Reflections on 2019

I am in my last year of grad school in La Crosse, a city I’ve come to know & love over the past seven years. It will be sad to leave this river town with its hiking trails, bike paths, and active community that I’ve grown a part of throughout college. Although leaving a place is difficult, getting the opportunity to explore someplace new makes it worthwhile! Next summer I’ll be heading to the East Coast for my first physical therapy clinical rotation at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. My second rotation will be spent in Beloit, WI working with a Birth to 3 Program. I don’t have my last hospital clinical assignment yet, but I’m hoping to make it out to explore the Western states for Spring of 2021.

Of course, I don’t need to wait for clinical to explore. In the past year I’ve had plenty of opportunity to explore many states on foot! My 2019 backpacking adventures included the Santa Rita Mountains in AZ, Gila National Forest of NM, Chippewa Moraine in WI, Isle Royale National Park in MI, and most recently, the Ouachita Mountains of AR. I’m always reminded on my backpacking trips how much beauty we have just beyond our back yards!

However, the itch to travel overseas remains. I haven’t been out of the country since Nepal, so when I discovered that we have a 5 week vacation in December/January, I knew it was time to escape to another country. So last month I bought a plane ticket to Thailand, eager to explore more of Asia. I fly out on Christmas day and return a month later. No solid plan, just a wild desire to see and experience the unknown. Travel light & go far!