New Year, New Beginnings

Although I may have lifted the title of this post from Kim Kardashian’s recent twitter announcement, unlike Kim, my “new beginnings” are not a baby. Far from it!

Yesterday, WordPress sent me “2012: Your Year in Blogging”, their annual report on my blog, so I figured there is no better time than the present to get back to it.

I realize I’ve been gone for many months, and some of you may have thought I was lost somewhere in Ethiopia. But I’m not. I’m here, back at home in Toronto. I’ve been meaning to write for a while now but haven’t because I haven’t felt I have anything to write about.  Well nothing that relates to “international law” at least.  I guess maybe I was scared of being judged for not working or having to deal with more questions about how many jobs I have applied for; But then I thought, forget it, I miss the blog, I’m writing! The point of this blog was to follow my journey from corporate lawyer to international lawyer . Well the truth about switching career paths, especially to international law, is that there are many times when you are not “working” in the traditional sense, and many more when you are working every single day, just not getting paid. So if I’m going to be totally honest, totally true to the purpose of this blog I better write about this part too!

Back at home in Toronto.

I’ve been home from Ethiopia since the fall. In that time I’ve planned our wedding and related activities, had the wedding and said activities, gone on our honeymoon, caught up with family and friends, got my health back on track after years of inconsistent medical care, applied for jobs, and most of all, attempted to reintegrate into Canadian life after having been gone for almost 3 years. But even if I say that all in one breath, the next question is always: But what do you do? Like, every day? Are you applying for jobs? Or my personal favourite: Who are you with now? (Meaning what law firm are you with). Myself. I’m with myself, trying to build this new career path. I guess it’s because I’m not making any money right now but everywhere I go people are just uncomfortable with this, even basic medical appointments turn into interviews on my current and future employment status. So then I tell them what I actually do every day: I write. I’m writing a book. And again, confusion and blank stares, aversion of the eyes. But there it is folks; I’m writing a book. A book about the very adventures I wrote about in this blog and many more that I can share now that I’m back, from the safety of our home.  Once I am completely ready to own that fact myself I will fill you all in.

Oh, and Congrats Kim, in your words; New Year, New Beginnings.

Keeping warm with my brother and mom during after our wedding ceremony.

Kevin and I, after the ceremony.

Day one of our honeymoon, on our way to Tahiti.

On our way to our first honeymoon dinner, Tah’aa.

Me with Bora Bora in the background.

Sunset over the dock, Tah’aa, French Polynesia.

View of Bora Bora from our beach.

Us with the Polynesian dancers.

Paddleboard Yoga. My new favourite thing.

Paddle-boarding around the lagoon, Bora Bora.