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2018 Year in Review

Reflections
Reading Time: 8 minutes

2018 was a whirlwind year. I did longer stretches of travel this year than I ever have before, completing two separate month-long trips, and one six-week trip. I also crossed off some of my bucket list destinations and revisited some of my favourite spots on this planet. On top of that, we made HUGE career and academic moves that I am so incredibly proud of.

If there was ever a year deserving of a highlight reel, it was 2018. Cheers to all the incredible moments that this year brought me.

Countries Traveled: USA, Canada, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Sweden, Portugal

Here are the highlights of my 2018!

January – Florida

The new year kicked off in Florida where I spent some time shark diving with my good friend Ryan Walton. I also had the unique experience of diving Ginnie Springs in the winter. The water at Ginnie is 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22°C) year-round, but in January with outdoor temperatures averaging about 35 degrees Fahrenheit (2°C), there weren’t many people willing to brave the cold to swim in the springs. We, however, I had come a long way and knew that the only way to escape the chilly outdoor weather was to get into the springs, so that’s exactly what I did! I had the entire place to myself and watching the steam come off the water was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wys4qHbQmY[/embedyt]

More on Florida:
More on shark diving:

February – Ottawa

The month of February was mostly spent going back and forth between home and Ottawa for TEDx rehearsals. As a result, I spent a lot of time in our nation’s capital, skating on the famous Rideau Canal and stuffing my face with poutine!

Ottawa Travel Guide
More on Ottawa:

March – TEDx Kanata

March kicked off with the absolute biggest highlight of 2018: GIVING A FREAKING TED TALK! I’m probably never going to get over this one. It was one of the coolest things that I’ve ever done.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UqkgRGPqsk[/embedyt]

More about my TEDx talk:

 March – Vancouver

Later in March, I headed to the other side of the country for the Leading Change and GLOBE Forum in Vancouver. These environmentally focused conferences bring together professionals from all over the world to network, collaborate, and share ideas. It was an absolutely incredible experience being surrounded by so many like-minded people in one of my favourite cities in the world!

Vancouver Travel Guide
More on Vancouver:

April – Myrtle Beach

To celebrate the end of exams, I went on a little road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I didn’t actually “work” on this trip – one of my first trips in a while where I haven’t – and it felt great to just unwind and relax in the sunshine.

Ultimate Road Trip Guide
More on road tripping:

June – Hawaii

In June, Mama Bear and I headed off for the trip of a lifetime in Hawaii! We’d both been to Oahu before, but never to the Big Island, and it did not disappoint! We were visiting the island not long after the Kilauea volcano had erupted and we had the opportunity to see live lava flow from the sky – something that I will absolutely never forget. I also became a PADI Advanced Open Water diver in Kona and got to experience the famous night dive with manta rays!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbswdKC5wdM[/embedyt]

More on Hawaii’s Big Island:
More on Oahu:

June – Florida Keys

Right after I got back from Hawaii (literally two days later), I hopped in my car and set off on a 30-hour solo road trip to the Florida Keys. The diving in Key Largo and the atmosphere in Key West definitely made the long journey worth it. I experienced some of the best scuba diving in the Florida Keys, made incredible life-long friendships, and became a PADI Rescue Diver on this trip!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtfGYykCqIY[/embedyt]

More on the Florida Keys:

July – Muskoka 

After an action-packed month of June, I kept July pretty lowkey by hanging out in Canada’s most beloved cottage country: Muskoka. I had a blast cruising around on the boat, wake surfing, and drinking wine by the campfire.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4j6tLPaog[/embedyt]

August – New York City

In August, my brother and I headed for the Big Apple to see a Kenny Chesney concert and play tourist in NYC! The concert was nothing short of amazing and we had the best time exploring the Empire State building, Central Park, and eating our weight in New York pizza.

More on New York City:

August – Nova Scotia

From New York, I flew to Nova Scotia for an undergraduate research project that I was taking on through my university. A&A was radio silent for these two weeks as I was immersed in data collection for my research on public perceptions of aquaculture in the province. I haven’t said too much about this trip on my blog, because I didn’t really produce any content for it (besides a kick-ass final report), but this trip was one of the best parts of 2018 and the highlight of my undergraduate career.

More on student life:

September – Key Largo

Straight from Nova Scotia, I went back to more learning, this time in the form of scuba education. I loved Key Largo so much that I decided to go back in September to become a PADI Divemaster and begin a journey into professional scuba diving. It was a tough, but rewarding two weeks. I learned so much and met some of the most incredible people that I can’t wait to dive with again!

More on scuba diving:

October – 3 Years of A&A

I didn’t travel anywhere in the month of October, but I did celebrate my three-year blogging anniversary! I still can’t believe I’ve been doing this for three years. This was a huge milestone for me and I’m so grateful for everyone who helped make it happen.

Celebrating 3 years of Airplanes & Avocados

December – Contiki Christmas in Europe

We ended 2018 on the highest of high notes by finally checking “European Christmas markets” off of my bucket list! I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Europe with Contiki over the holidays and experience all of the Christmas magic that Europe had to offer.

Besides the beautiful markets, this trip also sent me home with unforgettable experiences like visiting Auschwitz, experiencing Budapest’s ruin bars, and taking Venice by gondola.

More on Contiki:

December – Lisbon

After my Contiki tour, I went in Sweden where we spent some time with friends for a few days before heading off to spend the last days before Christmas in Lisbon. In Lisbon I ate, we cooked, and then ate some more. Seriously I love this city so much, but I am terrified to ever take an extended holiday here because I know I will end up eating the entire country’s supply of cheese and wine. (lol!)

Lisbon Travel Guide
More on Portugal:

As you can tell, 2018 was a crazy year. I’m so grateful for all the experiences that I had and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for 2019!

TOP BLOG POSTS OF 2018

I Ran Every Day for a Month: Here’s What Happened

How to Pick the Perfect Contiki for your Travel Style

Why my IUD is my most important piece of travel equipment

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