You guys! I graduated with my new bachelor’s degree in International Affairs this May! 🎉🎊 Yippie! I feel so fortunate to have had the privilege of returning to school and to have learned so much in a new area of study! It was challenging at times, and definitely the first time in my life where I felt my age so acutely 👵🏻😉😆, but I met some really excellent people and had a lovely overall experience! 💕

New degree, new state! 😊

Being so far away from friends and relatives these last few years in Maine has made me realize how much I miss living close to the people I love. So after lots of thinking and praying and considering, I decided that I wanted to start my new career in the midwest. Right after graduation, I made the 3 day, 1700 mile drive back to the center of the country, and thankfully, it all went easy peasy! 🚚 And even though it felt like I was driving a big rig, the Penske is actually pretty tiny by comparison, even with towing my car behind it! 😂🤣Ha!

Things I will Miss About Maine 🏡

During my drive to and from campus each day this semester, I passed these huge, beautiful homes and I had to share a few of them because they felt really unique to anywhere else that I’ve lived. Aren’t they neat? I’ll miss seeing them every day!

Saying Goodbye 🥹

The past three years in Maine have been a definite learning experience! I discovered what it’s like to live in a very tiny town, in a very rural area, and in a place that felt very far away from the rest of country. Accessing healthcare, from doctors to optometrists to dentists was a significant challenge, and practicing medicine in a rural area was very different to when I lived and worked in big cities. The weather is also MUCH colder and snowier than even I expected ❄️☃️🥶😂.

I cherish the friendships that I made here and I loved living near the Atlantic and being able to take long walks through the thick woods. I will not miss how expensive it is to fly to and from this part of the country, or the Lyme carrying ticks, but I am grateful for this brief stint in a new state and will mostly look back on it fondly. ☺️

Graduation Celebration 🎉 🥳

A huge thanks to my friends and family who remembered me and helped me celebrate this new degree! 🎓 I am so grateful for you!! 💕

*Special shout out to my friend Camilla who MADE this super impressive graduation box (bottom left)! Her creativity and generosity really amaze me!! 👏 🫶

Thanks again for following along with me on this journey of adventure over the last 5 years! I’ll try to keep updates coming on jobs and hopeful future travel once things are settled! Hope everyone has a great summer! 🌺