Never Settle: Reflections and Aspirations: Thinking About the Future

Another week has flown by, and I don’t know how everything continues to be jammed into 12-hour days! Between the projects at work, after-work activities, and finding time to read and work-out it is a mystery I ever find time to think and write this blog (hence it is happening on a Sunday evening as I wind-down and prepare for the week…and now finally getting revised and published on Tuesday!)

This past week has allowed me further insight into what I want to do next year, and in the years that follow. I went out with one of my coworkers this past Friday, and aside from the great food and conversation, it was great to talk to someone else about work outside of the office. It was the first time I was able to share my opinions and perspectives on work with someone who understands what I am talking about. While it is nice to come home and share my successes and challenges with my housemates each day, it is much more cathartic to do it with someone who really gets what you are referring to.

As I wrote last week, the lifestyle of Europe, and specifically France, continue to pull at me. I know it is easy to see my time abroad through rose-colored glasses, and remember only the positive experiences while overlooking the harder moments. But I assure you I remember the struggles of cultural adaptation, crying to my mother over Skype while feeling too “American,” and the challenges of just walking outside the apartment building each day. I know that when I move back to France I will face similar issues, and new ones since I am now at a different place in my life. Will it be easier to adapt? In a sense. But in another sense it will be harder because of my previous experience living abroad and my natural want to tie the two French experiences together. I will have to remind myself that the new region I live in has a different culture, that the French people around me "now" are different from those I met before, and most importantly that I am playing a different role in French society. It can be much more dangerous to live abroad again because of this tendency to think the second time will be easier/similar to the first.

I also recognize that there is no cure-all answer to my current questions and wants. A new job will not solve all of the issues, nor will a new location, nor even a new culture. But I am open to change as I continue to search for a lifestyle that fits me. And that is all I can ask for as I continue to grow-up and learn more about myself and my role(s) in the world.

For right now, I will continue to weave my way into the Chicago French community. I met a French woman last week at another YNPN event (this one at a local nonprofit bookstore) whom I hope to connect with and practice my language skills. I will also be volunteering at the French American Chamber of Commerce’s annual event “Passport to France.” I will get to hobnob with 900 French people who live in Chicago, and enjoy the swanky venue, all for free since I am volunteering. The perks of knowing an insider!

Other exciting news: I had two very successful meetings at the end of last week. (And now a few more early this week!) I had my first meeting with a Program Coordinator to pitch my new Volunteer Program and explain how it will affect her specific program at LCN. It went amazingly! She not only loved the new ideas, but feels that her program will be much stronger with the new volunteer methods. I am so proud :) I hope the upcoming meetings are just as positive, and I continue to get great constructive feedback!

I also met with my supervisor last week to review my website and eNewsletter designs for our volunteers. I am changing the lay-out of our Volunteer section of the website, which could use more details and transparency. She loved it-and I am so excited for it to get a face-lift. I will post it here once that happens! She also was so excited about the Volunteer eNewsletter that she wants to send it out ASAP. Can’t wait to put-out the first issue.

Other things that have been happening:

I am determined to get more fit with my new Y membership. Yes, sleeping feels very nice at 6:15 in the morning, but I have noticed that if I work-out before the workday begins, my energy and productivity go much further. Yay for early-morning strength training and cardio!

I finally got brunch at Lula’s Café Sunday morning, a hopping spot in downtown Logan Square. The polenta/poached egg/roasted veggie bowl was PHENOMENAL. Also, Will’s beer-mosa was worth ordering again, along with the carrot ginger soup.

My brunch.

Our ginger carrot soup.

Volunteered at Deborah’s Place in Lincoln Park, a residential facility for homeless women who are mentally challenged or handicapped. I helped make lunch with a few other volunteers, got to meet the women, and had some great conversations. Of course, hanging out in Lincoln Park afterwards and going back to some familiar haunts with my housemate was an added bonus!

News Flash: ALDI is the best grocery store ever. That is all.

And, some other things that have happened in the past week: