Author name: Michelle

when everything has changed
Life, REMOTE YEAR

Finding your way back when everything has changed

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It’s been over month since my last blog (thank you to those who have asked if you’re still on my list – it’s nice to know I’ve been missed and you enjoy reading my blogs!) So, it’s time to dust myself off and share where I’m at.   First, let me say a huge, heart-felt thank you. The outpouring of love from my last post was unbelievable!   It was hard to share how I was feeling but I realized so many people are dealing with similar challenges. Being honest about what’s going on for us and supporting each other is even more important now, as I realize how many people are silently struggling.   Overall, life is good. I have good days, I have bad days but the good days are lasting longer and longer.   On the bad days, I drive to the cemetery and have a big cry (no one questions a crying person there).   One afternoon, I sat there with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and realized that I had stopped taking care of me. All of the habits and routines I created to make sure I was at my best had fallen to the wayside, forgotten.   Why do we stop doing the things that make us feel better when we so desperately need to feel better?   So, I’ve gone back to the basics of extreme self-care and here’s what’s worked for me:   Talk about it.   I’ve reached out to my fellow Remote Year travellers and realized I’m not alone.   Sharing our stories, remembering our adventures, wondering about our next steps, reminded me that we’re in this together. We understand each other and are here to lift and support in every way.   I’ve also talked with family and friends – deep conversations over wine, around a campfire, with a mug of tea, strolling along the water.   The questions I’m asking are similar to what they’re asking – is this it?   Is this what I want to do with my one, wild and crazy life? And if not, what steps can I take today to move closer to what I really want?   Shift perspective.   When I returned to my job, I felt claustrophobic. My office has four walls and door but no windows or natural light.   The feeling of being trapped caused my heart to race and I realized that I had spent every single day outside for the past year. Of course I’d feel anxious staying indoors for eight hours each day!   Although I hoped working from home would help ease the transition, my company wasn’t supportive and I continued to fall into a depression at the office.   I realized I was isolating myself and that only made things worse so I decided to find something good about working in an office. And the answer was right there – the people.   I reached out to my colleagues and made a conscious effort to strike up conversations, linger in the lunch room and get involved. Slowly, the days began to feel more bearable.   Gratitude.   For the past five years, I’ve faithful maintained a gratitude practice. It was something I learned at a retreat in Bali and it changed my life. (Thanks Carmen – www.carmenmarshallretreats.com)   Every morning, before I open my eyes and dive into the day, I take a few moments to lie there and plan out my day.   I visualize all the details – people I will meet, things I will say, how I want to feel, where I will enjoy lunch, even how smoothly traffic will flow. Then I say “thank you” as my feet touch the ground and my day begins.   Every night before I fall asleep, I review the day and rewrite anything that didn’t go how I wanted it to (our mind can’t tell the difference between “reality” and “imagination” so why not fall asleep remembering things how you wanted them to be?!)   Then I hold up my hands and count down ten things I’m grateful for that day.   Sometimes I don’t get to ten before I fall asleep and other nights I list 20 things. Either way, I fall asleep in a state of gratitude.   Keep it fresh.   After the thrill of exploring a new city or country every month, coming home can feel a little boring. But I’ve been trying to find new ways to appreciate my town.   I drive a different route every time I go somewhere, checking out new neighborhoods and businesses along the way.   I keep a beach blanket in the car and stop in random parks to enjoy the view, read a book or just soak up some sunshine.   And I’m learning to be open to new opportunities, no matter how strange they seem at first.   (I’ve started dating but that’s a completely different blog topic – “10 true first date stories that will make you appreciate your significant other”!)   I’m going to new events, talking to strangers and spending time outside. All of these things keep my mind fresh and help me from slipping back into routine.   The key is to keep your brain guessing about what’s happening next!   What’s next?   I’ve listed my condo for sale and I’m so excited for the next phase!   I love my condo, it’s beautiful and was exactly what I was looking for before I left on Remote Year. But now I’m back and I’ve changed – it simply doesn’t fit me anymore.   Selling my home allows me to pay off debts, establish a nest egg, and be flexible to embrace opportunities as they arise.   I see myself house-sitting a lovely home on the lake over the fall/winter and then who knows what the spring will bring.   As I’ve always believed, life is a daring adventure or nothing at all!    

