Well Here I Am

Looks like I made it! Getting close to finishing up my first month at Washington Hospital in Fremont, CA. It's definitely been a long road. After graduating, it seemed like I would never be hired. In fact, I took a position at a school district working with students with medical needs to hold me over and pay the bills. Turns out it was a great experience. I got to work with a lot of students who have mental and physical handicaps. I learned a lot about them and about me. Plus it gave me the opportunity to complete one of my goals this year, travelling the world. I visited Luca and Zsofi in London, Eva in Brighton, Jenny and Jana in Vienna, took a day trip to Slovakia, worked three camps in Hungary, and ended my trip with a weekend visiting Levi and Csenge (and their awesome familiy) in Budapest-including a trip to the famous Lake Balaton. My love for travel was set ablaze once again and I was ready to come back home, get a job, get experience and pay off loans so I could once again travel the world.

Lo and behold (not really sure what this 'lo' business is all about, but anywho) I made the cut of 25 new hires out of 1100 applicants at Washington Hospital. A true answer to prayer. Now I am learning, being challenged and stretched every day. Washington does 8 hour shifts; that means 5 days a week. To be honest, I'm not too keen on working 5 days a week; but for now I will embrace it and realize I am incredibly blessed to have a great job in this terrible market.

So what's next? That's the big question. Not even sure what this next year's theme will be. (If you cocked your head sideways to that one, I theme my years, starting about 5 years back. I find it helps me with goals, keeps me motivated, and well it's just fun. Working backwards from this very year: The Year of New Beginnings, The Year of Completion, The Year of Adventure, The Year of Mystery, all spawning from the Year of Shaun.) So what is next? I haven't quite decided yet. I do know that it will be a year of a lot of work. I have a lot of experience to obtain, a lot of student loans to pay off and a reputation as a an excellent nurse to build. But I still have a couple months to decide.

Looking forward 2 years down the road it's wide open. I could cut down to part time to allow frequent travel. Or I could move out of the country for awhile, possible working for an international organization doing nursing or who knows what. I just know that I need to experience the world. I've seen so little, yet that little piece of the world has captured my heart and I want more. So I'll continue to chip away at my language learning, continue learning at my job, and continue dreaming of endless adventures awaiting the day I step away from familiarity and routine. Until then, keep dreaming.

The Year of New Beginnings

2011: The Year of New Beginnings. I'm finally done with that giant hurdle called 'school' (at least for now), I've tackled the NCLEX and have emerged with my nursing license. Now I sit in a place of uncertainty. As I scour the state for anyone willing to hire a 'new grad' I have no idea where I might end up. It might even have to be out of state. Yet even through the countless applications that seem to get me nowhere, I know that I will get there one day, and that I will look back on these times in awe. I also have another item of adventure within my grasp, a short jaunt to Ukraine to encourage some people there and to help out with whatever may be needed. Planning a trip to Eastern Europe without a steady-paying job is a risky venture, one I have yet to fully decide one way or the other. Also, there is the possibility of getting an interview or even hired, completely clashing with these plans. I suppose it's a good dilemma to have--either go travel the world doing what you love, or land a job. I would like to accomplish both; and in fact, those are my two main goals for this year. I also tossed out a resume to the local school district for a health-related position: another mystery whose end we know not. One thing is certain through all of this, and that is that the Full Life is still being strongly lived and it is what I will continue to do, jobless or full-time, across the world or at home, on a rock wall or just hanging out with people I care about. The Full Life--it's about to get a whole lot fuller.