Where I've Been...

Keeping track of people can become a full time job and sometimes the updates are few and far between.  So for those of you who have decided to add me to your radar, here's a little snapshot of what life as I know it has been like in the last little while....

After spending 6 and a half years on the Island finishing my Bachelor of Science in Biology and jumping right into my Bachelor of Education in Elementary I figured it was time to spend some time to get paid to be at school.  On the suggestion of my roomie, a little research, and a push from God I moved to Northern BC....in January (I know God had to have been involved because why else would anyone in their right mind move north in the middle of winter!).

I worked as a TOC (which for those of you who don't keep up with the politically correct teaching acronyms is a "teacher on call" or what some people might refer to as "just a sub") teaching just about every different grade in those first 6 months.  Life as a TOC is kind of like a box of chocolates....you never know what kind of work you're going to get (and sometimes you don't get any at all!).  I try to think of every day as an adventure and some days are definitely wilder than others.

Outside of teaching I got to know the new community and moved into my first solo-apartment.  It took a while to get into the new swing of things, but gradually I started to build some connections finding a great church, meeting amazing new friends, and trying new things like snowshoeing.  I did a little travel for another roomie's wedding and my university convocation and before I knew it the school year was over.  I house-sat my way through my first teaching summer back on the Island teaching day camps and tutoring and had a great time with old friends.

When fall rolled around God led me back up north to live with a girl I'd never met in a house neither of us had ever been in to teach on call again.  I spent the majority of my work time in Elementary schools this time, which I preferred, but a more predictable teaching job didn't seem to be in the cards yet.  I enjoyed getting to know even more people and places in the community watched a gorgeous fall change into a snowy winter with a few little trips to break up the time.

After Christmas I was blessed to be in the same classroom for an entire month, and after a couple more months of on call work and some huge decision-making (more on those later) I found myself teaching grade 2 at the same school for the last 3 months of the school year.  That contract built my confidence so much and I felt really lucky to work in such a supportive environment with such a great staff and student body.

After a hectic move I spent most of my second teaching summer house sitting in the same area, playing on a women's soccer team, preparing for my trip (more on that later), visiting with friends, and (maybe a bit half-heartedly) looking for a summer job.  I'm finishing up my summer visiting with family and trying to tie up all my loose ends.

Another big thing that happened this summer was that I got baptised again (I was a baby the first time) which was a big decision for me and is a reflection of how I'm trying to follow God with all my life....especially as I head into these next 8 months and what I'll write about in my next post...