Kelowna
Life, REMOTE YEAR

What they don’t tell you about coming home

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I’ve traveled lots, usually in six-week time frames, and it was always hard to get back in the swing of things – to set an alarm, to commute to the office, to reconcile what you’ve seen with where you live.   So I imagined it would be the same after coming home from a year of travel, perhaps a little bumpy at first but things would smooth out.   But they haven’t.   I’ve struggled with whether or not I should share what I’m going through because I don’t want people to think it’s something they said or didn’t say, they did or didn’t do, and I don’t want to appear ungrateful for the amazing life I live.   However, I’ve spent a year being vulnerable and writing about how I feel, and I don’t want to stop simply because I’m home and it’s hard.   Coming home after an extended time away is much harder than I expected. There’s the excitement of seeing family and friends, the joy of discovering the changes in your hometown, the bliss of snuggling into your own bed.   But there is also the loneliness of being separated from the people I just spent a year traveling with. There’s the isolation of having no one understand what you’ve been through, no one who relates to the range of emotions rolling under the surface.   I feel sad and yet I don’t know how to express it or even if should express it. I worry that people will think I’m ungrateful for the experience and I should be happy to be home.   And I am happy to see my family and friends but there’s also this huge hole – a space that was filled with 45 people that shared every day with me. A freedom of living life on our terms. An excitement of chasing whatever dreams caught our eye.   We held each other through the loss of family members, pets and careers; we nursed each other’s broken hearts, broken bones and upset stomachs; we celebrated new loves, new jobs and overcoming fears; we stayed up all night talking about what happens next, what scares us, what makes us feel alive.   We also did the mundane tasks of normal life – we shopped for groceries, we took out the garbage, we paid our bills.   It wasn’t a vacation, we were simply living our life in another city.   Only my closest friends, who have known me for years, can see that something has changed, that I’m not the same, that I’m struggling with being home.   I feel like I’m living in two worlds, straddling the dimensions and not sure where I belong.   I don’t fit back into my old life – I’ve been stretched, expanded, tested and grown. It’s simply not possible to come back and carry on as if nothing has changed – when truly everything has changed.   The hard part is that all that change is on the inside and you have to look closely to see it.   One friend said my eyes have changed, the color, the depth. Yes, they have – because of what I’ve seen this year.   Another friend said she feels like she has part of her back that she didn’t really know had been missing.   This is so beautiful.   Yes, I am loved. I am so loved and blessed.   Which is why I struggle with this transition.   Why am I not more excited to be home? Why can’t I find my footing? Why do I drive down familiar streets feeling completely detached? Why do I want to cry but have no idea why?   People ask me how it was or what my favourite part was or if I’m glad to be home – and I don’t know how to answer. A quick response or even a few minutes can’t begin to explain everything I’ve seen and learned, nor the unsettled state my emotions are in.   I usually gloss over most of it – say it was great, such a good year, not without its challenges but I’m glad to be home – and I move on.   But my stomach is in my throat. I feel sweaty and anxious, like I’m not being honest.   Home should be comfortable and welcoming and familiar – but all the sudden it’s not, because I’m so very different.   Yes, I’m grateful. I’m so eternally grateful for the experience and the people and the life lessons.   But I no longer identify with the person who used to wear the clothes I left behind in my closet. (In fact, I sometimes put on my “travel” clothes just to feel like myself.) The food I used to eat on a daily basis no longer appeals to me. The things I used to love no longer light me up.   And it makes me sad, and I want to express that, but I don’t know how.   I’ve always followed my heart, not my head and this sometimes makes me experience a wide range of emotions. And when my emotions are this charged, it’s usually best to simply sit with them – to just allow myself to feel everything and not hide from whatever comes up.   So, here I sit in this grief and this sadness and understand that it exists because I played full out. Because I made the choice to leap – and I went. Because I pushed the boundaries and chased a dream not everyone could see.   And people say that I’m brave and I want to tell them I’m not brave, I’m not extraordinary.   There were so many times I was scared – about being a freelancer, about getting hurt, about fitting in, about the next step.   I cried, I stressed, I worried, I screamed, I laid awake at night.   I didn’t feel brave. I only knew that

remote year balboa
Life, REMOTE YEAR

Lessons learned from traveling for a year

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Now that I’m home, everyone asks me one of two questions: where was your favourite place or what did you learn?   It’s too hard to pick just one city but my favourite place to be is always on the water so anywhere near water wins my heart.   As for what I learned, here are a few random thoughts: (Note: the idea for this blog and many of the tips came from Anastasia Chapman, our fearless program leader – thanks Momma Stasia!  xo)   There’s nothing like a four-hour ferry ride to make new friends Figure out the currency conversion before checking into a spa for the weekend Always pack snacks   Make friends with someone who has access to the airport lounge  Castle walls are slippery in the rain Keep an extra deodorant stick in your backpack   A nap is always a good idea Check the level of the tide before you go cliff jumping Always hang on in the back of an open-air Jeep – you never know when you might fly over a sand dune   When eating street food, choose the stall with the longest queue Renting a beach umbrella is a smart idea The best way to catch an early flight is to stay up all night   Flushing toilet paper is an overlooked luxury If stray dogs can figure out the metro system, so can you Back up all your photos   Treasure the friends who offer a hand, wait for you and walk slowly up the mountain You can never get rid of sand in a backpack Pretending to take a photo is a great way to check out guys   Don’t run a half marathon when you aren’t in shape Eat outside every chance you get Google Maps is one of the best inventions ever   A glass of port beneath a castle, in a Jeep, with friends always tastes better It’s okay to sleep in a sandy bed, it means you had a great day Catch a sunrise or sunset every day – it’s always worth it   Starting a campfire requires newspaper and a lighter Find the balance between enjoying the moment and capturing the moment Stray dogs may bite you   All you need is a jar of peanut butter The best secrets are found down narrow, cobblestone streets If the place is called “Hot Mess”, it’s likely you’ll be one too   Food poisoning is a surprise cleanse you didn’t know you needed It’s cold at the top of mountains Uber is amazing – use it, love it   Always keep a few coins and tissue in your pocket (you never know when you need a bathroom) The best way to see a city is by bike Buy tickets in advance for something you really want to see   Workspaces provide free tea Make sure your train ticket seat faces forward Don’t be afraid of getting lost – that’s usually when you find the best places   Learn to take two-minute showers in Europe Midnight bike rides through the city make you feel alive Always pack a swimsuit   A smile will take you a long way in any language Say yes often!        

