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What I Was As much as in November and December
So… it’s been a short while. Sure, I’m publishing this mid-way via January, and sure, I’m combining November and December, as a result of these final 2.5 months have been CRAZY. From getting extraordinarily sick to the purpose I might barely get off the bed for weeks, to nearly getting kicked out of Georgia throughout a second lockdown, to taking up too many facet jobs… right here’s what I used to be as much as for the final two months of 2020!
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The place I Went
- Tbilisi, Georgia
- My mattress
- My workplace
- The sofa
Highlights
Listed below are a number of the greatest moments of November and December!
Comfortable Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving and Boxing Day With a (Very Small) Group of Mates
Whereas I spent 99% of the final two months inside, I used to be in a position to have fun two holidays with a really small group of mates. Chris and I celebrated Thanksgiving with just a few different People who had all been self-isolating for 2 weeks earlier than the occasion. We every cooked just a few dishes and even bought to have a turkey! I made my well-known apple pie, amongst just a few different issues.
Sadly, we did have a 9 pm curfew, so all of us needed to rush out the door after dinner and take our dessert to go. Whereas it was a bit annoying that we needed to rush, I used to be very grateful I bought to expertise a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast with just a few American mates.
The following time I noticed just a few mates was on Boxing Day. Chris and I went over to a buddy’s home and we had an incredible goose dinner. I introduced baked brie with spiced honey and pecans, in addition to an apple pie.
Our first Christmas tree collectively!
Mordie’s favourite current was taking part in on this paper
Celebrating Christmas With Chris!
Whereas Chris and I attempt to go to considered one of our dwelling international locations yearly for Christmas, we weren’t ready to try this this 12 months for apparent causes. So, the 2 of us stayed at dwelling in Tbilisi and tried our greatest to make Christmas really feel enjoyable with simply the 2 of us.
After a variety of looking out and complications, we had been lastly capable of finding a tree, and Christmas wrapping paper to wrap presents (this second one took a LOT of labor). We put lights on our balconies, embellished the tree, and hung up stockings.
Fortunately with delivery websites like Kiwi Publish, Camex, and USA2Georgia, we had been in a position to get one another just a few good presents, and our household was in a position to ship us presents too!
We celebrated the day by making french toast for breakfast, opening presents, video chatting with household, baking two apple pies, and ordering in a pleasant steak dinner. Whereas I often prefer to prepare dinner on Christmas, with simply two of us, I didn’t wish to spend all day within the kitchen. Baking two apple pies was sufficient for me!
I made mulled wine!
Our Christmas Eve Unfold
Taking Two Weeks Off Work (Sort of)
This 12 months I made a decision to take a full two weeks off… a few of my jobs. I took two weeks off the weblog and my Train Overseas Squad program, and Merilyn, who I do social media work for, gave me two weeks off as effectively!
I did nonetheless train some English on-line, do some on-line interviews, do social media work for an additional particular person, and edit some faculty admissions essays (wow that appears like rather a lot), however I did handle to a minimum of take just a few days off for Christmas. (I’ve SOME boundaries).
General, it was good to only take some work off my plate and benefit from the holidays.
Christmas morning french toast
Massive Plans For 2021!
I’ve bought some huge plans arising for the New Yr! Not solely will I be opening up Teach Abroad Squad once more very quickly (look out for a Train Overseas webinar in early February!), however I may also be creating and launching a NEW program in March. AHHHH
Yep, this has been within the works for fairly some time, however this new program will probably be a bit broader than Train Overseas Squad. So for those who’re occupied with shifting internationally you’re going to wish to hold a watch out for more information on this beginning in March.
Getting Christmas presents from my household!
My Most Profitable Monetary Month in a WHILE
Whereas December was a bit aggravating, it was additionally my most profitable monetary month in fairly some time. Let’s simply say that when it rains it pours!
For the longest time, I had two facet jobs along with my course and weblog. I did social media for a women’s business coach, and I did faculty admissions interviews for Chinese language college students who wish to examine overseas.
However when my interviews began to dry up I panicked and began trying elsewhere. First I began educating little youngsters on-line, which was nice however they solely had two courses every week for me. However then slowly however certainly I used to be supplied one other social media job, a gig serving to edit faculty admissions essays, increasingly educating courses, AND my interviews picked again up. It was like I blinked and swiftly I had TOO a lot work!
