#2 - Month Off

I got the news in mid-June that I’d be moving to Amsterdam on a 2-year contract. I was, of course, thrilled given that it was my main focus the last 18 months (and I could finally stop being an email/phone stalker), but the clock started ticking. I had three months (more or less) to get everything ready. Oh, and to enjoy my last summer in Seattle too. What an amazing summer it was … I crossed several things off my Seattle bucket-list, such as hiking near Mt. Rainier, seeing Seafair (from a sweet boat at that!), eating at all the places I’d wanted to try and never made it to (Salumi and Betty topping the list), and reconnecting with some old friends. Went off to Maui for a week, Vancouver BC for the weekend, and the multiple happy hours, grilling nights, and just enjoyed the great weather (and very slow last couple months of work). My last day at PwC Seattle came around the end of August, and I have to say, it felt much better than I was expecting.

But, I was just starting to get busy with packing, last-minute paperwork, and of course, my little bro’s big wedding day. Early September was a blur of a bachelor party from which my liver still hasn’t recovered, packing/selling/donating all of my stuff, seeing friends and family before I leave, and wedding preparations. The departure date came on September 16th … felt like I could have stayed another week … but with a big move, it always comes faster than you expect. I have to say, buying a one-way ticket to Europe is a strange feeling. But getting on the plane (after arguing for 20 minutes about baggage fees in both Portland and Seattle) really hits things home. Luckily “the Hangover” was one of the movie choices, so the flight went well (although the lady next to me may disagree since I think my constant laughing woke her up more than once).

About 9 hours after leaving Seattle I grabbed my three enormous suitcases, found the driver, and the adventure began. Let’s just say, a full day of apartment hunting after stepping off a plane at 7:00am = not fun. More about the search in another post, but let’s just say it was a two-day marathon. I found a place (the second I looked at, out of around 16 or so), and then headed off on the other big event of the month: my decision to add more stress by adding a 2-week holiday to Turkey in the midst of everything else.

Turkey = amazing. Great decision. Don’t regret it at all. Not only was it my first time there, but also my first time “backpacking” solo. I use “backpacking” in quotes because it’s really more like luxury backpacking. I stayed at hostels, but in private rooms. I wanted to relax this trip amid all the other stuff going on, and didn’t want to do the dorm thing (I’ll pay $20 a night rather than $10 if that’s the cost of a private room!). Rather than 12-hour bus rides I did one-hour flights. But backpacking is also a mindset – to be a traveler rather than a tourist. To mingle with other travelers and the locals, rather than riding around on a huge air-conditioned bus and be herded through the sites by some obnoxious guide holding an umbrella. To want to experience a place rather than just see it and check it off some list of places to see. After my 12-days there (about a month too short), I travelled rather than toured, experienced and saw everything I wanted to, met some awesome people, and learned a lot about myself too. And now I have a place to stay if I want to go to Dubai or Australia. After seeing 3 parts of the country (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Aegean Coast), I’d put Cappadocia at the top of my list. Amazing hiking and scenery, genuinely friendly people, great pension where I stayed, just amazing. Istanbul is a must-see European city. And anyone interested in roman or even biblical ruins should see Western Turkey. Turkey is safe, you won’t get sick from the food/water, and the locals are genuinely friendly. Highly recommended.

So then it was back to Amsterdam. I have to say – it’s pretty awesome to step off a plane at midnight, and be at your destination by train in 20 mins. I’m going to get used to that quickly. But I couldn’t get too comfy at the temp apartment – because the next day I moved into my new place (again, more about that in a later post).
My month off was coming to a close, and it was great. On one hand I could say that I’d enjoy a few more months off – to travel, spend time with friends, etc. On the other, I was slightly looking forward to starting my job and meeting some folks here in Amsterdam. 32 days off was just about right.