final-farewell-mexico-city
REMOTE YEAR

Laughter and tears in Mexico City

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Month 12 of my adventure was a time for reflection and planning for the future. One of the things that rolled through my mind was – how do I want to show up in my community when I return?   I’ve lived in Kelowna for 10+ years and have lots of friends and business contacts I’m looking forward to reconnecting with. But is there something more? Is there a way I could give back after my year away?   As always, once we ask the question, the answer appears.   One of the things I love to do is laugh. I laugh every day – all the time – and always find things that make me happy.   When I was in Bogota, I met a woman who was a “happiness consultant”. I asked her more about this and she told me she goes into businesses, talks about mindfulness and gratitude and leads a laughter yoga session.   Laughter Yoga – yes, it’s a thing!   I first experienced it in 2012 when I went to Sanoviv, an integrative medical facility in Mexico. Now I had this experience in Bogota and later I dreamed about it at a meditation retreat in Ixtapa so took it as a sign – I was going to get certified as a laughter yoga instructor and offer classes when I get home to Kelowna!   As I began my search for training, there were no options in Canada and I wondered how this dream was going to come together.   I contacted my original instructor at Sanoviv and he put me in touch with the International Laughter Yoga University. Turns out, they had an instructor in Mexico City so I contacted her right away.   And would you believe she was offering the training that weekend?! And she spoke English!   She only offers the training twice a year and it happened to fall exactly when I needed it. (I love it when things magically line up!)   I enrolled and spent a full weekend with seven amazing women, laughing, sharing, learning together. I walked away with not only a certificate but seven new friends to keep me laughing every day.   Although most of my month was filled with laughs, I also had some scary moments, as I experienced my first major earthquake.   Of course, we’d heard about the devastating earthquake in Sept 2017 and many of us expressed concerns about living in the city for a month. But we were assured everything was safe and we’d have no issues.   On February 16, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit near the coast and shook things up again in Mexico City.   I was home alone and felt things start to sway. It was a disorienting feeling and I wasn’t sure what was happening – until the wall-mounted TV crashed to the floor. Then I realized it was an earthquake and went back to my elementary school training – dive under a desk or get to a doorframe.   Not having a desk or a table, I stood in the doorframe waiting for things to stop moving, as pictures fell off the wall, furniture moved, and car alarms sounded outside.   Then there was banging on my front door and yelling in Spanish. I opened the door to see the building’s security guard standing there and he grabbed me indicating to get out.   I gingerly ran down the metal steps in my bare feet and went outside – where traffic had stopped and people stood around, cautiously looking up.   As I stood there, I thought – this is crazy! If anything collapses, we’re going to get hit with falling debris!   But when in a foreign country, my policy is always “follow the locals” so I stood there and waited.   About an hour later, they let us back into the building but my nerves were rattled and I couldn’t focus for the rest of the evening and definitely didn’t sleep that night.   We had a 5.2 magnitude aftershock the next night, which shook me in my bed and ensured I wouldn’t get a full night’s sleep for the rest of the month.   I experienced physical symptoms afterwards and felt like I had vertigo. (Trusting this goes away once I get home!)   Determined to experience a final few tourist stops while in the city, we turned to a classic choice – the hop on-hop off bus. This is such a great way to see a city, especially one as big as Mexico City.   We explored two of the four options in one day, stopping at the Basilica of Guadalupe, a destination for many pilgrimages.   We also got tickets to see a folklore dance at Belles Artes, a gorgeous theatre in the heart of downtown. The evening was full of traditional regional dances including costumes and music.   My heart sang with the beautiful, soulful sounds and I knew it was the perfect way to wrap up my time in Mexico.   The only thing left was our final farewell party. We boarded vans and drove two hours out of the city, along dusty, narrow, windy roads to arrive at a gorgeous villa at the mountain foothills. There was a pool, mansion, guest house, gardens and so many lovely places to curl up in the sun or shade and share memories with friends.   We spent the whole day together – the final 42 people who “graduated” from the Remote Year adventure.   We shared what we’d learned this year, how we’ve changed, what we were grateful for. We signed each other’s yearbooks, we posed for photos and we wrapped it up with an outdoor dinner under twinkle lights in the trees.   It was magical. It was sad. It was happy. It was perfect.  

