LIVEALITTLE

So, I am unemployed yet again upon my own volition. I had been looking forward to this moment since announcing 3 weeks ago but instead of relief as I walked through the automatic doors of the hospital, I felt a great burden of grief. The guilt and sadness of leaving my kind friends and ill patients behind surprisingly overwhelmed me. I had to take a moment to realize that this is another phase of what I have to cope with in this nomadic life I choose to live.
Working at Royal Darwin Hospital not only taught me to be a better nurse but to be a better person as well. I learned to be more confident in myself, to stand up for my beliefs and to take humility in stride. I was most touched when a patient care assistant, whom I did not know very well, came to bid me good-bye with a huge hug and profuse graciousness for my work. Although I have officially worked as a registered nurse for 14 months, I feel as if I am still on holidays from Goldman, still volunteering and still new in the occupation. I hope this means I have found my purpose. :)

I think I've finalized my plans for the upcoming weeks. Let me know if you would like to meet up, if you have floor (or tub) space in Melbourne or if you are in need of a massage table! I've accumulated too much stuff to bring back!

May 27th - last day of work in Darwin
June 8th - leave Darwin for Melbourne
June 10 - June 26 - volunteer for www.ceres.org.au in Brunswick (in Melbourne, Victoria)
June 27 - July 17 - Indonesia with Ceres (http://ceres.org.au/international/20092010indo.html)
July 18 - July 26 - back in Melbourne pbly debriefing w Ceres
July 27 - August 17 - Vietnam
August 18 - NYC

Sorry. I have been MIA for quite some time. Apologizes.
See, I got notice that I qualified to sit the US nursing exam (NCLEX) on April 16th and hit the books immediately.
Shortly after I took the exam, I was told I had passed (yippee!) and so my trip back home begins...

After taking the exam, I:
- did a tour of country Victoria with Andrew (April 15- April 26)
- went to the Katherine Music Muster with Lydia (May 1st to May 3rd)
* impressions: Interestingly, although there is not that much to do in Katherine, I have found reason to be here 4 times! I guess every little place still has its hidden charms!

- toured the Alice Springs area (with a visit w Justin) including a 1500km drive back to Darwin (May 12 - May 17)
* impressions: The Australian icon, Uluru, is beautiful (don't forget to stay for its ENTIRE sunsetting as the dimming and glowing effect is magical), but the highlight of the area would be the 3 hour hike into Kings Canyon as well as sunset over Devil's Marbles.

So, what next???
My final day of working in Darwin is next week May 27th. I will starting packing up and will hopefully leave for Melbourne in early June. I would love to work on a sustainability project possibly with Ceres or WWOOF or volunteer in Vietnam for the months of June and July. Suggestions? First three weeks of August is planned with a backpack trip through Vietnam and possibly some Cambodia... So the aim is to get back to NYC in the 3rd week of August. Ed might have to drag me back from Vietnam... See ya'll soon!