It might all seem very spontaneous and random, but it just so happens that it was 100% written in the cards. Everything magically came together, and I am totally meant to do this.
Let me take this time to tell you all about how this journey came to be...
For those of you who don't know, I got my degree in Psychology and emphasized in Abnormal Child Psych. I have really miss working with kids, and I know that I need to somehow get back into it. So, I joined an au pair website, created a profile, and started searching for the perfect family. After about 6 weeks of searching, and many interviews, I found them! They live in Florence, Italy and have 2 kids; Lisa (9 years old), and Dario (6 years old). I have spoken with their current au pair many times via skype, and she has nothing but great things to say about the family! Both of the parents are college professors, Luciano is an Econ professor, and Alessandra is a.... (wait for it...) a PSYCH professor! HOLLER! She also runs a crisis clinic for battered women and children in the area. If the thought of living in Florence and working with awesome kids isn't cool enough, now I'll be working for people who I can really learn and grow from! I am hoping to volunteer at the clinic that Alessandra works at, or maybe somewhere similar that she has connections with.
As for my amazing apartment in downtown Seattle... A great friend of mine, Rachel Meade, took over my lease! She graduated last June and was looking to get out of her family's house... How perfect?! So now her and another great friend, Marina McLeod (more often referred to as my boyfriend), are living together with this amazing view.....
Since I had lived by myself for about 10 months before Marina and I decided to take our relationship to the next level and move in together, I already had a fully furnished apartment. And since I obviously won't need it while I'm gone, I left everything for Rachel and Marina to use while I'm gone... And I mean EVERYTHING!!! Couch, TV, dishes, rugs, coffee table, everything. I love them and trust them to take care of it, so they're more than welcome to use whatever they need while I'm gone!
And my job... I ended the year in the top 50 sales associates in the entire company and exceeded my yearly goal by about $6000! So... They told me I could come back.
Peace. Love. TRAVEL!
p.s. Marina and I grew those peppers in the bottom left corner of that picture on our balcony garden... I'll miss that!!!
