The Three R's: Relaxation, Recycling and Religion ;)

allo allo. I'm pretty bored and thought why not take this opportunity to write a blog update :) It's super rainy here and it made me not want to head to the gym after work, but get into my comfy cozies and relax!

Life has been...okay. Things just seem a little blah right now. My head is definitely back home and I want to be with my fam. It's super hard being away from them right now. It's also hard being in good ole Warner Robins by myself. I've done a pretty good job of it up until now, but I just really miss being around my friends, family and Joel. It definitely brings the word "independent" to a whole new level. I guess I've always been independent. I mean I've travelled overseas half a dozen times by myself and went to school in Israel by myself, but this is very new territory. Working, living and doing pretty much everything by myself is showing me a different side of 'Erin'. I guess it is showing me what I'm capable of doing. I do like that Joel and I can both focus on our work.

It's definitely an experience living in Warner Robins, GA. It's just so different from home. There are a couple of main differences that I've noticed thus far. Obviously the accents. I love the southern accents. There is one nurse that I work with that I could listen to for hours. Another huge difference is the attitude towards recycling. In Canada it seems like it's a given. There are recycling bins everywhere and everyone takes an active role in protecting their environment. I have not seen one recycling bin since I've moved to Warner Robins. At work, we don't even recycle paper. I mean think of how much paper one office goes through!!! I also see a lot of styrofoam down here for single use cups. It makes me cringe. Another difference is religion. Not just that I'm the token Jew in the office, but the fact that my office prays during our morning conference call. It's very hard to get used to, but very interesting at the same time. I'm definitely in the Bible Belt! :) Another difference, the yoga instructors read off of notes in their classes. It's hard to concentrate when you can hear the rustling of papers as the instructor is trying to read her next move!!! This has happened with two instructors now, but I should mention that it has only happened in WR and not in Athens.

Well, there are definitely more, but I'm going to save them for another day. I'm off to snuggle with a book. Later!

2011...eh?

I have no idea how it is 2011 already, but it is! This past year flew by so fast. I can't believe that I'm married and living in Georgia. Things have been great and there really hasn't been too much to report. It's great that I get to see Joel on weekends, but I really wish that we lived together. I wish that things could be kinda, sorta normal. I know that when it comes to Joel and I that ideal of normalcy doesn't really exist and sometimes I wish it did.

I love my job. I have great coworkers that make me love going into the office and I have amazing patients. I found something that I truly love to do. I never thought that I would end up working at a hospice. It turns out to be one of the best choices I could have ever made. It's hard work--don't get me wrong, but it is definitely worth it. Today was one of those hard days. I went back to work after a week of being off and six of my patients had passed away. I'm sad that I wasn't able to attend their funerals and say my farewells.

During my time off I went home. I actually went twice in December, but the first time I kept on the down low because I just wanted to spend time with my family. Joel came with me the second time and we had the relaxation and family time that we desperately needed. I miss being around my family. It is definitely the hardest part about being away. Especially that puppy dog of mine.

I think I'm going to call it a night. Hope all is well with y'all!