At the least I used to be a great month financially?
Picture by Mashable
Biden Received the Presidential Election!
That is form of previous information, however Biden gained! Man, that was a aggravating week there ready to see the outcomes. I’m so completely happy to have a brand new president! These of you who’ve recognized me are positively well-aware of my views on Trump, so I in all probability don’t must elaborate on why I’m completely happy about this.
All I’ve to say is sweet riddance!
Numerous time to cuddle my kitties
Challenges
Listed below are just a few of the issues that haven’t gone so nice for me these previous two months…
Lockdown 2.0
As I predicted in my October Monthly Recap, we went into lockdown 2.0 nearly instantly after the election which was the final day of October.
Whereas I’m truthfully really very completely happy concerning the lockdown and masks legal guidelines, I’m somewhat irritated the federal government didn’t implement them sooner (politics…). Additionally, it’s by no means enjoyable to be in lockdown even whether it is obligatory.
Whereas I don’t thoughts staying dwelling, the curfew and all of the shops being closed has made it troublesome to get issues I want. Most eating places cease taking deliveries round 6:30 pm, and for those who run out of milk and wish to seize some at 7 pm… too late, the shop closed at 6:45. It’s loopy how early issues shut when there’s a 9 pm curfew! However lots of people stay exterior of city and must get dwelling.
It was an epic wrestle making an attempt to order a Christmas tree on-line, or looking for wrapping paper on the grocery shops on the town. I additionally had a really troublesome time discovering a highlighter pen, and I finally simply ordered some garments I wanted on Amazon as a result of all of the clothes outlets listed here are closed.
Additionally with public transport closed, the site visitors is INSANE as a result of persons are all nonetheless going to work. They lastly opened the bus lanes to vehicles, however for a strong few weeks, earlier than they modified the principles, the site visitors and site visitors POLLUTION had been each horrible. There have been just a few instances that I made a decision to stroll the 35 minutes to our massive Carrefour, simply because me strolling was quicker than if I sat in a taxi.
At the least I bought this new gown?
Getting Actually, Actually Sick
For those who had been questioning why I didn’t write many weblog posts, that is why. For just about all of November and December, I used to be actually, actually sick.
I began feeling rundown proper after we moved to our new apartment in October, however I simply thought I used to be drained. Then I began feeling REALLY itchy at night time… like excruciatingly itchy. Even my scalp, palms, and ft had been itchy! Allergy medication helped, however didn’t actually do the job.
I assumed I may be allergic to one thing in the home like mildew or mud mites, so I went and bought an allergy check, however it took them 2 weeks to present me the outcomes. In these two weeks, I simply saved getting sicker and sicker.
I might barely get off the bed, I had heartburn and thick gunk in my throat and lungs which meant I used to be continually clearing my throat. Generally it might get so dangerous that I couldn’t breathe and needed to stand exterior the place I coughed up a lung. I finally purchased myself an inhaler!
Through the time I waited for my allergy check, I went to see a physician about all my points. We determined to do a COVID check and a blood check to see what was incorrect with me. Fortunately the COVID check was destructive, however my blood check outcomes additionally confirmed I used to be completely advantageous? Then I went to the allergist and he couldn’t discover something incorrect with me both! Severely, there’s nothing worse than being sick and having no concept what’s incorrect with you.
The physician thinks it may be my clothes detergent that was bothering my pores and skin since I purchased new detergent proper after I moved into this place. I used to be additionally given a month’s-worth of allergy meds and instructed to purchase new detergent and see.
Now I’m principally feeling higher. I’ve my vitality again (thank god), however now that I’m off the allergy meds, I’m nonetheless having points with being itchy, and I nonetheless have the gunk in my throat generally.
If anybody has any concepts about what may be incorrect with me, please let me know…
I’m a Georgian citizen and I say mommy can’t depart.
Nearly Getting Kicked Out of Georgia
Proper across the time that I used to be extraordinarily sick, Georgia introduced that it wouldn’t be extending the visas for these of us who’re on a vacationer visa. So principally, our visa was operating out mid-January, and if we left they wouldn’t allow us to again in.
