Life Update...

...I'm still alive.

Sorry for the insane amount of time that has passed since I last posted anything. I know you are all so terribly concerned with what is happening in my life. Haha :)

But really, things are going well. These past few weeks I have done a ton of soul-searching, and I'm becoming a little more confident in the direction my life is headed.

For those of you that don't know, I am currently working a seasonal position at the zoo, and I love it. It is a hella-fun job, and for right now it's perfect for me. I get up each morning and go to a job that I can say I truly enjoy. I know quite a few people that can't say that. BUT, like I said before, it is only a seasonal position. It's not going to last forever...

That brings me to the full-time job search. I'll be honest and say that I've been applying. I've interviewed, and I've sucked. Yeah, my last interview I had didn't go so hot, but I can use that as a learning experience. The next one will be better.

But that rough interview set me back a few steps for a week or two. I kind of felt like a failure. In the grand scheme of things one bad interview doesn't really mean much. And I know that now, but this one allowed for me to figure out something super important that I have struggled with for a long time.

I have never been one to take the conventional route with anything that I do. That's been true all of my life, especially when it comes to transitional periods. After high school I studied abroad for a year. After college (I believe it's important to note that I did, in fact, graduate in four years) I volunteered in Malawi for five months. And now I am home, working at the zoo, and looking for the next step to take in life. And I have no clue what I will do or where I am headed.

But here's the kicker:

I finally understand that it's okay for me to do my own thing. 

Life is about paving your own way, and I've been lucky enough to have the support of family and friends as I try to find the right path. (I should also add a shout out to my mother who has supported me both mentally and financially through all of this).

The real point of this post is: I like where I'm at, I'm okay with not knowing my next step, and I'm hopeful for the future.

Thanks for reading!

Sad/Happy/Life/Love

Okay. First off, let me apologize for taking so long to write another post. I'd like to say that I've been busy, but just the opposite. I haven't been doing too much...

...But I have been applying for jobs, and I even got an interview! It's for a really part-time (two days a week) position, but it has potential if I can find another job to go along with it. So that is awesome. It's a cool feeling to get together a stellar looking resume (thanks to Miss Jenny) and get it out to potential employers.

So yes, the job search is going well. Even if I don't get this job, being interviewed will help prepare me for future interviews and maybe even help me get the next job.

But I am really in a funk. Being home is much more difficult than I anticipated. It's hard to explain to people that have never been on a trip like the one I was on, but it's like going from somewhere that you have a purpose, where you can clearly see the good you are doing, to coming home and losing that sense of purpose. Don't get me wrong, I know this is only a temporary state, but it's not easy right now. It's almost like survivor's guilt or something. It's hard to go from a place where everyone has so little to a place where we all have so much...

But I am confidently looking for my purpose here in the U.S. of A. One job application at a time and one trip to the gym at a time.

Oh yeah, I am starting to feel better physically again. I am getting into the groove of going to workout, and it feels wonderful. I've missed that soreness in my bones from a good workout. Little by little, I'll get to where I want to be.

On a side note, Valentine's Day is this week, and though I could be like most of the cynical singles out there, I am not. I am pretty pumped this Valentine's Day. Why, you ask? Well let me tell you, because there is so much love around me. I'll be road trippin' to NC to go dress shopping with Allison this weekend for her wedding in July. I am pretty pumped for this trip. a.) Because I haven't seen Allison in forever, and b.) who does't love wedding dress shopping?

Weddings are exciting to me. Especially when it's my closest friends that are getting married. Like I said, Alli is getting married this summer to Sam, and then Jenny and Dave are getting married in 2014. I've also got a handful of other friends that are engaged as well. Seeing the love these people share and the happiness it brings them only gives me hope for my own future.

So, celebrate all the love that is around you, not just on Valentine's Day, but every day. It's truly a gift.

Thanks for reading.

-Sarah

Welcome Aboard the Struggle Bus...

Okay. So my week to enjoy my favorite foods and be lazy is up. Well, it was up a few days ago. And I suck.

Seriously. I need some motivation/drive/determination. I know what I want to work towards, but in all my years of trying I don't know how to get there. I've never been good at dieting and keeping to a workout schedule on my own. It doesn't help that it is fuh-reezing outside, and I can't afford a gym membership. 

BUT! That's a pretty lame-@$$ excuse if I ever did hear one. I am trying to ease my way back into running. I bought a Fitbit (as recommended by the lovely Jenny), and I love it. I went for a short run last night. Today I went for a nostalgic walk at the park and got a few miles in. But I know it isn't enough. I'll be honest with you and say that I have been eating terribly. Horribly really.

Some of it has to do with the fact that I am bored already. It's only been a week and a few days, and I am going insane. I look at job postings online everyday, but I can't seem to put my finger on exactly what I want to do. I know this is not the time to be extremely picky, but there's got to be something out there I would enjoy doing...

Sorry to sound like such a bum, but I just want to be honest with you.

Next week's post will be much better than this one, I promise. It's time to kick it up a notch.

Thanks for reading,

-Sarah

I'm Home / New Year. No Fear

It took me more than 24 hours to get home, but I made it. And it sure is nice.

I left Malawi on Sunday and got home Monday. I've had the chance to see some family and friends, which has been great. Mom left up all the Christmas decorations, and there were even presents under the tree for me! It is a good feeling to come home to a house full of love.

The adjustment to home life hasn't been too difficult so far. My stomach is holding up, but my sleeping patterns aren't quite right just yet (I woke up at 3:30 this morning and can't fall back asleep). My car is still in the garage, and my suitcase still isn't completely unpacked. But, I am giving myself a week: One week to be lazy, hang out, do what I want, and eat whatever I want (oh, how I have missed milk and cereal, bacon, and Reese Cups). But only one week...

That's where the "New Year. No Fear" comes into play. I have decided to make 2013 my year. Don't get me wrong, 2012 was hella-awesome, but 2013 has great potential too. I can feel it in my bones. Big things are on the horizon for this kid right here. I am excited for the job/grad school search, and I am super pumped to get in shape. It's not so much about looking good, it's about feeling good again. It's going to take some work, but I am ready for the challenge.

That's where I am at right now. It's good to be home. 

Thanks for reading,

-Sarah

Here's to New Beginnings

I suppose I should give you a little background information on myself. Well, long story short, I am 24 years old. I graduated from college this past May with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in International Relations. I moved to Malawi, Africa in August to volunteer with a Non-Profit, and I am heading home one week from today.

That's where the story begins. Sort of. For the sake of this post, I'll begin at the end of my journey here. Surely I'll talk about my adventures in the Warm Heart of Africa at a later time, but right now I am working on getting home.

For anyone that has done an extended trip abroad in a developing nation, you know how challenging it is to adjust to a new way of life, but the real adjustment comes when you set foot in your home country.  All these things that you have missed can become overwhelming at times. The realization that you do not have a job, any form of income, and absolutely no savings is also kind of intimidating. At least, that is my situation...

BUT. That's not the point of this post - to be a Debbie Downer. One of the more valuable lessons I have learned during my stay abroad is how much I enjoy writing. Not only do I enjoy it, it has become a release for me. I have nearly filled up an entire Moleskine journal writing about my time here. I have also become very fond of writing letters too. So together, with me writing and you reading, I am going adjust back to life in the US, keep you up to date on my job status, and just let you know what's going on in my life.

Thanks for reading.

Until Next Time,
-Sarah