

And that's not the end of it! I just got an email from a Japanese corporation, and  I have an interview (after an extensive application process) for a program in Tokyo! If I get the job (fingers crossed) I'll be leaving... a few days after I get back from Europe for 4 months in Asia.  Phew! 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but THAT I felt was worthy of an update.