Presently, we don’t have a excessive sufficient revenue to use for residency, and even the digital nomad visa is a little bit of a stretch. You solely should be making $2,000 USD/ month for the digital nomad visa as a pair, however that $2k should come from one particular person, and mixed incomes don’t rely. Whereas I really would’ve hit it this final month, I can’t present a constant month-to-month revenue of $2k proper now and neither can Chris.
Plus, for this visa, we’d must pay to depart the nation, after which fly again in, pay to quarantine in a lodge for two weeks after which pay for the visa on prime of this!
Fortunately the federal government relented and let everybody lengthen their visas till the summer season, however wow that was a aggravating few weeks.
Chris and I had been contemplating a last-minute transfer to Mexico, which isn’t perfect when you have got two cats (neither of that are totally vaccinated sure, and thus can’t depart the nation). Thank god they determined to alter their minds.
Our Thanksgiving leftovers!
Work Overload and Overwhelm
Whereas the additional work this winter has been superior, it’s additionally been very aggravating! I actually wasn’t in a position to take day off as a lot as I’d deliberate, and to be trustworthy, some weeks I’ve actually been working 7 days every week.
I haven’t actually found out methods to prioritize my very own stuff (like my new on-line course I’m creating…or weblog posts) whereas engaged on issues for everybody else. Fortunately I feel I’ve bought a great schedule mapped out now, and a few clearer boundaries with regards to the hours and days I’m keen to work, however it’s been a wrestle!
It’s been actually arduous for me to show down paying work and prioritize my very own wants and my very own schedule, however I’ve to do it. I can’t permit my English college to schedule courses for me seven days every week or settle for interviews on my at some point off or I’ll simply go loopy.
Chris’ birthday cake! (We celebrated at dwelling in lockdown)
Weblog Posts I Wrote in November + December
As a consequence of my well being, work overload, and two-week break, I didn’t write many posts in November and December, however right here they’re!
FINALLY Learning Travel Hacking – I FINALLY discovered methods to use Credit score Playing cards, Factors, and Miles. It solely took me a decade…
30 Perfect Gifts For Travelers (Who Can’t Travel Right Now) – My yearly Vacation Present Information with a 2020 twist. Listed below are presents which can be superior for vacationers that you need to use even whenever you’re not touring!
The Freedom Life: October 2020 – Right here’s what I used to be as much as in October! Celebrating my anniversary with Chris and touring to Batumi and Merisi (earlier than Lockdown 2.0)
I additionally created a FREE Information referred to as 7 Steps to Transferring Overseas (in 2021) that I’m nonetheless placing the ending touches on!
Picture by Amazon
Journey Product of the Month
Chris bought a Firestick for Christmas final 12 months, and we’re OBSESSED. This little HDMI plugin machine permits us to steam all of our reveals from Netflix and Amazon Prime, to Youtube and even Spotify music.
The Hearth Stick itself could be very tiny and will be simply thrown in a backpack. While you use it, all you want is a television with an HDMI port and an web connection. The Firestick even works rather well with Express VPN, so we will watch US reveals overseas!
I really like the Firestick as a result of let’s be trustworthy, we’re all steaming a bunch of reveals proper now anyway, and whenever you journey, you may simply take the Firestick with you and cargo it up on any television!
Yum Yum Yum!
My Favourite Weblog Posts of November and December
Listed below are my favourite weblog posts from different bloggers and writers this winter!
2020: A Year in Review – This Battered Suitcase My favourite and most lifelike 12 months in evaluate I learn this 12 months
My Worst Travel Moments of 2020 – Adventurous Kate I really like studying these yearly!
My Tromso Apartment Tour – Heart My Backpack So I’m form of obsessive about seeing individuals’s flats from all around the world!
Sooo I’m Kinda Maybe Sorta Moving to New Zealand – Neverending Footsteps I all the time actually like listening to about how and why individuals transfer to different international locations!
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What I’m As much as in January!
Effectively… January is sort of over however I can fill you in on what to anticipate. This January I’m nonetheless overworking (I’ve much more jobs… lol). I additionally am now very concerned in just a few of Chris’ paid D&D video games. I additionally joined a 6-month enterprise accelerator that I’m tremendous enthusiastic about.
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