It’s been a month now since I have finished up in Kazakhstan. After a brief stopover in Amsterdam I found myself back in Canada. This year I decided to stay put for the most part. Most of my days are pleasantly lazy as I enjoy my parents company and the odd bike ride to the nearby towns. I flew into Calgary for a few days to meet up with friends old and new. I didn’t get to see everyone but hopefully next time I am out I’ll be able to plan things better.

In a few days I’ll be heading back to the GCC. I’m no longer working for a Canadian college. I could have gone back there but that particular chapter felt closed for me. Without the college I would not have my Master’s degree nor the friendships made during my three years in the desert. So while the chapter is closed for now I am thankful for the time spent there.

I don’t really know what to expect of this return trip. But I am optimistic about the future and the adventures ahead. With that in mind, I decided to make a list of summer resolutions. They are similar to the New year’s version, except that I make them during the summers which is when my year naturally breaks up due to my work in education.

1. Be Debt-free by next summer.
2. Get back into shape (~170 pounds!)
3. Complete the Abu Dhabi Triathlon this March.
4. Present at a TESOL conference.
5. Brush up on my French (Duolingo 3x per week) & Korean (finish at least one of my books).
6. Learn a new Language (complete a level of Rosetta Stone and/or one textbook).
7. Cook at least once a month for friends.
8. Develop and expand the blog (add a cooking section and an EFL section).

That is the full list. I used to due these resolutions every year when I came back home from university. I kept them about as well as most people keep their New Year’s resolutions but I figure it is worthwhile to set goals. Even though I have never accomplished everything on my lists each year I am always better for the effort.