2018 has been quite the year for me.
In January a few days before Whistler Weekend, I had a sudden onset of miserable GI symptoms that led to a week of constant pain and nausea. I made a doctor’s appointment and luckily, the pain subsided just before I left for Whistler. At the first appointment, the doctor decided to get an ultrasound of my stomach, just to make sure I don’t have cancer. She just casually threw that word around so I was a bit panicked. The ultrasound technician decided to do an ultrasound of my entire abdomen, and just so happened to find gallstones. At this point, I had on my own volition been taking over 12 supplements a day just to feel okay.
In February when I finally got to see a GI, he only added to my list of medications to try and avoid surgery.
In March, I went to Hawaii with my mom and met two women from Sydney, Australia who told me how popular Working Holiday Visas were. Over the next few months, my interest in going to Australia grew.
In May, I presented my senior project. My symptoms were only growing worse and one of my medications was affecting my eyesight, so I sent a message to the surgeon I had met with previously to tell her how sick I felt.
In June within one week, I had my last day of class for my undergraduate career, my last day interning for the City of Seattle, graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, applies for and received my Working Holiday Visa and booked my flight to Sydney, had my gallbladder removed, and ended up back in the hospital for muscle spasms. Two weeks after surgery, I started a summer job with PCC Community Markets.
In July, I recovered from surgery and had my birthday in Liberty Lake with my entire family to celebrate my grandpa’s 80thbirthday.
In August (exactly two months after my surgery), I moved my best friend into her new apartment, where I would have lived if I hadn’t left for Australia. I also had my last day at PCC for the summer and moved out of the house I had lived in with some of my best friends.
In September, I spent a weekend away with my best friend’s family, had a going away party, and departed on my flight to Australia exactly three months after surgery. Two weeks later, I left to travel the entire east coast of Australia.
In October, I traveled up the east coast and fell in love with Australia. Late in the month, I finished my east coast adventure and had a horrible week in Melbourne where everything went wrong.
In November, I felt homesick and lost before finding my new home in Sydney at Wake Up! where I started a work for accommodation job in a kitchen and rekindled my love for cooking. I also started a job promoting hostel events and writing blogs for the hostel’s website.
In December, I had my first Christmas away from home without any friends or family that I usually spend this time of the year with. At the same time, Sydney started to feel like a real home away from home.
It’s been quite the wild ride, but it’s also been a turning point for me. I love the person I’ve become over the past few months of traveling. I may still have the same personality type, but I’m a lot more relaxed. I no longer plan out every hour of my day and I love spontaneous adventures. I’ve narrowed my goals and career paths for the future, and finally feel confident in where I want to go in life. It’s been quite the wild year, but I’m so thankful for it! Here’s to hoping 2019 shows me the world!
In January a few days before Whistler Weekend, I had a sudden onset of miserable GI symptoms that led to a week of constant pain and nausea. I made a doctor’s appointment and luckily, the pain subsided just before I left for Whistler. At the first appointment, the doctor decided to get an ultrasound of my stomach, just to make sure I don’t have cancer. She just casually threw that word around so I was a bit panicked. The ultrasound technician decided to do an ultrasound of my entire abdomen, and just so happened to find gallstones. At this point, I had on my own volition been taking over 12 supplements a day just to feel okay.
In February when I finally got to see a GI, he only added to my list of medications to try and avoid surgery.
In March, I went to Hawaii with my mom and met two women from Sydney, Australia who told me how popular Working Holiday Visas were. Over the next few months, my interest in going to Australia grew.
In May, I presented my senior project. My symptoms were only growing worse and one of my medications was affecting my eyesight, so I sent a message to the surgeon I had met with previously to tell her how sick I felt.
In June within one week, I had my last day of class for my undergraduate career, my last day interning for the City of Seattle, graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, applies for and received my Working Holiday Visa and booked my flight to Sydney, had my gallbladder removed, and ended up back in the hospital for muscle spasms. Two weeks after surgery, I started a summer job with PCC Community Markets.
In July, I recovered from surgery and had my birthday in Liberty Lake with my entire family to celebrate my grandpa’s 80thbirthday.
In August (exactly two months after my surgery), I moved my best friend into her new apartment, where I would have lived if I hadn’t left for Australia. I also had my last day at PCC for the summer and moved out of the house I had lived in with some of my best friends.
In September, I spent a weekend away with my best friend’s family, had a going away party, and departed on my flight to Australia exactly three months after surgery. Two weeks later, I left to travel the entire east coast of Australia.
In October, I traveled up the east coast and fell in love with Australia. Late in the month, I finished my east coast adventure and had a horrible week in Melbourne where everything went wrong.
In November, I felt homesick and lost before finding my new home in Sydney at Wake Up! where I started a work for accommodation job in a kitchen and rekindled my love for cooking. I also started a job promoting hostel events and writing blogs for the hostel’s website.
In December, I had my first Christmas away from home without any friends or family that I usually spend this time of the year with. At the same time, Sydney started to feel like a real home away from home.
It’s been quite the wild ride, but it’s also been a turning point for me. I love the person I’ve become over the past few months of traveling. I may still have the same personality type, but I’m a lot more relaxed. I no longer plan out every hour of my day and I love spontaneous adventures. I’ve narrowed my goals and career paths for the future, and finally feel confident in where I want to go in life. It’s been quite the wild year, but I’m so thankful for it! Here’s to hoping 2019 shows me the world!