Why the Sudden Change? Part One

Everyone who knows me, knows that I like to take risks, at least with life choices. Sometimes those choices are made in haste but everyone has a lesson to learn and if you're not learning than you're not living.
So, for those that are still wondering, here is how I ended up 6,500 miles away from home:

Part One
1. It was December 2009 and I had just finished up the 2009 PRSSA National Conference and completing my Bachelor's Degree! It was a very long road and one that could not have been taken  with out love and support. I had finished! I FINALLY finished with the number one goal of my life, getting my degree. Okay, so now what? I know everyone has a plan or should have a plan and I usually did, to finish my degree!

SIDEBAR: (OK how appropriate that the "Olympic Spirit" by John Williams is playing right now?, not going to lie but I playing in the Olympics was also one of my many lofty goals in life and still has a strong hold) Never going to forget when I had the opportunity to work the Salt Lake City Olympics and had to turn it down, someone else was involved in that decision. Still a big regret, but hey everything happens for a reason, no regrets just missed opportunities. So I will find another way. Also funny considering S. Korea was host to the Olympics in 1988! Wait! This is too much of a coincidence, but that was the year everything changed!)

Anyway back to "Why Korea?" Well a lot happened between December and June. In January my grandmother got pneumonia. She was in and out of the hospital. I was so worried about her health. I also began to realize that things are going to change. Playing into my mother's negativity, I assumed the worst and thought about what the horrible possibility that grandma could die. I was beside myself thinking that way, as both my sisters can attest to based on lengthy late night hysterical calls from me. Than I thought about how grandma may not be able to live by herself and I became conflicted. I was conflicted about whether I was there to be her caregiver or whether we we there to help each other. I felt so much pressure to live up to my family. I did not want to be compared to other family members simply taking advantage of her.
I started to panic. What was I doing with my life? What did I want to do? Where did I want to go? All questions that should have been answered prior to graduation. Agreed. But for some reason all I could think of at the time of finishing school was "I need a break" as many college graduates feel. It is well deserved because as difficult as life may be, school follows you 24/7. At work, you may have a big meeting or presentation or tons of work to do but NEVER are you EXPECTED to work outside of "business hours," whatever that may be. With school you ARE EXPECTED to complete homework, etc. And the gold rule of education is to a lot 2 hours of homework for every hour you are in class! Enough said. Once finished, everyone DESERVES a break!

Wow, way off track! But relevant, thank goodness I'm not a lawyer, Jenny!

2. So during these panic stricken days, I was trying to "live" my life and invited friends over. A special thanks to those who graced  your presence and for listening to my blabber plus offering assistance. It was during these events that I started to change and didn't even know it. I may have continued to repeat my foolish immature and masochistic ways, but the end result was an eye-opener!

 . . . to be continued