Lucha Libre and Tacos
REMOTE YEAR

Living local in Mexico City

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Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, with over 24 million people! Being a small city, water girl, I wondered if I’d like it. Keeping an open mind, I decided to try as many local things as possible and discover why so many people call this city home.   As a local, the first thing you must try is tacos! Mexicans love their tacos and each region has their own unique style, ingredients and recipes. To get the full flavour of options, we attended a taco making class using local ingredients including steamed cow’s tongue and roasted grasshoppers!   Acckkk! Keep an open mind, I reminded myself.   We also made guacamole, pineapple salsa, red sauce and green sauce. One thing I quickly learned is most Mexican dishes are spicy! Even if you ask – is it spicy? and they say, no, my lips still burn with the heat!   Nearly every restaurant offers a version of tacos – from fancy to simple – and you can find taco food trucks on any street. Our tradition of “Taco Tuesday Family Night” has been taken to a whole new level this month!   Another classic event for locals is Friday night fight night at the Arena Mexico. This long-standing venue is the place to see one of the country’s most raucous and dramatic sporting events, lucha libre.   Mexico’s version of professional wrestling (the term literally means free-style wrestling) is one of the country’s biggest spectator activities.   Characterized by colorful masks, flamboyant personalities and a whole lot of Spandex, it’s an edge-of-your-seat spectacle like no other.   Fans scream for their favorites and boo the opponents, vendors approach your seat selling everything from nachos, soup, and pizza to beer with chilli peppers to masks and foam fingers. The whole scene is so loud and chaotic, the only thing you can do is laugh and go with the flow.   We were lucky enough to secure a backstage tour before the match and got to meet a coach who was training young wrestlers.   They invited us to join in for the warm up and only a handful of our group was able to remotely keep up! These guys are in incredible shape. From standing somersaults to backflips and rope dives, I was impressed.   The official match lasted nearly three hours with several rounds and wrestlers. There was even a match with female wrestlers and they kicked butt!   We left the match with a new appreciation of the skill and fitness level required, even though it’s such a crazy sport.   The next morning, we were off at 6am to do something that has been on my bucket list all year – hot air balloon ride!   I’ve always wanted to do it and several people said to wait until Mexico City where you can float over ruins and pyramids. Yes, please!   We arrived in the misty morning, cold but excited. Balloons were already in the air and it looked like the rising sun would burn off the clouds by the time we got up there.   They divided us into groups of 12, the maximum each basket holds. The basket is divided into smaller compartments, each holding three people, with the middle reserved for the pilot. This makes sense, as you don’t want people moving around while in flight.   We eagerly scrambled into our spots and got ready for lift off. With a gush of air and flames, our balloon slowly lifted up, and up into the sky.   Now, for someone who’s always wanted to do this, you’d think I would have done some research. But no, I only had my fantasized version of what it would be like – gently floating among the clouds, romantically snuggling to keep warm, gazing out at the horizon.   Wrong!   First of all, it is so loud you can’t have any type of conversation. The pilot pulls the lever to add more flames about every three seconds and the sound is deafening.   As you turn to your friend and say “isn’t this ama….”, whooooosh!   Everything is drowned out by the noise. After three attempts to say how amazing I thought it was, I gave up and just laughed. (Side note: do not consider proposing in a hot air balloon – she’ll never hear you!)   Second, they told us to dress warm, as you’re up high and it will be cold. So we were bundled in layers and hoodies and jackets.   Again, I should have realized this but I didn’t. Hot air balloons stay up because flames create hot air.   Flames…fire…open…about six inches from your head! It gets so hot it feels like your hair is on fire!   Adrienne was pretty sure her rain coat was melting so she cautiously took it off. Everyone began peeling off layers until we were in tank tops – even then, we were still sweating.   But even with the heat and the noise, it was still beautiful to float along and look at things from a new perspective.   We floated beside the Teotihuacan pyramids and ruins. (We also learned that you can’t steer a hot air balloon – you can control the height but not the direction. You simply go with the direction of the wind.)   We floated over homes and fields and streets and buildings. After nearly an hour, we began to descend for a landing but the winds had a different idea. Every time we came closer to landing, the winds shifted and blew us over large cactus fields!   After three attempts, our pilot decided we were just simply going to land in a cactus field!   We crashed through a couple cactus and as we came closer, staff grabbed the basket and guided us out of the cactus field and onto a waiting trailer. The balloon slowly deflated and they worked fast to wrap it

