A Note to My Former Self Regarding the Elusive Dream Job

I’m back! I haven’t written in this blog for many years. I originally started this as a way to update family and friends about my post-college travels, and then later again about my experiences the year I lived in Guatemala. That was over five years ago now.

After college, people would ask what I wanted to do – what was my dream job? I would say, anything where I can get paid to travel. And for the past five years, I have indeed had such a job. I traveled all over the United States, working with middle and high schools to bring their students on educational programs in Washington, DC. I loved my work, but it was missing one qualifier to my original statement – what I REALLY meant when I said travel was travel internationally. I still felt like I was falling short of the dream.

So this year, things are changing. I am starting a new chapter in my career, with a new company where I will lead high schoolers on educational trips around the world. I get to combine my wanderlust and my passion for working with young people, hopefully sparking in them the same fascination with global issues and cultures that I remember experiencing when I was in my teens. In addition, I am working toward a Master’s Degree in International Education, and in August I am marrying a partner who shares my penchant for travel. All of these elements combined, this year is going to take me (literally and figuratively) to new corners of the world. And since I am notoriously bad at sharing photos and updates with those of you back home, I thought reviving this blog might help me stay connected.

Before I dive into my new adventures, though, I want to start with a recap of the places my work has already taken me in my own country. Some highlights:

1. Massachusetts in the fall. In my previous job, I went to Boston probably six or seven times a year, but no time was better than October. The autumn leaves were spectacular – I’d often catch myself veering off the road as I gaped at them, and in between meetings I would find parks or trails to stop and meander in the rainbow colored woods. The suburban towns of Boston are also quintessential main street USA – every street seems to be lined with white picket fences and American flags straight out of any idealistic patriotic campaign ad, and every little town has a square with a statue honoring some hero of the American Revolution. In addition to “leaf peeping,” some favorite experiences in Mass have been hanging out near Fenway Park on opening day, watching the sunrise over the beach at Plymouth Rock (although the rock itself is completely underwhelming), perusing witchcraft shops in Salem, and exploring the Boston Common and the Back Bay, my top two areas downtown, on both sunny days and snowy ones. 

This puppy and I had the same reaction to Plymouth Rock - "That's it?"

2. Road trips in the Southeast. Unlike Boston where our business was saturated, in the South I worked with just a handful of schools scattered across several states and towns. So I would often fly to one city (Charleston or Charlotte, or Nashville) and drive to the others (Columbia, Savannah, Chattanooga, a few times Huntsville, and others). It was usually a great chance to enjoy warmer weather, extra-friendly people, and different pieces of U.S. history. Some of my favorite memories there were visiting family in South Carolina, country music singalongs in Tennessee, and the Civil Rights Trail in Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park.

Live music in Nashville

3. California coast. It goes without saying that Cali is a beautiful and fun place to visit. Through several trips, I trekked around San Francisco and the Bay area, and once down to L.A. I got to watch surfers in the sunset on the beach in Encinitas, walk amongst the redwoods in Muir Woods, and taste tons of LEGIT burritos and tacos up and down the coast. And I saw some buddies and soaked up the sunshine along the way. West coast vibes are always easygoing – my style.

4. Some honorable mentions. These didn’t make my list of peak highlights but they were still memorable destinations: New York, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Antonio, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. I got to visit old friends in several of these cities, try delicious food, and take in the sites and sounds of notable places like the Alamo and River Walk, the Rocky Steps, Lincoln Park, and the NYC skyline view from Brooklyn. I loved every chance I got to walk around and get a feel for each place. 

I could go on and on about the plethora of cool little nooks and nature-seeking detours I’ve found in my U.S. travels. In the day-to-day grind, I didn't always take note of how lucky I was to get to see so much of this country, but looking back on it, I have been incredibly fortunate. I may not have had THE dream job I envisioned, but I had A dream job that sent me places I might otherwise never see.

Right now I am on my way home from Greece - my first trip with my NEW dream job - and that will be my next story to tell. I am looking forward to another year of expanding my knowledge of the world, from my own backyard to the other side of the globe. Thank you to all who have cheered me on and built me up along the way, and I can’t wait to share more soon.

View of Mount Rainier flying home into Seattle - Life is pretty cool sometimes.