Well, I have been home for a few weeks now and have kind of neglected/forgotten about my blog. But I wanted to kind of wrap this whole thing up for my wonderful blog audience!
Upon returning to the States, I was greeted by the smiling/tearful faces of my parents and sister in the JFK airport. I was so fortunate to have them there waiting for me with huge “Welcome Home” signs, and my squad-mates were even able to meet the people I had spent the entire year talking about! I then spent nearly a week in NYC with my fam, just taking in the city and seeing the sights. I also got to see two of my friends since childhood who are now living in NYC.
[ reunited and it feels so good! 🙂 ]
Since I’ve been home I have spent a lot of time sleeping, eating American food, catching up on TV shows/music I missed this year, and of course spending lots of good quality time with family and friends. It has been glorious in many ways! But it’s also been extremely weird and surreal being back in the States. I often ask myself whether this year actually happened, or if it was some sort of crazy dream. It is very odd trying to readjust to American culture and all of the comforts that come with it! But I am trying to incorporate all of the things I learned this year into my new way of life, and God is helping figure out how to do that one day at a time.
So what’s next for me, you ask? For now I am spending a couple of months at home in Oklahoma City with the family. Then in February I will be off to work on another cruise ship. I have not yet had word of where exactly I’ll be going, but I am looking forward to sailing the seas again! I will probably continue that job throughout the spring. Then I am hoping to possibly start grad school in the fall, either in New York City or Los Angeles. I will be studying to become an art therapist, which is a passion that God has given me that I am really excited about.
I want to say THANK YOUUUUU once again to all of you: all who prayed for me during this journey, all who gave financially, and all who read my blogs. You are all amazing and I am so grateful that you have been a part of this with me. I will never forget my experience on the World Race, and I know it is only the beginning of some incredible adventures God has in store for me.
