Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I've written on my blog. I am sure all of my faithful readers are starving for another post. I should write more often to make a sort of history, and I have heard it can be therapeutic. So, what happened between Oct. '08 and now... where to begin...
I returned to Utah from Missouri towards the end of November '08. I was glad to have that experience behind me. Living in a hotel for nearly four months was not very fun. Eating out for almost every meal got old quickly. But, I did meet some cool new people and experienced a place that I probably never would have experienced otherwise. If anyone is considering Missouri, St. Louis wasn't bad.
As soon as I got back to Utah, it was back to school. However, I did not have a place to live in Salt Lake, so for the first couple of weeks I bounced around from place to place while I was finding an apartment. Luckily, my girlfriend was moving into a new apartment which she had already secured while still paying rent at her current apartment. So, I bunked with three girls for a just over a week. Kind of funny.
I finished my MBA at the University of Utah in May. That was a ball of stress that I am glad to have behind me. I would never recommend being a full-time masters student while working full-time. Not fun. I think I would have gotten a lot more out of my classes had I had time after class to really think about the lectures and material. Education is a worthy pursuit that I always enjoy. In hindsight, I probably should have gone to a different university than where I did my undergrad. Not that the U was lacking, I just feel like I could have gained some diversity somewhere else. I guess I now need to make it pay for itself. It's a good feeling to have school behind me.
As a reward for my stellar studies, I decided to buy a boat and suburban to enjoy the summer with. And enjoy I did. I was on the lake at least twice if not more per week. I love boating. It helps me escape. I slalom ski and wakeboard. During my teenage years, wakeboarding was my passion. However, I am a bit of a wimp, especially as I have gotten older. Falls just hurt more now, and the recovery time after an injury seems to be a lot longer than when I was younger. So, I can get some amazing air, but aside from 180's I can't do anything spectacular. The boat is an inboard, so my new found love is wake surfing. Very low impact, requires skill, and is surprisingly rewarding. I took a few of my nieces and nephews out on the board, which they thought was pretty cool.
I always seem to keep things interesting. In the spring, I new that I wanted to find another job after I graduated, and I also knew that I wanted to experience some place new. Don't get me wrong, Utah is great, but it was time for a change. So, I started applying for jobs in Europe. And, towards the end of July, I was offered a position in Germany. That's where I ended up. I am now living in Kaiserslautern, Germany. It was quite an ordeal getting here. I met a lot of opposition from family and friends not wanting me to leave. I had to store my boat, sell my suburban (which was a sad day - every single guy should have a nine passenger vehicle), ship my car, and box up all my stuff. Despite all of this, I still feel like it is the right decision. I love it here. And, as time passes I will make more friends and get to enjoy new and interesting places and cultures. Since being here, I have already been to France, Luxembourg, and England. I took a weekend trip to London to see a musical. It was awesome. Oh, just so you know, the autobahn is a wonderful thing. I still need to find out if the top speed on my car is electronically controlled. Made it to 130 the other day without any hesitation.
I am in the process of buying a home right now. It's funny that my first home purchase will be an international one. I will keep you all updated as it progresses. For now, that's it. If you made it to the end of the post... wow, you must be really bored. Oh, by the way, happy thanksgiving. I am headed to Zermatt, Switzerland (the Matterhorn) for a ski vacation. I have to help myself not be homesick over the holidays.
