One year Later...

So we are fast forwarding one year to today, September 13, 2013, to the next new thing. As you can guess the Peace Corps did not work out. It was a long dragged out process that was painful and overall changed the way I think about the organization. However the experience changed my life and has led me to where I am now. But before we get to today let me catch you up on the last year.

            After I was medically separated from the Peace Corps last summer I was unsure of I what to do next. I didn’t know what type of job to apply for, what city to live in, and how to move on. So in order to delay time for a little longer I took a job with Dragonfly Limited, an outdoor recreation company that works with international schools in Hong Kong.  I had the opportunity to work in Yangshoa China,  a small town known for it’s limestone mountains which climbers come from around the world to experience.

Overall it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that allowed me to meet people from a variety of countries who are living very alternative lifestyles. It was a wonderful way to learn that there is no “right” way to live as long as you are happy. I utilized the time to think about what would make me happy and what I would do when I got home. Overall I came to the conclusion that I needed to find closure with the Peace Corps and then look for another way to go abroad to work in international development.

            I was able to find closure by returning to Grenada when my contract with Dragonfly was complete. Returning to Grenada allowed me to say goodbye to my host family, my fellow volunteers, and the man I had fallen for.  It also allowed me to see that it was no longer the right place for me, and it was time to move on.

            When I returned from Grenada I got a job with Masa Israel Journey which allowed me to explore my options in the Jewish professional world. More importantly, it also allowed me to move out of my house.  I found a room in Astoria, Queens living in an apartment with two very nice Philipino Boys.  The fact that they are Filipino is irrelevant except for the fact that my apartment had not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 rice cookers! It is important to mention that they were not all the same! They ranged from small to big which allowed you to make anywhere from 1-10 servings of rice. While the apartment was small, dirty, and smelled a little funny it was something I could call my own.

The goal I had set for myself was to be abroad by summer. This gave me 6 months to find what I was looking for.  While working at a Masa I had the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people who were very enthusiastic in helping me find a new abroad experience. I learned that if you talk about something enough eventually you will talk to the right person who will point you in the right direction.  This became true for me when a colleague at work began e-mail me different abroad opportunities.  While all of them were very interesting none of them felt right until she sent me a link to Tevel Btzedek. http://www.tevelbtzedek.org/.

Tevel was exactly what I had been looking for. It was a small organization that was looking for devoted, motivated people to do development in Nepal.  I felt that they had a wonderful philosophy and would be investing as much into me as I would be into them, something I did not feel while working for the Peace Corps. I therefore began the application process, which led to an interview, which led to a second interview, which finally led to me being accepted!  And this is how I got here  today, aka in a small room at my friends house on Kibbutz Neot Mordechai in the Northern Region of Israel.

I have come to Israel where I will be completing my first month of training, which will be followed by a second month of training in Katmandu, Nepal. After training I will be moving to a small village 7 hours south of the capital where I will spend the next 9 months. During this year I hope to increase my knowledge about third world development, learn about a new and interesting culture, and continue to grow and get to know myself in way no other experience can allow for.  To all my friends and family who have been there for me this past year, you all know there have been a lot of highs and lows. I could not have gotten through it with out you and I hope you all enjoy going on this journey with me.