Phoenix October 2014-April 2015

        Phoenix was amazing.  I met some great travelers in my orientation although most were dayshift and I had decided to take the nightshift position which caused a problem later when we tried to hang out. I however was able to see Phoenix and some of what it had to offer because I had met them.
      More importantly, this was my last stop before Europe and I was almost near my financial goal. I had changed my mind from traveling for six months to three. Six to seven months away from nursing is alot and I wasnt sure I wanted to do that. I started to pick up extra shifts to earn as much as possible. I had reached my goal half way through my assignment but decided to stay an extra month and a half to earn more. I stopped going out and kind of became depressed with just saving money. The goal was in reach and I was about to have the time of my life so I kept my eyesight on the fun I would have in just another month or two and proceeded to make money.
        Five years ago, I lived in Spain. I was heading back to where I lived to reconnect with the people I had met there. I had taught english to kids in a school in Fuengirola, Spain. I had lived in Madrid, Spain as well and would reconnect with my friends there too. The coolest group of friends I had made were actually from other countries so now I would travel to Austria, Denmark and Malaysia just to see them which I will get into later.
      While living in Fuengirola, I met a group of americans who taught english with me. One of the guys in our small group was Will. Will was alot like me and he reminded me of the chill, layed back side of me that was buried deep inside and couldnt escape. He was ok with whatever that happened and still showed his emotional side which was refreshing. I loved talking to him about anything and singing on the beach while he played guitar. A great tradegy struck Will and his family while he was living in Spain and it pulled Will down out of his carefree state into an angry, depressed and very hurt state of mind. He decided to go on a spiritual walk called the Camino de Santiago. It is a hike that some people use as a spiritual walk and others as a nature walk but it is intense hike that people walk during months at a time. It could take a month or two or people can walk only a section of it. It is whatever you want it to be.
       I saw a great change in Will when he came back to Fuengirola that year after his walk. He became carefree again and there was something else that he had that I couldnt place my finger on. Maybe it was confidence, maybe it was experience but I knew I wanted it. The thought that I could also take off to the top of Spain to hike across it on foot was placed there but I soon put it out of my mind and didnt look back. On my way to Ohio from Florida as a travel nurse just a year prior to heading to Europe, I stopped by Will's place in North Carolina to see him. Will talked about the walk and how it changed his life. He talked about the people he had met and the great adventures he had. Will struck that little desire in my heart to go on the hike yet again. It soon grew and before I knew it, it was apart of my plans. He also told me about a movie called The Way which also made me want to experience this life changing event.

      When I arrived in Phoenix I met a co-worker that had gone on the hike as well. He lit up when he talked about it and was very convincing that this hike would change my life. I had a huge reason on why I wanted to hike this spiritual journey but didnt really want to come face to face with this problem that was totally overcoming my life. I had buried my issue since I was 11 years old and I was doing just fine without therapy or help of any kind. The hike was calling me and to get ready I read some books on my issue which threw me into more depression so I focused on the physical aprt of it. This hike I would need to try to get in shape for because it would be 25 km a day or 16-17 miles of walking a day.
      I was a novice with hiking but the more I did it in Phoenix, the  more I loved it. Preparation became easy and my heart wanted more and  more. Hiking became a race for me. I would race myself up the famous Camelback mountain in Phoenix and try to beat my last time. My first time up the mountain, I couldnt make it to the top. The second time took me 2.5 hours to reach the top and now only 53 min. I was physically and financially ready for the big trip to Europe and the time was drawing near. My backpacking trip across Europe was finally here. I had planned this for two years and nothing was going to stop me. The only plans I had made was a cruise with Jennifer, another travel nurse I had met and the first four days.
       A friend had told me how much guts I had to plan a 3 month vacation but only have a few days of it planned. I realized maybe I was crazy, but my motto was "Fly by the seat of your pants." I didnt want to plan anything, I wanted it to be spontaneous and free. Milda, my best friend from Lithuania, who I first went to Spain with five years ago, taught me that. It was because of her, the adventurous side of me was awoken. There was no putting that back to sleep. I had seen and done so much with her that I was no longer scared of doing it alone. I wanted to go on this trip alone. I knew I would meet people -old and new. This would be a trip I could look back on when I was dying and say, I did it and I dont regret a thing. Jennifer even came to Phoenix before I left on the trip to help train. Hiking is no joke and although I tried to prepare, I wasn't prepared for what "The Way" had in store for me. The journey I had was the best time of my life but preparation can make or break all the difference in the experience you have.