where will life go?

I feel I have made full circle now. I am writing to you all from a St. Louis Bread Co. (Panera) in Collinsville. A little over a year ago I was working for Panera to fund my trip to Peru and now I have returned, not to work but to borrow their internet to find work. And what a grueling task it is. How can you take experiences and knowledge gained from travel and apply it to measurable and employable skills? How can you transition from having your own work schedule and being your own boss while traveling to succumbing to the social norms and expectations of a professional world? Let me tell ya, it's hard. I am basically experiencing the same emotions I was a year ago knowing that my year of volunteering was coming to a close. I suppose life is just a series of changes and the willingness to adapt and accept the change is just one challenge life offers.

Now I know the last time I was in this situation people thought I was dreaming a bit. Some of the things they said was "How are you going to afford going to Peru? Shouldn't you start thinking about grad school or a job?" But here we are a year later and I have been to Peru and am now full of new world views and ideals. Really all I did was allow myself to go with the flow and now is no different.

One thing Peru has taught me is that I really enjoy travel, being in strange surroundings, meeting interesting people, and sharing the experience with others(writing/blogging). It has opened my eyes to new global topics and made certain opinions swell up inside of me. It has lead me to challenge the views of American ideals. So right now I think the clear path forward is to keep traveling. I return to the States (a country full of opinion) confused about how we choose to live life, wondering why, since day one, people have been criticizing our leader. I find myself asking the question "Who are Americans?" What are the fundamental believes that fuel our existence as a nation? Why is our educational system declining? Is it really declining? Why is it that 100 years ago, The U.S. of A was patenting things left and right, but now most new breakthroughs come from outside of our borders? I think the only way to find the answers to these questions is to meet some strangers spanning our massive country and search for some answers.

If you are thinking that one idea I have for life would be to go on a road trip to all 50 states to see what this country is like, you are crazy, but correct. If I was to go with the flow, I think I would start a domestic adventure to learn about the country I live in, visit every state, see what binds us and what separates us. Blog about it and if the stars are perfectly aligned make a book. Right now I will call this Plan A. I just have not removed my travel bug, and I think this adventure would put it to rest, for a bit anyway, and answer some questions (and create new ones I'm sure).

Some slightly more traditional ideas are grad school for art administration, which would help me start my own business sometime in the future (which is already formed in my head) Find a salaried job somewhere in the US dealing with art, youth and/or community (this idea is why I am currently sitting in a Panera). Apply to artist residencies. I think that covers most ideas at this point, if anyone wants to throw some more ideas into the mix, let me hear them, I am pretty open. And if you know of a way to make Plan A a reality, I am all ears.

Well back to writing cover letters. Argh.

P.S. For those interested here is one job I am applying too, bikesfortheworld.org to give an idea of what I am looking for.