Giving of Thanks

It’s been a while since I last posted – the main reason being that the routine of work has kind of taken over for the past few weeks.  Really, routine is routine, and work is work – not a great deal happens to separate the days even when you are living on a tropical island. In the past weeks and months since my last post, we have bussed our way around beautiful and lesser-traveled Eastern Europe, survived a grueling climb of the volcano Pico for the second time (second time round was somehow easier), witnessed Australia nearly win the Rugby World Cup and frolicked in and out of dinners, Halloween parties and Murder Mystery events.

However, it is today on the anniversary of my arrival here in EG (and perhaps appropriately enough, Thanksgiving Day) that I thought perhaps it was time to make another post – regardless of how mundane it may be.

Being my first Thanksgiving experience ever, I am not too sure what the holiday involves – other than turkey (baked or deep-fried – the choice is yours).  However, if the name of the day provides any hint as to its meeting, I have chosen to infer that its purpose is to “give thanks.”  Although I am not in any way religiously-inclined, I do recognize the things for which I am grateful, and what help to make living in EG such a fantastic, fantastic thing.

So, these are the things for which I gave thanks:

• My family in Oz for continuing to support our decision to be here so far away from them, and being happy for us, when we are so happy
• My friends in Oz and around the world who continue to send me messages – messages of love, funny messages and even the shitty messages that help me understand what’s going on in their lives
• Kraft crunchy peanut butter,  a jar of which has made its way onto the island, due to the efforts of a fellow peanut-butter-lover
• The inclusiveness of our fun-loving neighbours the organisers of a multitude of dinners, parties and FUN!
• The consistently warm tropical weather which refuses to approach anywhere near 20 degrees
• Our pseudo family of Australians that has manifested itself
• The beauty of the cool(ish) mornings and sunrises for which I am (almost) always present
• The opportunity presented to me in the form of working in a completely different role and industry than which I have been exposed before
• The sense of safety which comes with living in a relatively little-known location with all the turmoil currently happening around the world

In only a matter of days we will see our families for the first time in 12 months.  It has been perhaps the fastest 12 months of my life.  And although there are always uncertainties as to when this dream will finally come to an end or perhaps lose its shine somehow I find myself looking forward, and anticipating, continuously anticipating what is next and what the next adventure will be.