meditation in mexico
Life, REMOTE YEAR

Change is constant, especially on Remote Year

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As we left Bogota behind and headed to Mexico City, I was excited. Yes, it meant the final month of this year-long adventure, but it also meant I got to see friends from home!   I’ve been meditating with a group of ladies for almost five years and we have an annual ocean retreat. This year we chose Ixtapa – a quick 45-minute flight from Mexico City – which meant I was off to see my friends at the beach!   I only had time to unpack my suitcase, repack it and head back to the airport. I left the 12 degree chill of CDMX and landed at Zihuantanejo airport and 28 degree heat – yippee!   As I walked into the resort I heard my name and turned to see my friend Edleen approaching. We hugged and laughed and my heart felt calm to be connected with a dear friend again.   I settled into our ocean-view room and quickly changed into my flip-flops and bathing suit and headed down to the pool.   We ran into the other girls and started the reunion. There were several ladies I knew and some I hadn’t met yet. As the introductions began, I knew it was going to be a good week.   After 11 months of traveling and figuring out currencies and finding grocery stores and remembering where I lived, it was wonderful to unplug and not worry about a thing.   My toughest decision was beach or pool, strawberry or lime, ice cream or cake (who am I kidding – the answer is always ice cream!)   Our relaxing week included daily meditations, book study, breakfasts and dinners together, afternoon naps, and beach walks. It also included poolside silliness, sassy photo shoots, temporary tattoos and dancing on stage.   There were midnight swims and all-night conversations, laughter and tears, reflection and dreaming. Exactly what I needed.   One of the highlights was a tour to the turtle conservatory!   We arrived at a beautiful beach location and were warmly welcomed with a drink as they explained their operation. The eggs are placed in a nest, buried in the sand, and identified with a sign that shows the dates they’re ready. It looked like a giant garden, with sticks identifying each section.   In groups of three, we were shown into the nest area, given a bucket and instructions to scoop up four turtles each. They were adorable!   So tiny and sleepy and vulnerable. I brushed the sand back as I uncovered each one and gently coaxed them into my gloved hand.   Once we each had four, we set the bucket aside and went to dinner while the baby turtles woke up.   As the sun began to set, we gathered our buckets – now with very active little turtles – and headed down the beach. They had drawn lines in the sand to indicate a “no walking” zone so we didn’t step on any turtles.   Squatting down and saying some last words of encouragement to my babies, we leaned our buckets over on the count of three and released the turtles.   Oh, what a sight as 140 baby turtles took over the beach!   Like all babies, they had individual personalities. Some turtles took off with great speed towards the water, others slowly made their way along, others took off sideways and some even tried to climb back into the bucket!   We cheered as they reached the water, we laughed as some got turned around and then found their way.   And then, there was only one little turtle left and he was struggling.   He just couldn’t seem to make it to the water. He took a few steps forward and stopped. A wave would come and we’d cheer, but then it left him behind. Time and again the waves came close but not quite enough.   After 25 minutes, the staff put on gloves, scooped him up and put him back in his bucket. “He won’t survive if he goes in the water now,” they said. “He’s exhausted. We’ll tuck him in and try again tomorrow.”   Oh, my heart went out to the little turtle. What an adventure!   I walked away feeling I had just witnessed a valuable life lesson – you don’t have to be the fastest, you don’t have to be first, you just have to try. And it’s okay if you fail – dust yourself off, rest and try again tomorrow.   Back at the resort, we laid under an umbrella and Edleen filled me in on all the changes in Kelowna – condos going up, buildings destroyed by fire, restaurants that opened or closed, neighborhood expansions.   There were so many changes I wondered how I’ll recognize my city when I get home! I joked and said I’ll need a guided tour (which she gladly offered to provide).   Sometime when we stay in one place, we don’t realize that things are changing. But when you step away for a year, you realize that change is constant – whether we see it or not. Others see it.   And it made me wonder – have I changed this year?   Physically I don’t think I’ve changed – my hair is a little longer but still baby-duck fluffy, I haven’t gained or lost any significant weight, I haven’t got any tattoos or piercings.   Emotionally I don’t think I’ve changed – I still cry at movies, my heart melts when I see a baby, I long to love and be loved, and I practice kindness everywhere I go.   But mentally I’ve changed – if I’m honest, I know it to be true.   I’ve discovered a new way to live; I’ve seen proof that it’s possible to live the life you dream of; I know that people around the world are living a very different lifestyle than most North Americans.   I know what it’s

