(I don't mind answering...this might even be just for me to have it in writing.) Not everything has to do with Africa, but that's okay. Right? Here we go:
Q: Kaitlin, how's school?
A: Well, since being gone I am basically doing three classes in four weeks. If I don't die in the next four weeks, then I'll graduate (in March) with my associate's degree in business administration. I was going to enroll at UNO after I was done in March to get a degree in Studio Art or Early Childhood Education, however I now realize that I hate school. No really. I loathe it with every fiber of my existence and think it is a waste of my time. Maybe at some point in the future I will feel differently and go back, but not anytime soon.
Q: So, what are you going to do when you graduate?
A: Um...take a nap.
Q: No, really?
A: I have never really been able to pinpoint a "this is what I want to be when I grow up." So, I started a list of possibilities and am going to try for all of them. Apply for everything I've ever wanted to do and see what happens.
Q: What's on the list?
A: -flight attendant (get paid to travel...where do I sign?!)
-nanny (in Omaha or east coast or London)
-work at an art gallery in New York or Chicago
-I want to write. A book. I have ideas...
-I want to paint. I (surprisingly) sold a bunch on ebay when I was fundraising. But then I
ran out of paintings. And time. So I'm wondering what would happen if I actually tried.
ran out of paintings. And time. So I'm wondering what would happen if I actually tried.
-Event planning. Show off my scheduling and scary-super organizational skillz. Waiting for Jenn to graduate...
-I might stick around at the church if I can be doing something else. I still need to ask. Or not ask. I keep going back and forth if I want to work there anymore or not. And even if I do, I'm totally unqualified for what I would like to be doing there. So probably not going to happen unless I get crazy and actually talk to them. Eh...
-And no matter what, I want to go back to Africa. Either live in an orphanage taking care of the babies, or live in a small village with the people, helping them get on their feet -- one village at a time. I'd love to lead a missions trip there doing that...anyone in?
Q: How are you feeling now that you're back from Africa? You seem a little down.
A:
Well, duh. It's a third-world country. What'd you expect?
=) Ha-I'm just playing. But really - I'm getting there. It's hard to come back from something like that and not feel helpless. To come back to a life where I am in contact with people who get a $5 cup of coffee every day of the week and people who tithe more in one week than a lot of the people I met in Africa make in a year - I can't just come back and not feel a little bit bad about it. This is totally hypocritical of me to say, but it strikes a nerve when I see people throwing money around (Do you know how many African kids that would feed?), when I see a child be disrespectful of their parents (There are so many kids in Africa who would do anything just to have parents), when I overhear political conversations (Talking about the candidates and the issues isn't changing anything. And with the two minutes you intend to put into the conversation, you're not going to convince anyone. It just makes you sound like you want to sound smart. Which aggravates the living crap out of me. And that has nothing to do with being in Africa. It just bugs me.)
I saw and heard a lot of stuff that I'm not okay with. But it's kind of comparable to mourning when someone dies. A person needs to take the time to be sad and to be angry and to be NOT okay with what happened. And then once you're past that, you can figure out how to grow, both internally (how it's going to affect me and my everyday life) and externally (what I'm going to do about it). I've been back less than two weeks...I'm guessing about a month and I should be over the whole not sleeping/no appetite thing. Let's not make ourselves sick with worry. (coughMomcough) =) And I'm hoping to debrief with someone very soon, so there ya go.
Well, duh. It's a third-world country. What'd you expect?
=) Ha-I'm just playing. But really - I'm getting there. It's hard to come back from something like that and not feel helpless. To come back to a life where I am in contact with people who get a $5 cup of coffee every day of the week and people who tithe more in one week than a lot of the people I met in Africa make in a year - I can't just come back and not feel a little bit bad about it. This is totally hypocritical of me to say, but it strikes a nerve when I see people throwing money around (Do you know how many African kids that would feed?), when I see a child be disrespectful of their parents (There are so many kids in Africa who would do anything just to have parents), when I overhear political conversations (Talking about the candidates and the issues isn't changing anything. And with the two minutes you intend to put into the conversation, you're not going to convince anyone. It just makes you sound like you want to sound smart. Which aggravates the living crap out of me. And that has nothing to do with being in Africa. It just bugs me.)
I saw and heard a lot of stuff that I'm not okay with. But it's kind of comparable to mourning when someone dies. A person needs to take the time to be sad and to be angry and to be NOT okay with what happened. And then once you're past that, you can figure out how to grow, both internally (how it's going to affect me and my everyday life) and externally (what I'm going to do about it). I've been back less than two weeks...I'm guessing about a month and I should be over the whole not sleeping/no appetite thing. Let's not make ourselves sick with worry. (coughMomcough) =) And I'm hoping to debrief with someone very soon, so there ya go.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them. From the comments that have been posted, you'd think no one reads this. If I didn't like writing so much, and if I didn't know that there are a bunch of people reading this, there would be little motivation to keep posting. Don't feel like you have to comment now...I'm just saying.
I think I'll post another story from the actual trip next time. (Not going to happen daily. 3 whole classes in 4 short weeks. But I will try!!)
Love, Kaitie
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