Skip to main content

Forever changed

It’s been a while since I’ve contributed to my blog - not exactly because of a lack of excitement in my life, but mostly because I have been caught up in a very long phase of reflection since February, when I decided to sign on for a 5th school year in Dubai.


The decision to stay for yet another year in the UAE was a difficult one; I already had some stuff packed, I had been getting excited about the idea of moving closer to my family and I truly thought my time living overseas was due to come to an end. Somehow, I was persuaded to continue my journey, however, weeks later I was still questioning whether it was the right thing to do.

Shortly after deciding to extend my stay in the Middle East, I began to look forward to my summer vacation; I really wanted to get back to North America and spend time with my family. If I wasn’t going to move anywhere close anytime soon, I wanted to hang out with everyone as much as possible. I really love my family and in living away, I often feel like I am missing out on so much. 


With that said, I've found this summer to be quite tough. Within the first week of being home, I felt an odd sense of boredom and loneliness, even though I was surrounded by the people I love the most. Everyone around me had their own schedules, their own commitments and I found myself wondering: How do I fit in? What am I to do all day? Didn’t anyone miss me? Doesn’t anyone love me? Doesn’t anyone want to spend time with me?


Despite trying to keep busy with soccer, running and crossfit, I didn't know what else to do with my days. I knew the moment I started working on school stuff, barely 2 weeks into my vacation, something was wrong. That's when I spontaneously decided to join a couple friends on a trip. This was one of the most spontaneous things I have ever done. Two friends were getting ready to meet up in Iceland and they suggested I come along. So, around 3pm, I booked my flight, quickly packed a small duffle bag and around 9pm that same day, there I was, sitting on a plane, about to fly to Iceland, a country I knew very little about and hadn’t planned on visiting anytime soon.

Iceland, Summer 2016
Iceland was great; I got to spend time with 2 good friends, I got to see some natural wonders and I got to take part in some fun outdoor activities. Best of all though, I was finally given some insight as to why I had been feeling bored and lonely upon my return 'home'. I began to realize that just as my life had moved on overseas, the lives of my loved ones had also moved on in Canada. Furthermore, I started noticing that I was... I am... no longer that same person that once lived here.

Since moving abroad 4 years ago, I’ve evolved as a person. Some of my opinions, my thoughts and my values have changed. I’ve travelled around to many places, I’ve met lots of people from different countries and I’ve learned so much about different cultures. While attempting various activities, I have become more familiar with my strengths and I've learned how to better deal with my weaknesses. Living abroad has helped shape me into a more independent, more responsible, more confident, more knowledgeable and more empathetic human being. I've discovered that the World is an amazing place with so much to offer and I have become addicted to living new experiences and to learning new things.





FREE! 
FREE to be ME!

 I don't know what's in store for me in the future; maybe I'll remain in Dubai for a while longer, maybe I'll move to a new country sometime soon or maybe I'll move back to North America one day. 
What I do know is that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mirror, Mirror

  “I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fly Away

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more