Panama Canal
REMOTE YEAR

Why you win too when you realize someone else’s dream

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Travelling for a year with 50+ people is an amazing experience. You always have someone to share adventures with but sometimes it’s nice to take off by yourself too. As I sat in my apartment in Colombia, I pulled up a map and looked at the options for my solo escape.   I didn’t want to backtrack, so I looked at neighboring countries. My options were Venezuela (too dangerous right now) or Ecuador (then I’d want to do the Galapagos or Amazon, both out of the budget at the moment). Looking north, there was Costa Rica but I’d already been there. My eyes landed on the country in between, Panama.   Yes, that is where I wanted to go!   As I talked to my mom about my plans, she reminded me that Granny always wanted to travel through the Panama Canal, and at 92 years old, probably wasn’t going to get to scratch that off her bucket list.   That sealed my plans – I was going to transition the Panama Canal for my Granny!   As I started my research, I was shocked to see most dates already sold out. Fortunately I found a spot on a ship going through the Canal on Saturday. I booked it before even confirming my flights!   And since it had been a long time since I had a room to myself, I decided to splurge on a five-star hotel with rooftop pool overlooking the city and ocean.   This trip was coming together nicely!   Up at 4:30am to head to the airport, I grabbed by backpack and eagerly bounded out the door. The hour-long flight went by quickly and before I knew it, I was walking down the plane steps into 36 degrees and full on humidity.   I felt my fluffy hair growing bigger and curlier with each step!   The airport was tiny (I later learned they have two airports) and I quickly went through immigration – adding another stamp to my (increasingly full) passport.   When I checked in, I was pleasantly surprised to discover they had upgraded me to a corner suite on the 20th floor!   King-size bed, fluffy pillows, soft sheets, marble bathroom, floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning views.   Ahhh, I was “home”.   I unpacked and headed up to the rooftop pool. It was as lovely as the website and I settled into a lounge chair to soak up some sunshine and the views.   Then early to bed as my driver was picking me up at 5:30 am for my transition through the Panama Canal!   I arrived at the Flamenco Marina in pitch-black darkness but the excitement of the people waiting to board was electric. As I stood in line to check in, I met people from Sweden, Portugal, USA and Canada.   As we boarded the Pacific Queen, I couldn’t help but notice I was probably the youngest passenger. But that didn’t bother me – I like meeting adventurous travellers of all ages!   We stood on the top deck, watching the sunrise as we slowly headed out to sea.   Our guide, Gus, outlined the day which included breakfast, lunch, snacks, and transition through all three locks, arriving at the Atlantic Ocean in about 10 hours.   Everyone I spoke to was bouncing with energy and enthusiasm about being on board. They had dreamed about this day and now that it was here, it was exceeding all expectations.   There was an 89-year old woman, whose four children had surprised her with this trip (and accompanied her for a full-family vacation), and a 65-year man celebrating his birthday with his wife, brother and sister-in-law.   There was Tom and Jackie, a lovely couple in their 70s who had travelled to 110 countries (so far!). Their stories inspired me and I sought them out at lunch to share a table and learn more.   I met another couple from New Jersey who told me all about their single son (Rob) who couldn’t find the right woman who enjoyed travel as much as he did and finally left Portland to go travel/work on his own. (It seems all moms play match-maker!)   The transition itself was amazing!   There were huge cargo ships – some carrying over 5,000 vehicles, others carrying thousands of shipping containers, and others carrying LNG – liquid natural gas.   And the tug boats! Oh, I loved them!   I remember reading children’s books about the hard-working tug boats and it’s true. They push here and pull there and play a critical role in keeping the massive ships on course.   The first set of locks, Miraflores, saw us sharing space with another passenger vessel and two tug boats. Beside us came the massive car carrier.   As Gus explained the process, we marvelled at the engineering minds who built the system. The whole process is done without pumps – water flows in and out through a series of tunnels and valves, all due to gravity!   Once all the ships are in the lock, the process takes only eight minutes to raise or lower the water level and move to the next lock.   Every time a ship passes through the locks, 26,700,000 US gallons of water is released – all to be replaced by rainfall!   Yes, it rains that much (and explains why everything is so lush and green).   We did this a series of three times, before moving into Gatun Lake.   Cruising across the lake, the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, I couldn’t stop smiling. Not only was the experience thrilling and being on the water always makes me happy, but I was there for my Granny. I was taking in the sights and feeling the emotions for her. I wanted to soak up every moment so I could tell her all the details when I get home.   We passed ships of all sizes and

