Dominican Republic Home Build

I spent the past week in the Dominican Republic. It wasn't my first time to the island but this wasn't an all-inclusive, fruity drink vacation. I went with my team to build three houses for families affected by diabetes. It was hard work; it was hot and it was so incredibly rewarding.

I think we all took away lots of different lessons from the experience, mainly just how fortunate we all are....and that we don't really have any 'real' problems. These people didn't have food or shelter. They didn't have their basic needs covered.

What stayed with me was how easy it was to help. It only took two days of hard work from about 70 people and we changed three families' lives forever. It made me so aware how easy it is to help. For the most part, it is just about time and effort. And so often, we claim we don't have enough of either. After seeing the level of poverty they lived in, I am positive that we all have the time and effort that's needed to help those less fortunate. The hardest part is getting motivated and deciding what to do. The easy part was the work.

Now I'm spending another handful of days in the States finishing up a training camp. This one is primarily meetings. My job has seen several roles change, which means I'm juggling more than normal. This should all settle down by the new year but again, not a real problem. After this training camp, I'm heading up to see my sister for a few days and I cannot wait to see her.

Back in Motion

Typically, I embrace moving around the globe. I feel so absolutely spoiled by the job I have and the fact I get to experience so many different places, cultures, languages and foods. I thrive on the continuous movement and don't really excel at staying in one place, even when that one place is my own home.

I went to Hawaii for Thanksgiving and the exit has left me almost perplexed. It was a super short trip, but I always knew it would be. It isn't the first time I've done something like this. I had four full days there and they were absolutely packed, like in a way that I couldn't have sustained for a full vacation. We went snorkeling, fishing, manta ray sighting along with the norms of beach laying, happy houring and simply eating well. A lot was crammed into four days, bookended by really, really long travel days.

Normally, I would be able to leave without a hiccup. I love being in motion, but this one was a little harder. I wasn't ready to leave; I don't think it was because I was worried I'd miss out on anything....I think it was just that I got to have such a relaxing, enjoyable time that I wasn't ready to say goodbye to it. There were five of us: four adults and a child. It was a good group and we found a nice rhythm and I felt our days just flowed. I don't have that feeling at work or normally with family. So once I found that rhythm, I wasn't ready to leave it.

I flew out of Kona later on Saturday with a layover in Honolulu and then a red-eye into Atlanta. When I was in Atlanta, I spent about an hour just walking between all the terminals to get in my steps and workout on a travel day. Then I got on another flight to Punta Cana, Dominican Repbulic followed by a several hour bus ride. It was a long two days of travel and I don't think I settled into it until I was in Atlanta. Typically, I get to the airport and I'm in travel mode. But this time was different....I didn't want to go. I didn't want to move. I was actually happy and content staying still for a bit. 

A bit of a novel concept for me over the past few years but sometimes it is nice to know that I might be able to reintegrate into "normal" society after running around the globe year after year.

Ready, Set, Go: Holiday Plans

I promise I've turned the corner and I'm back to more consistent writing. It's been a crazy few weeks and sadly this whole blogging thing had to take the backseat. But I'm back to loads of travel and hopefully wild adventures and it all starts tomorrow!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be in Hawaii, Dominican Republic and the continental US. (I get that Hawaii is part of the US, but it doesn't really feel that way.....) And I can't wait. I think all these trips will get me into the holiday spirit and I'll arrive back to Belgium on December 16th ready to relax and enjoy the beauty of Gent at Christmas time. Europe all decorated for the holidays is truly one of my favorite places and times on Earth. I'm already in the holiday season just thinking about it!

It all begins super early tomorrow. I need to be out of the apartment by 4am to make it to the airport on time. And I'll be closing up the apartment for a few weeks, so I need to get the fridged cleaned out, laundry washed, trash dumped, bills paid, bags packed, doctors visited, and etc today. As I'm working my way through this big list, I just keep reminding myself, "I'll be in Hawaii tomorrow!"

I've never been to Hawaii before and I'm incredibly excited. It just seems so majestic and stunning. We are going for a Friendsgiving and the biggest problem is how short my time there will be (I know.....not a real problem). I arrive quite late on Tuesday and have to fly out on Sunday. In those four full days, I plan to be out under the sun, in a bathing suit and hopefully with a fishing rod in my hand as much as possible.

Following Hawaii, I head to the Dominican Republic to take part in an amazing service project before traveling to Atlanta for a week-long training camp. I've bookended the end of this trip with a little family time that I plan to spend with my sister, who is one of my most favorite people on Earth and truly serves as my rock. 

Ready, Set, GO!