Cubicle Throwdown

tales of a serial expat

Roatan Month 12 Roundup – ONE YEAR!!

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My month 12 roundup is coming to you live…from… my parents living room in Canada!


I’m home on holidays for 3.5 weeks to attend some weddings, birthdays, family reunions, etc. and also eat literally everything. 





It is really strange being back here after a year away, but I’m just trying to enjoy it while I can. (I’m already looking forward to getting back to Roatan and into the water….shhhhhh!) I’m so happy I can be here to see my friends and their milestones but this trip is taking a lot out of me financially after unexpectedly having to extend my time in Vancouver instead my original plan of heading over to Vancouver Island to see a friend for a week, which got cancelled at the last minute and messed up my already very small trip budget. Thankfully I have some amazing real friends who offered me a couch for my extra time in Vancouver. Nothing I hate more than stress on holidays, but oh well. For right now though, I’m enjoying 10 days in my home province of Saskatchewan catching up with my family. After that, I’m back to Vancouver for more food, friends and another wedding!




What to say about this mega-roundup?

First, you can check out all the others if you’d like: Month 11, Month 10, Month 9, Month 8, Month 7, Month 6, Month 5, Month 4, Month 3, Month 2 and finally Month 1.

All I can say is that moving to Roatan and becoming a dive instructor was a dream that a lot of people laughed at. But when I arrived on that tiny island on August 11, 2012, with a couple duffel bags full of not enough underwear and too much first aid shit, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to make it a year and secretly thought maybe they were right for laughing. I had NO idea what was going to happen. I didn’t even know if I would pass my rescue diver or divemaster courses to even get to the instructor course. And would I end up being a good enough diver and teacher to pass the instructor course? Could I get a job after or would I have to go home with my tail between my legs?


As you know already, I did it. I passed all my courses. I became a dive instructor. I got a job as an instructor and lived off it. I even left for a couple months on a megayacht and did/saw things I never would have dreamed of. I got used to the bugs. I saved a tiny bit of money. I made it a year. GO ME!!! That’s not to say I didn’t have ups and downs (tons of them, actually) or that I don’t still have moments of doubt. But I finally did something I said I was going to do, all the way to the end of it. That hasn’t exactly been my strong suit in life. And you know what? I fucking rocked it.


Here’s to year one in the books. Cheers to me, and to everyone else who realized they could do whatever they wanted to, and then did it. And now here’s to year two….bring it on!



this is where i work. much better view than a downtown vancouver skyscraper window.




Guys, make sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter … there’s lots of extras posted on those that don’t make it onto the blog. Plus it makes rainbows happen. So there’s that.

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Comments

  1. Vacay Girl says

    My gosh a year Rika, that's hella awesome! I remember when I first started reading about you and hoping beyond hope that you could do it. In a small way if you could do it, then may I could do it too. You're a great inspiration. In case you didn't know, now you know. 🙂 I don't do mushy well, so GO YOU!

    Tania

  3. ifs ands Butts says

    I seriously got some chills reading this – mainly because I relate so much – not to the hardcore aspects and adjustments since Germany isn't quite as large an adjustment, but to the people thinking I was insane part. No matter what happens in the future, this move could never be a regret.

  5. Jessica says

    Congrats! It's a cliche, but it's amazing how fast a year passes when you're living it up. We're coming up on year 2 away from Canada already, and it's hard to believe.

  6. bobleliv@gmail.com says

    Congratulation on one year of living your dream!!
    I am planning to something like the same very soon, so I find lots of inspiration from your blog. Thanks!
    Keep up the good work!

  8. Colleen Brynn says

    ERMAGERD we are so close right now!
    Hehe. Hope you are enjoying every last second. I have been EATING ALL THE FOOD since I've been home too… have to make the most of it, my friend! Nom nom nom.

  9. Dana says

    Yeay for a year!!! We're coming up on a year too – and couldn't be more excited. Can't wait to see what you have in store for year 2 🙂