Assignment #3: Boston!

In light of traveling by car for 2,734 miles across the country to start my 6^th traveling assignment, I figured I should continue to update everyone about where I have been.  I also want to apologize about the day late post, 14 hours in the car pretty much wiped me out from all thinking abilities.  The extent of my brain power was enough to watch game of thrones and pass out.  

Anyways, I had finally made it to…BOSTON!

My gap assignment ended, it served it’s purpose, and I finally made it to Boston. I know, I know, I know, no one is suppose to be able to get a traveling job in such a desirable location, especially in outpatient.  However, this is often a misconception about traveling, at least in certain circumstances.

I was working just North of Boston at an outpatient hospital setting. The clinic was very large as there was a staff of over 20 therapists there.  For being 1 on 1 care, it was very busy but it made the time fly by.

Stereotypes

I had never been to Boston before prior to working there, or the Northeast for that matter. I had heard all the Northeast stereotypes before, like it is really expensive, the traffic sucks, and the people suck even more…ALL TRUE. 

I’m mostly kidding about the last one, everyone who I met was so friendly and helped me out with anything I needed.  I met some great colleagues, and friends during my time in Boston.  

I’d describe it more as the Northeast has a lot more competition and therefore self imposed stress. There is so much competition there that people usually are not looking out for each other.  So if people don’t know each other, they tend not to help each other out as much as I was accustomed to in the Midwest.

So unless someone has a reason to speak to you, they didn’t. Very few hellos, head nods, or door opening to random people.  Sorry Midwesterners.

The only waves to strangers I saw tended to be the one finger kind.  Which makes sense with the driving there, forget a grid system.  Boston said F it, if we want a road will just put one wherever it fits.  The amount of times I asked myself “how is this a real road” is crazy.  I’d have road rage to trying to navigate that city my whole life.  I actually don’t think I knew what my car horn sounded like until I moved to Boston. 

Regardless, I fell in love with Boston, there was so much to do in the city.  So much history, so much night life, and so much food.  Seriously, so much food, I ate in Chinatown far more times than I’d like to disclose.  You had the ocean on one side, the Mountains to the North, and many states within driving distance.  Much different than trying to weekend travel when in Wisconsin.

The culture was also something I loved, people from all over the world.  Much different than the small Wisconsin town I grew up in.  I felt like I learned so much about people while living in Boston.  It really expanded my world view which is something I think we all probably need more of.

The Assignment

Anyways, at the hospital, I worked four 10’s with normally having Thursdays off.  However, my boss was extremely flexible with me and let me move my Thursday off to Friday so I could take long weekend trips up into the mountains in New Hampshire, Vermont. and Maine.  I also had a few weddings and bachelor parties to get back for so the increased flexibility was great for me to still get paid and do everything I had to and wanted to.

The assignment ended up flying by because I was busy at work, but also because I don’t think I had a free weekend my entire time there.  I’m pretty sure I have now seen more of the Northeast than many of the people who have lived there their whole lives.

The Housing

Due to the crazy amounts of universities and college students in Boston, I was able to find this house via a Facebook post about housing in one of the many housing groups in Boston.  It was a one bedroom on the top floor of a 4 unit house.  

Because it was the summer, the student was leaving for vacation and trying to sublet for the exact amount of time that I would be there.  It was furnished and newly remodeled.  And had central air!! Which I found out was a luxury in Boston due to the old age of the majority of the homes.  And there was parking, which is also a luxury in Boston.  

The house was more expensive than anything I had rented in the past but for Boston with the amenities I had, was an absolute steal.

Bonus: An Invitation Back  This hospital actually reached out to me to ask if I would be willing to come back and work from May until August.  Obviously I couldn’t accept because I had just accepted a position in AZ.  But it proved to me that when you make relationship and provide good service, future opportunities continue to open up for you.

This is a valuable lesson.  I fortunately have had very good assignments but regardless it’s important to leave a good impression when you leave because you never know how it will help you out in the future.

Conclusion

Everyone says that as travelers we will only be working in rural locations that no one wants to work or live in.  I’ve found that this is the furthest thin from the truth.  Yes, these are more difficult to come across, but not at all impossible.  And spoiler, I ended up going back to Boston for second assignment at a different hospital…

I’m not saying you can demand to just be in one destination location, but if you are patient and open, opportunities come up and lead to amazing experiences.

Have you ever wanted to travel to Boston or any other “destination” location??

Let me know below or message me here if you have any questions regarding my specific assignment or want more information about my recruiter.