It has been an uneventful week since I last wrote - although it did go by very quickly just as the last month has. I had my birthday on Tuesday, which I celebrated with my bungalow mates. They made a HUGE dinner, which was enjoyed with some drinks and that was about the extent of it. I started to not feel well on Wednesday but it was in way that I hadn't felt before. The first symptom was a really sore back like it had been strained from exercise, then it spread to my whole body. Then came the nausea, headache and a bit of a fever. I have all of the necessary vaccinations so I started to do a little research and I think that I had dengue fever. Of course, the locals insisted I was wrong. One of them insisted that it was from eating too much food with oil and that I just needed to go to the washroom (if you know what I mean!). So, he took me to this woman that massaged all of my joints with oil. She was definitely working into some problem areas as she had me screaming into a pillow on her couch. She then told me to drink tea and that should help me to take the big dump that would clear me of all of my problems! It was a good try but 4 days later and I still don't feel great - I am better today than yesterday though (and yes I have taken a dump but it wasn't the epic one that I supposed to following the massage!).
So, let me tell you about the epiphany that I had the day before my birthday. I have been thinking about what this trip means and where it is leading me and what it is contributing to my life. And I think that I know! Let me preface this by stating what is important to me in no specific order. I am a beach bum to the fullest. I love the ocean, the sun, the sand, the heat and I would like to have regular doses of it throughout my life. I enjoy being with family, especially my nephew Sam. I have a passion for rowing, coaching and working with kids and teenagers. Ok, with that said.......
Because of coaching I have realized that I would really enjoy being a high school teacher. This, of course, would mean going back to university. My first round at school wasn't that great when it came to the classroom, which makes me nervous to go back. But to live the life that I want to live I am going to have to do it. I have known all of this for some time and even applied to the post-degree program at UVic last year but didn't have the necessary classes from my first degree to be accepted. So, this left me with the realization that if I wanted to be a teacher that it was going to be more than just a year and half more of school, which was a bit daunting. But, I am ready to commit and get it done. The phys ed program (to be a phys ed teacher along with another subject) is 5 years. Hopefully some of my classes from WSU will transfer over so that maybe I will only have 4 1/2 years of school! I will have to talk with an advisor when I get home to sort all of this out but I will apply to go back to school next September. Once I have completed the degree then I will have a job that I enjoy (I hope!) and will also have the time and the means to travel during holidays. I am really going to have to practice my patience (difficult for me) and keep the end goal in mind at all times. I also get antsy and bored so I will have to have little adventures around home to keep me from wanting to take off on some big trip again before reaching my goal.
To sum up, by receiving a teaching degree I would be able to travel during holidays, be close to family and have a job that works with teenagers and still allows to coach. Sounds like a great fit to me. And, maybe Steph, Sam and Mike can come on adventures with me since we will then have the same schedule, eh?????
It has been a very weird process to get the place that I am at today but it is the path that I was meant to take. It has been uneasy and confusing at times but I am going in the direction that I should be. I am sure there will be plenty more speed bumps along the way because that is just life!
Now, back to this trip. There is not much else to report. A week and a half until friends arrive, yay! Nikki has already booked us on a white water rafting trip, which I am really looking forward to. I am excited to explore some unknown territory. I will write again soon.
Oh yeah - one more thing...I got to ride in a convertible Range Rover on a bumpy, dirt road! Very Cool!
C.
