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Ras Tanura Airport - Saudi Aramco, Prince Sultan Rd, Ras Tanura Saudi Arabia

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I grew up in Saudi Arabia. We lived there from Kindergarten to 6th grade. My dad worked for the oil company, Aramco. The Persian Gulf was literally out my backyard. I have a bit of an irrational fear of sharks because I was "chased" by an aggressive hammerhead shark, and won. Thank god for being on the swim team (speed), or the outcome may have been different. Hammerheads are rarely aggressive, but he had been killing baby fin whales for no apparent reason. Long story, but he was caught by a few Arabs the next day in a wooden fishing boat. He was over 7 feet long!

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I was born in Rapid City, South Dakota. Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse are about 20-30 miles from my house. The Black Hills are stunning. We are also home to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I started working the rally at my uncle's Harley-Davidson Motorcycle shop. I then worked at the Full Throttle in nursing school, which is the world's largest biker bar (the original has since burned down). I started riding motorcycles at the age of 14 (yes, you can drive in SD at 14). I have ridden ever since; however, I sold my Fat Boy (HD) in Maui as it was having transmission issues, and I could not find a reliable mechanic to fix it. I am currently back in RC to finish my clinicals, as I own a house here as well. I love it here in the summer, but winters are pretty harsh, with temperatures often below zero for months. After graduation, I plan to return to Maui or work in AZ. This girl loves to be warm!

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I took this picture in Kihei, Maui. It is at our secret "Birthday Beach."

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I began working in Maui, Hawaii in August 2015 on a travel nurse assignment. It grabbed my heart and soul from day 1. They say, "Home is where the heart is," and I certainly feel Maui is "home." I know this island like the back of my hand. I have also lived and worked on Kauai and the Big Island as a travel nurse.

I was a travel nurse for 11 years before hanging up that hat last year to prepare for clinicals. I took a permanent position at our Heart Vascular Institute, doing stress tests on patients. Before that, I worked in Pre-op/PACU for 17 years, along with endoscopy and pain clinic. Before that, I worked in the ER. I have been a nurse for just over 20 years.

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My favorite hobby and pastime is traveling to new places. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, we traveled often to Europe, Asia, and, of course, back home to the United States. My desire for travel has grown as I have aged. I love exploring and understanding cultures from around the world. What makes a trip even better is when you can add some great hiking as well. In Peru, we not only hiked around Machu Picchu, but we also climbed to the very top of the highest peak in this picture, known as Huayna Picchu. It was rock stairs the entire way up, with no guardrails. At the top, it was a 10,000-foot drop off the side of the steps, which were only a foot or two wide. We also hiked Rainbow Mountain while in Peru, which was stunning but difficult as it is above 17,000 feet, so the oxygen is thin.

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São Miguel do Gostoso, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

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Fun Fact: I own a house in San Miguel do Gostoso, Brazil. This was my retirement plan, as it is a beautiful city, currently known as the windsurfing capital of the world. I bought a three-bedroom, two-bath house on the beach here, as well as a piece of land. My goal was to build either a spiritual sanctuary on the land or a brewery (yes, two very different approaches, but all surfers love beer!). Unfortunately, my ex-husband currently lives in this house, as he is from Brazil and left America after we divorced.

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I have two children. Aliah, 31, and Jess, 28. Aliah is married to Jessica, and together they raise my granddaughter, Alivia, who is almost 16. My son, Jess, is not married and works as a fly fishing guide in the summer and at a tire shop in the winter. All have the same love of the outdoors as I do. They can often be found camping in the dead of South Dakota winter in the snow and freezing cold. That is a bit extreme for this warm-blooded gal! Fun Fact: I am an ordained minister in Hawaii and married Aliah and Jessica one week prior to the COVID-19 lockdown on Po'olenalena Beach in Maui. All guests were blessed to have gotten to see the island before it closed for months.

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Top: American Samoa Bottom: Savai'i, Samoa

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Another favorite trip was exploring American Samoa and Samoa. My friend and I are on a continuous adventure to see all 63 National Parks. One is located in American Samoa, which led us on this fun vacation. Fun Fact: StarKist Tuna Factory is located on the tiny island of American Samoa (you can smell it for miles). We flew a tiny commuter plane from American Samoa to Samoa and stayed on both larger islands of Samoa, which are Savai'i and Upolu. Our initial trip the year prior had been cancelled due to a measles outbreak and mandatory quarantine. They allowed us to maintain flight credits and hotel credits for one year. Rescheduling the trip was well worth it.

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My dream would be to incorporate Eastern medicine and Western medicine into a Functional Medicine Practice. I am certified in energy modalities similar to Reiki, which include LaHoChi, IET, and Harmonyum. I perform sound therapy and see clients for energy healing. I am a licensed Mindfulness Coach and last year became a certified/licensed Functional Medicine Nutritional Counselor through Functional Nutrition Alliance, which is endorsed by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). I plan on becoming Board Certified in this after graduation in December. It was a lot doing both programs at once, but FNP Boards take precedence!