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What the Hell Happened?

May 6, 2014 by Rika 24 Comments

“What the hell happened? Where are you?”


I have heard this a bit over the last few weeks. After I went off on a tired and teary rant about how I just wasn’t having any fun here anymore, I sort of disappeared, as I tend to do any time I get overwhelmed. I just shut down and watch Netflix or read books all night and check in on Facebook sometimes, and that’s about it. I had a lot of long conversations with family, friends and even strangers about what my next move was going to be.

this seahorse is stuck in a tree. i, however, am not.

As it tends to go for me, I wallow and wallow and then make some big decision(s), and then things do a 180 in a completely different direction than I planned anyway. My mom says you just have to get the energy flowing after you’re stuck…no matter what you decide on to become un-stuck, once things start moving all kinds of stuff will happen. She also said it was time to figure out what I loved to do and then get back to doing that. I told her I loved sitting on Facebook all day (foreshadowing!) and eating, so I was probably all set on that.

After I finally decided that I was going to try and get a job on a huge megayacht (lost out on that due to 2 little tattoos on my ankles…damn), or finish out my current job at the end of summer and then go to Canada, everything started moving and a huge thing happened – my dive shop closed unexpectedly. Like, in a day…and permanently. It was crazy and stressful for a couple days and then after we moved everything back to the main shop on the other side of the island I felt a huge sense of relief. That ended up pretty neatly tied up for me! The owner of the company asked me to stay on, but I said I wasn’t ready to commit to something full-time right now and I didn’t want to do anything where I was in charge anymore – I really need a break from not being able to take more than 4 hours off work without the place burning down.

And as usual, a perfect opportunity dropped in my lap – she then said I was a big asset and they wanted to keep me with the company, so did I want to take on a 2-3 week project full time revamping their websites, and then take a two week break, and then stay on part-time as their Social Media and Creative Specialist?? aka. they created a new position for me where MY JOB IS TO GO ON FACEBOOK (and Twitter, Instagram, G+ and TripAdvisor!). You guys. That is awesome. They also have me on call for their dive shop when it gets busy. So, only part-time work, still some diving, social media, no heavy-level responsibility and 3-4 free days a week to relax and freelance at other dive shops around the island and start paying better attention to my beloved little blog? YES, PLEASE. Thanks universe. If it works out, woohoo. If it doesn’t, whatever, I will stay till I run out of money and then go back to Canada like I planned.

because we celebrate everything on roatan with shots

So, yeah, that happened. Oh, and also the crazy inconsistent power + blackouts have ruined my laptop (this is the second one in two years that’s been destroyed by the shitty electrical system on Roatan) so it makes typing a nightmare – it does this really fun thing where the cursor jumps and I can’t even type, and I’ve been dogsitting these little monkeys for the last three weeks at a place with garbage internet, so I haven’t opened my computer much here:

That’s what the hell happened.

Guys, make sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter … there’s lots of extras posted there that don’t make it onto the blog. (I also have Google+ if anyone even uses that? And I’m on Bloglovin’!) Plus it makes me give seven million treats to these cute pups. So there’s that.

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Filed Under: Blogging, Home, Island Living, Life, Living Abroad, Money, Work Tagged With: Fingers Crossed, Housesitting, Lady Luck, News, Time Off

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vacay Girl says

    June 16, 2014 at 2:50 am

    That took me through a range of emotions. I even let out a mini gasp. But I'm glad the closing of the one business allowed you to be able to regroup and revamp you into something else. Handling social media, huh? Who wouldn't enjoy that all day?! If only I could find a job to pinterest all day! Yaay you!

    Reply
  2. Sally B says

    June 8, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    WOW. All good changes, but what a big bunch of them all at once. I'm glad it's all working out though!

