Have you ever been so excited that your hands literally are shaking and you cannot stop smiling? It feels like the sun is rising in my abdomen and there are chirping birds in my lungs, singing a beautiful melody with every breath I take. I love the feeling of happiness, hope, and inner peace.
I officially registered to become TESOL/TEFL/TESL certified. By the end of August, I will be qualified to teach English as a foreign language and will begin applying for jobs over seas. Those of you who have been a part of my adult life know that I have wanted to do this for the better part of a decade, however, I made the choice to- let's just leave it at "postpone"- my dream for others. Twice. In the last 9 months, I have had an awakening in my soul and started respecting and loving myself more than ever. I have become a better version of myself and I am the happiest I have ever been. Now I can pursue my dream, because I know I deserve it, and I do not need another's validation.
This adventure I am about to embark on marries so many of my favorite things in life: travel, teaching, passion, learning, adventure... The list goes on and on. I have found nothing but support from my family and nearest and dearest friends, and for that I am endlessly thankful. Initially, my intent was to venture out through the JET Programme, however in light of recent events I feel my path is taking me elsewhere. I will always have a serious love affair with Japan, and we will one day be reunited, but for now I will find love in another place. I was also looking very seriously into Dubai, however being a woman (and a sassy one, at that) it would be extremely difficult for me to find a job without a Masters Degree and limited work experience (they also have a hold on all work visas for non-UAE passports). Based on my qualifications and what is out there in this market, I am looking at South America. Brazil and Argentina are the top two contenders for my attention, thus far, and I am taking some serious time to research the countries and their respective lifestyles, pay, cost of living, etc.
This is going to happen very quickly, but it has been a long time coming, so I feel the immediacy of my departure is appropriate. I will begin applying to schools in both countries (as well as Ecuador, Taiwan & Panama) at the beginning of September, and depending on the interview and work visa processes, I could be gone as early as November 2011. Wherever this adventure takes me, I will still be on facebook, Skype, ooVoo, Whatsapp and blogging faithfully. Once I am assigned a school and get settled, I will also develop a work-based blog from an ESL teacher's perspective, but more on that later down the road.
There will be a couch available to anyone who wants to make the trek and visit me wherever I am teaching, and know that I am still adding things to my Bucket List, though achieving this goal will definitely be crossing a few off of it as well! I hope that you all start thinking about whether or not you are grabbing hold of your dreams and desires of the heart. Life is far too short and far too beautiful. I breathe freely knowing that one day, this sunrise in my soul will be one on another continent, and I am free.
“Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free til they find someone just as wild to run with them.”
xx.a
People come into my office every day and it Is sad to say but most do not and have not lived life!
ReplyDeleteI try everyday to do something that will have meaning to me and hopefully others.
It's great to see you have figured out how to love yourself! That truly is the secret to loving life and living life!
I've said it on IG before but will say it again... You are a special person!
...An IG friend