So those of you who know me, know that I cannot make a decision to save my life. To go out or stay in? what to order at a restaurant? what to wear? All seemingly simple choices in day-to-day life, and usually they all cause me great grief. What if I order something I don't like and I'm stuck with it? What if I go out and end up spending tons of money? Yes, I can admit that most of my decision-making dilemmas are pretty silly. Maybe its the perfectionist in me that just wants to chart the best possible course. However, for the people that have not experienced my indecisiveness, you must understand that I'm completely doomed when it comes to actually making a decision that matters. If I can't decide what to order, then how can I possibly decide what to do with my life? what path to take? The truth is, it has taken me 7 months to figure it out.
Well, in usual Lauren fashion, I have finally made a decision at the very last possible second. However, I am pretty excited about it. In a little over two weeks, January 4th to be exact, I will be moving. After much deliberation, I am extremely excited to officially be able to say that I am moving to Colombia. the country. Yes, I am completely sure. :) And I am soooo excited.
I will do a month of training in Bogota, Colombia (the capital) with WorldTeach and then I will move to Barranquilla (along the Caribbean coast) to work at Shakira's non-profit, La Fundacion Pies Descalzos, (Barefoot Foundation) in the La Playa section of the city. While there, I will teach English 20 hours a week at La Fundacion Pies Descalzos, the organization's flagship school and the newest of their institutions (opened in 2008), and hopefully volunteer with the non-profit in my free time. Completely ignoring my lack of actual teaching experience and knowledge of Spanish, I am thrilled and cannot wait. I will be living in Barranquilla in an apartment with six other people, three girls and three guys. So I will have a little company on my adventure. Plus there are volunteers at 3 other locations in Colombia, including nearbye Cartegena, so I will have plenty of people to visit. Plus, I would love to have visitors!! The Caribbean coast is well removed from the problems in other areas of the country and we have great beaches!! come visit!!
Overall, I think we will really have a chance to make a difference in the lives of these children. Colombia has the most displaced children in South America, second only to the Sudan in the world. I have an amazing opportunity to help. Please watch the video below. It's in spanish, but the pictures really tell the story. I knew after watching it that this is where I am meant to be. I couldn't be happier and more excited.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end....
7 months.
That is how long it has been since I graduated college. So much has happened in those seven months, its hard to know where to begin. Everyone imagines what life will be like after graduating and I can honestly say that these have been some of the hardest and most challenging months of my life. Nothing like what I imagined but amazing all the same.
In that time:
- I graduated,
- I was a bridesmaid for the first time in a friend's wedding (I have married friends now!!)
- I moved back home (equally scary)
- I took on two jobs (working over 50 hours a week at one point)
- I went to my first college homecoming as an actual alum, never imagining it would feel so weird to be back at a place I called home for four years of my life
- I took the third part of the Foreign Service Exam (an all day oral simulation)
- I turned 23, making me feel so old.
- I had to work harder than ever to keep up my relationships with friends, visiting apartments and homes in DC, NYC, Williamsburg, etc. and trying to keep in touch with friends abroad (like silly Ryan who had to leave for China)
- I watched my sister graduate high school and leave for her first year of college
- I had dinner at the Operation Smile founder's own home
- I tried to figure out what I want to do with my life
- and I had numerous adventures with friends and family moving into apartments, exploring the city, and adjusting to being real adults.
Life is certainly nothing like what I imagined. But i have learned so much in these last seven months. I learned that I am ready to be on my own. I learned that no one else knows what is best for me, my career, and my life except me. I learned that a piece of my heart will always pull me abroad, no matter how hard I try to talk it out of it. I learned that i have to trust in my belief in God, my passion for helping people, and my love of adventure to lead me in the direction of my dreams, despite any feelings that I don't have what it takes. I also learned that I can't do everything all at once. All you can do is the best you can do. And that is exactly what I am going to do. Follow my dreams, and not look back.
That is how long it has been since I graduated college. So much has happened in those seven months, its hard to know where to begin. Everyone imagines what life will be like after graduating and I can honestly say that these have been some of the hardest and most challenging months of my life. Nothing like what I imagined but amazing all the same.
In that time:
- I graduated,
- I was a bridesmaid for the first time in a friend's wedding (I have married friends now!!)
- I moved back home (equally scary)
- I took on two jobs (working over 50 hours a week at one point)
- I went to my first college homecoming as an actual alum, never imagining it would feel so weird to be back at a place I called home for four years of my life
- I took the third part of the Foreign Service Exam (an all day oral simulation)
- I turned 23, making me feel so old.
- I had to work harder than ever to keep up my relationships with friends, visiting apartments and homes in DC, NYC, Williamsburg, etc. and trying to keep in touch with friends abroad (like silly Ryan who had to leave for China)
- I watched my sister graduate high school and leave for her first year of college
- I had dinner at the Operation Smile founder's own home
- I tried to figure out what I want to do with my life
- and I had numerous adventures with friends and family moving into apartments, exploring the city, and adjusting to being real adults.
Life is certainly nothing like what I imagined. But i have learned so much in these last seven months. I learned that I am ready to be on my own. I learned that no one else knows what is best for me, my career, and my life except me. I learned that a piece of my heart will always pull me abroad, no matter how hard I try to talk it out of it. I learned that i have to trust in my belief in God, my passion for helping people, and my love of adventure to lead me in the direction of my dreams, despite any feelings that I don't have what it takes. I also learned that I can't do everything all at once. All you can do is the best you can do. And that is exactly what I am going to do. Follow my dreams, and not look back.
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