I wrote a blog years ago when I took my first trip out of the Western Hemisphere to India. It focused on the perspective gained from immersing myself in a complete culture shock.
This post on perspective is different. I’m 4 years older now and have traveled a bit more. What that’s afforded me is the perspective already gained from life and previous trips.
School ends in 5 days. 5. Days. While perspective has helped me know that I’m going to figure things out there is also inevitable anxiety. Anxiety over the fact that I need to decide how I’m going to re-enter the working world, this time insisting on doing good work with a purpose. Anxiety over not seeing many people I spent every day with for 3 months ever again. And, along with leaving the people, I have an added level of anxiety because coming here was was absolutely everything to me and I’ve made the decision that I need to somehow put this to use.
This isn’t a farewell blog, yet. I’m still not sure how I’m going to approach that one. There has been a lingering pit in my stomach for a few days now in anticipation of the heartbreak I’m going to feel when this is over.
Back to perspective. What perspective have I gained from quitting my job to pursue something I enjoy?
I think most importantly I’ve learned that it’s okay to do it, even if a little late. Furthermore, I’ve learned that it’s extremely hard to explain the intangible force that held me in the corporate world, that made the idea of pursuing a livelihood I enjoy seem so distant and unattainable. It IS attainable. If you’ve been longing for it for years you’ll never stop. So just do it. Worst case scenario you go back to what you were doing before with some new perspective.
I’ve learned that when you place a group of like minded people in an isolated space bonds will form that would normally take years. I’m yet to actually mentally grasp the concept of everything that is this place coming to an end, which is why the final blog is going to be so hard. I’ll probably write it afterwards when I have the perspective of how it actually feels. But I know that I’m going to miss my friends. To ink that point home a bit more know that writing that simple line made me cry. This is the happiest I’ve ever been and they are such a big part of that. It’s also hard to grasp that I won’t be able to walk over and just hang out, to talk about real things, to chef up something together cause we freaking love it. Before this gets out of hand know that I will never ever forget the relationships that I formed here. Ever. I have new friends for life.
I’ve learned that slow life and slow food are good. Living in a city for so long made me a bit jaded. I had my people and didn’t care for most of the general public. Look forward on the train and no where else. Look at the floor when in line at the store until it’s your turn. Here you learn to trust people again. I’ve restored my faith in humanity a bit knowing that people are mostly good and a society in a less urban environment can work. People trust and know each other. They strike up conversations with strangers. Slow food doesn’t mean an 8 hour Irish stew. Well, it does, but that’s not all it means. It means that food takes time to grow. That food doesn’t grow at Whole Foods, despite how their displays make it seem that way. Ireland is small. Food is cultivated by real people. It’s nice that there is a finite amount of quality options for each ingredient. If you need cheese there are a handful of quality local producers. In Chicago the options are overwhelming, often with no idea of quality or where it comes from.
I’ve learned that the happiest moments in my life have nothing to do with making money. I kind of want to tattoo this on myself so I never ever forget it.
I’ve learned that many beds in Ireland are very small and that sauerkraut smells up a place even if it’s the best sauerkraut ever. Kimchi too.
Finally, I’ve learned that I have some big decisions to make. That the “real world” still exists and that I have to re-enter it. And I’ve learned that I am 100% going to pursue putting this education to work. If I fail, so be it, I’ll have gained valuable perspective on what that’s like. I’m still taking life by the balls.
So what’s next? Well, exams. And I understand they’re a beast. They include everything from food costing, hygiene and fire safety to identifying 15 varieties and producers of fine olive oil. I’ll have to identify species of fish, herbs and spices and name recipes they belong in. The list goes on. There are 4 parts to the written exams and they last all day. This is on top of a practical exam where I have to cook a menu I created in 3 hours and present to teachers for a tasting and grading. Written exam is this Friday and my practical exam is at 7:30am on Thursday. I’ll be processing and char-grilling squid at 7:30am.
Then I need to plan my future. Pops comes to visit when school ends December 9th! Then after spending much needed time over the holidays with my family in Chicago I’m heading to South America Dec. 29th. After some fun in Cartagena for New Years it’s back to just me, which has been the plan for a while now . Solitude and my own thoughts, planning my future in a secluded rental somewhere warm (and affordable, money is my most precious resource until I decide what the heck I’m going to do). I’m good on my own. I need to remember that as I transition to solitude from togetherness.
I’d also like to keep up this blog. Hopefully more frequently once I have a bit more time. This is the busiest I’ve been, often with early morning and evening extracurricular activities on top of school. But I like to write and I think a few stragglers still enjoy reading what I write.
I already have half of my farewell blog written. Just waiting to finish it.
Here are some shots of the past few weeks. Thanks for reading. See everyone in Chicago soon!!! Hi Mom!!