Relax at Chivor
REMOTE YEAR

Life in Bogota

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The most interesting thing about Bogota is the weather. I’ve never lived in a city where the weather drastically changes, consistently, every day.   The mornings always start out hot and sunny (so I put on shorts), but the afternoon sees torrential rain showers (I come home drenched) and the evenings are freezing (need to buy a hoodie).   I know they say ‘dress in layers’ but really?! I’d need to carry around my entire suitcase to be prepared!   My apartment is modern with white leather couches and a fully stocked kitchen (yippee for blenders and morning smoothies again!) But the best thing about it is the location.   It’s only a block away from Parque El Virrey – a huge park with walking, running and biking paths, exercise equipment and children’s playgrounds. A small creek runs through the middle and large trees provide shade.   It’s become my favourite place to hang out – to go for walks every morning, to sit and journal or read, and to star gaze at night. Being in nature relaxes me and I’m so grateful to live close by.   Feeling the draw of nature at the start of a new year, I eagerly signed up for an event called “Chilland” – which promised relaxation, chill time and sunshine.   Only three of us signed up so we piled into Juan’s car and headed out for a proper road trip. Our destination was Chivor, a small kite-surfing retreat about three hours outside Bogota.   We laughed and sang and ate snacks as we drove through small towns, open fields and past mountains.   After a long, bumpy ride, we arrived at a lake where a boat was waiting to take us across. We were warmly greeted by Niko, the owner, and instantly felt relaxed as we took in the scenery.   Stunning mountains, endless water, sunshine, blue skies and hammocks. We were set!   We changed into our bathing suits and headed down to the beach to watch the kite surfers. After being so cold in Bogota, it was a welcome feeling to have the sun on my skin.   The afternoon involved more lazing around between hammocks, bean bag chairs and the beach. Eventually we got a game of volleyball going, until we kept losing the ball over the edge.   Juan invited us to play Tejo – a local game that basically involves throwing rocks at fireworks!   Seriously!   It’s a bit like horseshoes where you’re throwing a metal object (the tejo) at a target (clay box) and trying to get it closest to the pin (inside a circle of fireworks). Closest to the circle gets a point but actually setting off the fireworks is the goal and receives the most points!   The tejo court was at a neighbor’s house (aka 20-minute hike up the mountain). They warmly welcomed us and challenged us to a game.   These guys were good! They kicked our butt and we had so much fun losing to them.   We laughed and joked and did the charade-thing when we didn’t know the Spanish words for what we wanted to say. Overall, a wonderful evening and we left arm-in-arm into pitch black darkness back down the hill, where an amazing ceviche dinner awaited.   The next day we were treated with a boat ride around the lake looking at waterfalls and hearing stories about the fairies who lived there and how they protected their emeralds from miners. (Colombia is the largest producer of emeralds in the world.)   All too soon it was time to head back to the city and we reluctantly packed our bags. The weekend lived up to its promise of chill and relax.   Later that week we decided to do the morning walking tour and headed downtown. Fortunately, many people were still on holidays so traffic wasn’t as bad as we’d been warned about.   The tour took us throughout downtown, viewing churches and monuments, museums and street art. I’m not sure if we’ve just done too many walking tours and we’re tired or if there wasn’t as much to see but all of us left somewhat unimpressed. (It’s likely that 11 months of travel is catching up to us…)   We had another opportunity to join a food tour so I thought – why not?! It was like the walking tour, but in reverse and with snacks!   We had real hot chocolate with cheese (yup, you dip your cheese in it!), coca leaf tea, customized obleas and empanadas.   I even bravely tried roasted ants! It took me a few minutes and finally I closed my eyes and threw them in my mouth. Not too bad…tastes like beef jerky.   But my favourite event so far has been laughter yoga. I’ve done it a few times before and always love it. (For those who know me well, you know how much I love to laugh!)   We had a great teacher who lead us in discussion about mindfulness, especially when travelling for this long and some of the stress we’re going through as we start to think about it ending.   We learned to hug with our hearts (which always brings me to tears – there is so much power in our hearts when we stay open and share).   And wrapped up the evening with rounds of guided laughter yoga. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend.   It’s been an interesting month, with about one quarter of the group opting out to explore other countries, having our first mugging (he’s okay), two people needing surgery (both doing fine now), and others feeling uneasy.   For me, it’s been fine – but then I’ve spent most of the month hanging out in the park, enjoying the morning sunshine and napping in the afternoon rainstorms!

new year success
Life, REMOTE YEAR

How to top the most amazing year of your life

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We welcomed in the new year in a new city – Bogota. While everyone rushed out to parties and clubs to celebrate, I decided to honour a tradition I started several years ago.   I like to find a quiet space and spend time reflecting on the past year, celebrating my successes and learning from my failures. Then I dream about the new year and take time to feel what it would be like to live my ideal life. What am I doing, who am I with, where do I spend my time.   I journal and write it all down – everything I’m feeling, everything I’m longing for, everything I love. Then I close off the old year with gratitude and welcome the new year from a place of excitement.   2017 was obviously a big year for me. I lived in ten different countries, made 50+ new friends, tried new experiences and pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone I can’t even see the lines anymore!   So now everyone asks how I’m going to top that in 2018.   Truth is, my idea of topping it is probably very different than most expect.   Yes, there are so many more cities and countries I want to visit, things to try and adventures to have. But success for me in 2018 doesn’t involve any of those things.   Success looks like celebrating my nephew’s seventh birthday with him, going to his baseball games and watching him in the school play. It means cheering on my niece as she learns to ride a bike, laughing as we splash in the pool and baking cookies together.   It means watching the sunset with my sister, as we talk late into the night. It means having a weekly dinner date with my baby brother and welcoming his first child into the world. It means planning adventures with my mom and reassuring my dad we’ll be fine.   Success is reconnecting with dear friends, seeing how their children have grown, listening to their stories of happiness, sadness and joy from the past year, sharing my journey and embracing it all.   Success is continuing to follow my passions, it’s doing something every day that I love, it’s dreaming big and knowing that I can achieve it. It’s telling my story and inspiring others. It’s believing that anything is possible.   It’s month 11 of this crazy year-long adventure and I thought I’d have mixed emotions about the end quickly approaching.   I know I’m going to miss the friendships I’ve built, I know it will feel strange to walk away after spending 24 hours a day together for one year. I know I’m going to miss the adventure and excitement of exploring new cities. I’ll miss the freedom of choosing how to spend my time every day.   I’ll miss the community we’ve created. But I know we’ll always be there for each other, that I can travel to nearly any city or country and have a friend waiting for me. And I’ll know they’ll come to visit me too.   The end of Remote Year isn’t the end of the adventure, it’s just shifting.   My next adventure is returning home and seeing family and friends, living in the home I bought just before leaving, exploring the changes in my hometown, rediscovering favourite restaurants and hiking trails and beaches.   I’m excited about this next phase! There are people to meet, experiences to be had and plenty of love and laughter to go around.   Will I get restless? Maybe. Will I want to plan another trip? Probably. Will I experience the full range of emotions? Definitely.   But isn’t that what life’s about? Letting ourselves feel everything, trying on new experiences, finding what we love and pursuing more of it.   At least that’s how I choose to live my life – go all in, play full out and love every minute of it!  