    PS THOSE DOGS ARE ADORABLE GIVE ME

    Reply
  3. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 16, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    It was really short and felt even shorter 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Reply
  4. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 16, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    I know! Sooooooo much went down in a ridiculously sort amount of time, but at the end it all worked out. I struggle so much with remembering things always end up working out… have to come back to this post and remind myself next time 🙂

    Reply
  5. Heather says

    May 14, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    Wow, that's an epic amount of change in such a short time! But it sounds like it all worked out for the best. I love what you mom says about getting your energy flowing to become unstuck – and it's so true. Good luck with the new job!

    Reply
  6. Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) says

    May 14, 2014 at 3:54 am

    I can't believe so much has happened since your last post! So incredible that the dive shop CLOSED DOWN (!) and that pretty much all of the things you were finding yourself dissatisfied with have been resolved. Sounds like an excellent new gig, and anything that gets you back into the water more frequently seems like good news to me!

    I also think this post is an excellent reminder that in life we have two choices: stress about things or accept that nothing is really permanent anyway and when the time comes where it is vital or a change to be made it will happen. I am often guilty of agonizing over things for much longer than I should, only to find that the thing I was worrying so much about never wound up being an issue (it was all in my head!) in the end. So much time & energy wasted!

    Reply
  7. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Haha yay!! Things totally work out when you're busy trying to figure it out. This ALWAYS happens to me, but I always forget it when I'm stressed.

    Reply
  8. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    My family saw it on here too dude 🙂

    Reply
  9. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    I think I'm the happiest about that part haha, now I don't have to worry about getting robbed by men armed with machetes while I drive to work.

    Reply
  10. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    Totally right…I tend to forget that part when I get stressed! Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    Spoonheads for days! Love ya bb! xo

    Reply
  12. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Yeah yeah! High fives back!

    Reply
  13. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Thanks!! Just wish I could remember that everything will work out when I'm in the middle of stressing about it haha!

    Reply
  14. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    A LOT of yacht jobs are very strict on 'no tattoos or piercings'. Rich people get to make whatever rules they want 🙂 This particular job was on board a massive yacht owned by the former prime minister of Qatar so his family is Muslim and there are a lot of restrictions on personal appearance.

    Reply
  15. Rika - Cubicle Throwdown says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    Like my mom says, you just have to make a decision…any decision…and things will start to flow! Good luck… I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes back in the UK!

    Reply
  16. Charlotte says

    May 11, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    AAggghhh that job sounds amazing! I'm so desperate to get something similar when I move back to the UK next month. I hope everything goes well with the change!

    Reply
  17. Karyn @ Not Done Travelling says

    May 9, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    So long as you are happy! 😀

    I am curious though – why did your tattoos stop you from getting the yacht job? I still find it crazy, in this day and age, that people have problems with tattoos.

    Reply
  18. J in Beijing says

    May 8, 2014 at 11:05 am

    Wow- thats' amazing Rika. It has all magically worked out- fantastic and congrats on the new position!

    Reply
  19. Alex, Denglish Speaker says

    May 7, 2014 at 9:59 pm

    Whoa! Amazing when things work out like that! High five!

    Reply
  20. Adrienne says

    May 7, 2014 at 3:43 am

    some times we have to clear space out for new things to come in–even if it is Facebook and eating. I remember days of MySpace and eating, while texting you!

    Reply
  21. Emily says

    May 7, 2014 at 12:48 am

    I am always of the belief that the Universe keeps us in mind and that things will work out. I am so happy it has for you!!

    Reply
  22. Joe says

    May 6, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    Good that you don't have to go down mudhole road anymore!

    Reply
  23. Joe says

    May 6, 2014 at 7:13 pm

    WOW.. Big changes! I'm hurt though since I'm apparently the last to find out about what's going on with you. I thought we were tighter than that! Hahahaha…

    Reply
  24. HippieInHeels says

    May 6, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    haha glad to know what the hell happened. crazy how things just work out when you're busy trying to make plans :p yay!

    Reply

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i’m rika!

hiya! i'm a canadian paralegal-turned-scuba diving instructor-turned EFL teacher-turned digital nomad. i left my cubicle in 2012 and haven't looked back since. i'm a serial expat, but right now i'm back in canada on hiatus for a while. welcome to the place where i say things.

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