The last week was the busiest yet as I was speaking in Belgium about the work I have been doing at the Centre, returning late Wednesday night to launch our first user centred design workshop with the college all day Thursday. I had the best of intentions to blog in Belgium but spent what little free time I had working on the Powerpoint for Thursday.

I had expected this post to be some philosophical rant around my 200th post, but I’ll stick to one realisation that hit me while sipping my last beer in Brussels. I was growing comfortable again. When did this happen? The first six months of living in Ireland felt like vacation every day, but nine months in … routine begins to set in. Instead of a weekend jaunt to an incredible new spot, laundry and food shopping was beginning to take precedence.

During my third trip to Italy in a year I delivered a kick in the pants to myself. It may be true that travel here happens to be to other countries as opposed to other States, but don’t take any of this for granted. I think we should take this approach wherever we are. In Brussels we had the opportunity to stick with the same group for three days and instead decided to break away and take an hour train ride to Brugge. Good call. Who knew when I’d be back, even though I was just a short plane ride away. I would have missed one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever seen.

I could have sat by myself on the train upon arrival, but instead sat with a Romanian woman and had a great chat over the forty minute journey into Brussels. I’d never met someone from Romania before.

So I’ve made a new commitment nearly a year into the move to be a bit more conscious about taking advantage of every opportunity.