Well, hello! It's been awhile. I've been drowning in to-do lists and work. I was crazy when I thought I could do this two full-time job thing until the end of September. I absolutely can't, so it's a good thing I'm leaving early. I'm exhausted and cranky (sorry to everyone who has to deal with me at either workplace). I've gotten TWO eye infections in the last few weeks. I've never had a damn eye infection in my life. What the hell? I know I need to slow down and rest but the countdown on my ...
Getting Ready
If something should go wrong.
Long-term travelers & expats: what are you doing for travel/medical insurance?I'm having a hard time deciding what to do for long-term travel and medical insurance while I'm gone. I'll be moving to my home province before I go, so I have a government health plan, but you definitely can't just travel on that. On top of a travel/medical insurance plan, I need diving accident insurance because after completing my courses I will be working and considered a "professional", so most ...
Motivation.
As someone with ADD I find it incredibly difficult to keep my steam going in one direction, especially when it comes to long(ish) term plans....such as deciding to pack up your life and move to the Bay Islands in five months. I knew right from the start that this would be a challenge for me and so I had to prepare for it.This is my bedroom mirror where I sit in front of and get ready every single day. I have a 2 lempira bill on the mirror and every morning I force myself to look through my ...
I scream, you scream, we all scream for … gelato.
SourceSometimes you can't have everything you want in life. Sometimes you just don't make enough money, or have enough time. Sometimes you bust your ass in an office all day and then you go work at a gelato shop all night so that in 5 months you can move to paradise and become a scuba instructor.I am in a pickle - I started my part-time job at the gelato shop last night and it was actually a lot of fun. I enjoyed it! But the owner told me he is thinking of offering a bonus to staff that ...
A step in the right direction.
A few good things have gone on lately, which is a nice change!I took my new mask and snorkel out for a spin in the pool last night and they were awesome! Mask was a little foggy, but I might not have gotten all the manufacturer's film off the inside, and also my face was super hot because I was working so hard. It won't be like that diving (especially since the water is so much colder) and also I'll be using anti-fog spray when I dive, so I'm sure it will be fine. The semi-dry ...
Keep it on the cheap.
Cubicle Throwdown's Guide to Keeping it CHEAPI have been reading a lot of blogs and websites lately and gotten some good tips on downsizing your spending before a trip (see my post recapping all the links here). I have a few of my own so I am going to share them here to add to the wealth of knowledge on the old interwebs.First, a disclaimer. I am not going to eat packaged ramen and Kraft Dinner every day just so I can go on a trip. I feel like if you're down with that, you probably don't ...
New toys, new money.
An updated budget!But first... diving porn. Here are my new toys:That's right folks, this is the Atomic Aquatics Frameless Mask and matching SV2 Semi-Dry Snorkel (and if you know me, you know I love purple!)I got these bad boys (girls?) at the IDC Dive Shop thanks to the super awesome Royse, who so kindly gave me a discount on my purchase as I waited around the shop for a long time for him one afternoon while he helped other customers. They ...
Work it.
I went for a swim last night with my friend who I went to Roatan with (who is likely the only person reading this blog at this point in time...hi!!) because I want to be in good shape for the swimming skills assessment part of the divemaster course. I did fine in the one for my open water but this is 4 times longer so I want to know I have it in the bag before I get down there.I was on metre 400 of my swim last night when I was getting into the zen of it, just relaxing and not ...