Why am I going?

My goals are many, first I want to get out of the US for a while. I'm frustrated with the state of our country right now, so I'm hoping that by leaving I'll get some perspective on things. Either I'll realize that the US really is as annoying as I think it is and decide never to return, or I'll see that every place is annoying in its own right and maybe one place is just as OK as another, third option (being far rarer in probability) is that I'll realize that its not so bad here and I miss the US and wish to come back. Any which way the chips fall it will be a change of pace from the past 19 years of school.
Second I want to see the rest of the world. Its a big world, so I'll start in Europe.
Third I want to spend time with my sister. She's a cool person and one of the smartest people I know, but I never really got time to get to know her (I mean after we stopped fighting like sisters often do). If I end up being somewhere near enough, I may try to meet her for lunch.
Fourth I want time to figure out where I'm going next. I think I may be interested in grad school, and I have a general idea of the direction I want to take but I'm just not certain enough to begin applying yet.
I'm sure there are motivations even I'm not aware of yet, but these are the ones I've discovered while examining my own process.

MANIFESTO!

These are some of my truths as I understand them today. You should feel free to challenge any one of my words and I will feel free to say all of them.

"Speak what you think today in hard words
and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again,
though it contradict every thing you said today."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson


These are, for the most part, opinions I wouldn't share while asking for employment. That being said they are opinions that shape how and where I look for employers.

Work.

My passion, at the root of all passions, is organizing. I love devising predictable systems out of chaos. I can't help but smile in the office supply store, surrounded by filing cabinets and bins of all sizes for all different uses.

Creativity.

People who claim they're not creative just have a bum definition. Creativity is human nature.

Boundaries.

Boundaries in time and attention are important to my work/life balance. It is critical to stop answering emails at some point during the day, to turn off the cell phone and enjoy my own life. Occasionally I just have to stop answering to other people’s demands on my time.

Capitalism.

Capitalism is a system that works for a few, but the many work for the system. I think that if the majority of the people of the world are suffering then the system isn’t working. The valuation of humans based in a system that requires inequality is bound to leave everyone unhappy in one form or another.

Social justice.

I thoroughly believe that every person has the chance to change the life of at least one person. Seems simple enough to me. If I don't consciously affect the world around me, then I'll do it accidentally.

"I know there is strength in the differences between us
and I know there is comfort where we overlap."
~Ani DiFranco

New Family

I was contacted this morning by a family in Luxembourg looking to take in a new au pair in July. It sounds like an ideal situation for me; the mother is a lawyer and has twin girls aged 5. I will reply to her today and hopefully start interviewing with her soon.

My Beliefs

To my prospective host family,

I plan to live with your family for about a year, so I have outlined a few of my beliefs about what I expect our time together should look like.

We should all have fun.

I think childhood should be full of joy. Sure there are bound to be some bumps in everyone’s lifetime, but it is our responsibility as adults to make sure that children enjoy the curiosity and energy of life.

Education is paramount.

Every moment is an opportunity to learn something new and I think that each one of those moments is critical to use to your child’s best advantage.

We will show respect.

Children deserve my utmost respect, they are reasonable beings, and I disagree with physical punishment. Punishment, as a first resort, only teaches children to avoid punishment. I believe that talking to a child about what went wrong and why it was wrong is a far more effective way of communicating morals and ethics. As such, I do not agree with using corporal punishment under any circumstances or using any other type of punishment (like “time out”) without first providing the child with an explanation they can understand.

My role in your family.

I am here as a cultural representative, I am aware that everything I do makes an impression on you and your children at all times. I will be respectful of your home, your family and your beliefs.

Your role as my family.

You are also representatives for your culture, so I hope that you will be patient with me as I adjust to a new situation and offer me help as I explore a different environment and culture.

Ultimate goals of our year together.

We can all gain from this if we are mutually responsible to one another’s experience. I will treat you as I would my own family if I were living with them. I will offer to help around the house and spend time playing with your kids, also I hope you will offer to show me new places/things and treat me like you would your own niece.

In your own words

"Things we take for granted: 'In your own words.' Do you have your own words? Personally, I'm using the ones that everyone else has been using. Next time they tell you to say something in your own words, say, 'Nigflot blorny quando floooon!'"
~George Carlin