Sunday, November 29, 2009

How Did I End Up Here??

I have asked myself that exact question COUNTLESS times over the past 6 months. Where is here you ask? Here is Houston, Texas, living with my parents, working 3 part time jobs. It has been the most unexpected, weird, humbling, scary, exciting, boring, 6 months. I knew that it would be a unique time thats for sure, but NEVER imagined it would be like this. I didn't expect to be leaving a boyfriend behind, I didn't expect to struggle so much with my identity outside of being a teacher when I didn't have a class of my own to invest in, I didn't think I would love being with my parents as much as I have, and the list continues. The part I love? He knew. He knew all along. God is funny like that, I love Him all the more for it. It all started about this time, last year when the wheels started turning dreaming about where I would like to "end up". This dreaming led to the realization that most jobs that I would eventually like to have require a masters degree. I had always been open to the idea of grad school, if I found a program that I just couldn't pass up. I don't even remember how I found it, I wish I did, it would help when trying to convince people that I am not crazy, irresponsible, flaky or all of the above for picking up my life and moving across the world (literally) to Sydney, Australia. Anyway, one thing led to another, I was accepted and the rest is history. I will be getting my masters degree in the social development of refugees and forced migration from the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia. It sounds weird, lots of words, but if you know me & my heart it makes sense. I will learning how to design and implement non profit programs for refugees/immigrants, programs that will assist in their adjustment to their new country of resettlement. So here I am, ready or not, to start life in a new hemisphere in a few weeks. I really do hope that I am able to write often, and use this as a way to update people on life and what life looks like for me in Sydney. It isn't the fanciest blog in the world but I do promise lots of pictures :) I leave January 16th. The next few weeks will involve lots of quality time with people I love, some really strategic packing, and some not so fun goodbyes.