paragliding in Colombia
REMOTE YEAR

Gliding into the New Year

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I love flying. I love the feeling of being in the clouds, of seeing for miles, of floating along. So when I heard about the opportunity to go paragliding, I jumped at the chance!   I’ve been skydiving but I’ve never done paragliding and it was on my list of things to try this year. We hopped into taxis and drove all the way through the city and up the mountain on the other side.   I always enjoy driving and seeing different neighborhoods. What surprised me the most was how so many houses seemed to cling to the cliffs or mountainside and I wondered how people carried groceries home!   Our cabs parked on the side of the road and indicated we were here. We got out and walked along a narrow grass path and came to a small shack – this was it!   We had a brief safety overview, signed waivers and filled out forms including our age and weight. We were then paired up with an instructor, given a helmet and strapped into a harness.   It was all happening so fast, I had no idea the video was already rolling (you can hear my nervous laughter and see my shaking knees!)   As I was repeating the instructions to my guy (you know me, safety girl), all the sudden we were up in the air! I squealed as the rush of take-off sent butterflies throughout my body.   We were off!   Soaring high above the birds, looking down on farms and fields and waterfalls. The city was only tiny dots of buildings far away in the distance.   It’s a serene feeling. It is peaceful, silent and soothing. Everything floats away and all you can think about is how amazing it feels to be drifting along with the wind, to see the world from a new perspective.   Our 20-minute flight went by too quickly and just like that we were landing again.   It was so much fun and not scary at all! In fact, we laughed that it’s something you should do anytime you’re feeling stressed – you simply can’t be stressed when you’re soaring above the clouds.   Bucket list item complete!   As our days in Medellin were quickly winding down, (one month goes by so fast!), we decided to take the free walking tour. Normally we do this the first day or two after arriving in a new city but I’d been wrapped up in looking at Christmas lights!   It was a 45-minute drive to the meeting point (have I mentioned how crazy traffic is?). But once we arrived, they were well organized and we were on our way.   Our guide, Julio, was a former university professor and passionate about educating people about the truth of Colombia. He promised his tour would show us the good, the bad and the ugly side of Colombia.   As we walked around the city looking at monuments and buildings and parks, people stopped and stared at us. Sometimes they would walk up and join our group, listening intently to Julio. Other times they would walk right up to Julio and speak with him, which he would then translate.   Julio explained that they are so happy to see us, are curious and want to say hello because for so long, there haven’t been any tourists. Seeing us means that things are changing for the better.   It was only 20 years ago that Medellin was listed as the most dangerous city in the world.   In the world.   People disappeared. People were killed in their homes. People were afraid in their own city and tourists certainly weren’t coming to visit.   But something interesting has happened.   Colombians have turned off the switch in their brains to erase bad memories and chose instead to only focus and celebrate the good. History classes aren’t taught in school (one of the only countries in the world to do this).   Instead, they take something small (like winning a stage of the Tour de France or scoring a goal in a world cup game – not winning the Tour or the game but simply scoring) and turning it into something monumental to celebrate.   One of their greatest sources of pride is the Metro. In a time when they had nothing, when they lived in the most dangerous city in the world, they were able to build a metro system. It seems so small to us but for them, it was something to hold onto, to celebrate.   There is no graffiti, no vandalism – it is clean and looks brand new. Julio said no one would ever throw trash on the floor or scratch their name in the seats. It is something locals are proud of and respect.   Isn’t that different from other metros in the world where you have to hold your breath, reach for hand sanitizer and watch where you step?   Of course, Colombia has done more than just “forget” about their past – they’ve redeveloped parks into safe and inviting spaces for families, they’ve built libraries for anyone to access, they’ve provided transportation options to poor neighborhoods.   And it’s working – Medellin is a beautiful, safe, lovely city to live in and visit.   As we head into a New Year, I’m going to adopt the Colombian mindset.   Forget, or let go, of anything I don’t want to remember and instead focus on the things that make me happy. And celebrate every small thing!   How do you want 2018 unfold? Let’s focus on that and get ready for an amazing year!   Happy New Year!  

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