Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Up Over (opposite of "Down Under")

I have returned to my old abode in the states for six weeks.  Five of my weeks here are being spent working full time, which is a god send.  After having lived in Australia, unemployed for five months, a few full paychecks are going to be like winning the lotto.   This trip back "home" to Olympia has been scheduled since March.  As a Nurse Practitioner I need to keep my required clinical hours up in order to maintain my active license in Washington, so I figured if I spent the Aussie "winter" in the Olympia summer, I could have the best of both worlds.  My original plan was to stay here for 3 months, but at this point in my move to Australia, it 
 just felt like too long to be gone (with input from Susan!), PLUS, I want to get back to Susan, Woody and Buddha.   So far it seems like the right amount of time.  I have been back here for two weeks+ now and I will be heading back to Oz the end of August.
I have my house rented out so I have moved into my 37foot 5th wheel RV which is parked behind the house. This trailer is OK for me and is working out great.  I have satellite internet and satellite TV access from the renters.  I am true White Trailer Trash for this 6 weeks, and proud of it! 



  The weather here has been unbelievable, a week of temps in the upper 90- low 100's!(32-40.6 C')  The rest of my time here it has been in the 80-90 F'.  Thank god my white trash trailer has AC. Thank you god, thank you god..
I am enjoying seeing the deer out grazing behind my place in the woods every morning.  Of course they do take a toll on my very young fruit trees which have not grown much in two years.



Returning to work has been great, I have really missed direct patient contact. The old folks are who I have the pleasure of seeing.  I think part of the reason I am enjoying the work so much is that I know it is short term.  How did I ever work full time all of these years and keep my sanity? I don't know if I could go back to the same level of intensity now that I have had a break from the rat race, especially the freeway traffic congestion.

Well, I have a few more weeks to reconnect with family and friends here and look forward to any opportunity to drink wine, relax and chat... 

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi Melonie and Susan,

Sounds like you're having a great time.

Melonie, if you're still doing the Amazon project, my friend Elise who I spoke with you about before you went to Australia is still very interested. If you should have time to meet with her when you're here, I'm sure she would really like it. I'd be happy to meet you both for dinner up here sometime.

My email and telephone are the same. I assume yours aren't so I thought I'd respond this way.

Thanks, Jan Bianchi