and whew!!!
Been some crazy months I've been away from TP, and I just had to return! I left a job, took a two month break, started a new job, worked non-stop for 6 months and am trying to maintain sanity...plus some fab trips to Istanbul, Belgrade, Hanoi and Phuket 
Sorry for this completely irrelevant post, but I just wanted to say I'm glad to be back 
Sounds like a handful. Welcome back. Let's hear some stories.
Welcome back!! I second Piecar; we want stories!!
Hey Sapphyre - we've missed you!!! Have you maintained your sanity or can we expect some really off the wall posts in the coming months? Just checking... 
Stories? 
Well...what can I say? It's been a period of self-discovery, learning to let go and take breaks, trying to find balance in life, trying to decide what to do. Can't say I achieved all though. Same but different job, different shit, but I guess that's life. I contemplated switching lines to be a tour guide, and doing a half-year immersion in Israel to pick up Hebrew! 
But these shall remain thoughts for now as I'm trying to see how I can study again.
I loved all the places I visited in the last eight months. Istanbul was especially beautiful, in a macro sense, but the airport was just 
. Might head back again this summer before I head to Lisbon for my yearly conference. And had a lovely time with friends in Belgrade, super yummy fruit beer they have there! (Not that I drink 
) I'm taking a step back from all these work travel and doing more real vacations...am off to Laos in three days! Never thought I would travel with a backpack again, and before Hanoi I had not travelled in SEA since I was 17 and a half. Am kinda jittery bout Laos to be honest, but it'll all about pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone, and too bad for my boss if I don't return in time 
I'm still sane (I think 
)