Jobs....

I'm now searching for jobs online and considering what to do after working in Martinique.  I'm even thinking of returning to South Korea to teach English but in high school!  Can you believe it, after what I went through with my co-teacher, Won Mi?  No way!

But, I have a better attitude towards life now and I've matured a lot since 2010 to 2011.  I think I would work much more effectively in South Korea if I'm hired a second time.

I still want to go to Haiti and to Honduras.  Both places still interest me.  I wonder if I made a mistake in not applying for the Louverture Cleary School?  Well, at least I still care to do something.

I learned today at the Kingdom Hall of Le Marin that JWs believe in giving as much as they can afford to their church.  They don't worry about given a precise percentage such as 10 percent.  I wasn't sure about that.  I thought that the 10 percent was important to give.  Jean-Roger said that it was necessary, but no more since the New Testament.  I'll have to think about it.  I intend to give money to Haiti, but I keep on hesitating, simply because I don't know what I shall do for work in the near future, thus I want to hold on to more money than usual.

I guess I'll figure it out later.  I passed the e portfolio course, thus I'm super ecstatic!   I also learned that an organization in association with AmeriCorps has a volunteer program in Haiti that starts in January.  I may apply for that.  Who knows?  I really don't know how to progress with my life except that I need to work to pay off my student loans and to have money for myself.  Traveling abroad by teaching English may still be my best opportunity.  I'll try to be patient, but that's difficult for me.

But I must make sure to take care of myself, keep my apartment in good shape too.

Until next time, maybe I'll figure out what to do later.

Last Month in Martinique

I have another four weeks in Martinique.  I think that I spent my time well here.  It's getting much hotter now.  It already feels like July in New York City or June in Georgia.

I was concerned about not going out much with the other assistants, but I'm glad that I focused on my studies.  I really needed to.  I always thought that eventually I would want to do the things that most people seemed to do for fun, but I see that I really like enjoy simplicity.  I like to watch movies, eat, use the Internet, experience nature, visit interesting places, go to museums and get to know people that I like.  That's all that I need really and that makes me happy.

Mom fell while in the shower and Andy helped her to get to the hospital.  I think that she must be OK now.  I wonder if I shouldn't stay home for a year and see how I feel about life.  I'm not sure of what to do now.  I applied to some jobs and volunteer positions.  I hope to be hired for something soon.

I'm learning about the Jehovah Witnesses through the Cassars, Jean Roger and Jacqueline.  I was wary of JWs and I still am, but they're quite kind.  Their teaching of the Bible is true... but I have my reservations.  I'll just listen to the Holy Ghost.

I'm looking forward to going home.  I think that the other assistants had a great time in Martinique.  I don't know if I will travel again.  Who knows?

Georgia, Georgia, Honduras, Haiti, Africa, Peace Corps, Asia, Australia...

The list on keeps on growing.  I'm applying now to teach English in the Republic of Georgia.  I hope to get the interview.  I just learned about uhelp, an organization that helps young Haitians to educate themselves and advance professionally.  I need to learn more about them.

My future seem internationally bound.  I hope that I can make all these travel desires come true.  I just gotta earn this Masters degree to set myself up for success.

I feel like I have no social life once again as I felt while living in South Korea, but I have my eyes on my goal and I can't give it up.  Martinique is GREAT, but there's so much more that I'd like to do.  I can always return to Flower Island.

Well, back to work, I'm looking for articles for my competencies.  I hope to find all that I need today and then tomorrow I can keep on writing.

I hope that Dr. Friday passes my competency B.  I submitted it yesterday.

Cheers,
Aaron

That same old problem...

Hey, blog,

I have that same old... concern again.  Maybe I should face this once and for all?  Is it so or just confusion?

Maybe I should remain celibate for the rest of my life?  I don't know.

I'm also trying to figure out what to do after Martinique.  I'm back at the same conclusion that I should apply for Haiti or Georgia.  I was looking at jobs on USAJobs.gov, but none of them really interested me.

I'm not ready for permanent work yet.  There are some student opportunities that only last a year.  I could commit to one of those.  But I feel that younger people would be better for those positions.

I think I'm just having one of those moments where I sort of want to burst from having too many emotions.

It would be nice to talk to Ava, but I think she's sleeping now in Korea.

Alizé likes 2NE1, a K-Pop band.  She wrote about it today in class for an activity on writing a journal entry. She's one of the most uniquely beautiful girls.  She's very uncommon.  I think her life will be very interesting.

Until next time, journal,
Aaron

Down to 10 weeks...

I'm down to ten weeks in Martinique and I'm thinking about returning to the U.S., working on my e portfolio and Spanish course and trying to envision what to do after teaching in Martinique.

I've made a great friend in Hortense.  She's been great about driving me about and helping to learn about Martinique.  She's teased me about not going to the beach to bathe, but I'm not a beach-person.

I think that I learned a lot about the French Caribbean while living in Martinique.  I'm glad that I came here.  I had moments when I wanted to be in France and visit other countries in Europe and in North Africa.  But I think that the Caribbean served me culturally.  Also it has been great to be amongst so many black, Caribbean/Latin American people.  I really like being here.

I wonder how I will feel when I return to the United States?  I wonder if I will feel different for the rest of my life after the experience of living in Martinique?

I wish that I had gotten to know Tifanie better, but I suppose that all things happen for a reason.

It turned out that I could have lived in the residential tower at Lycée Professionnel Raymond Néris, but I just didn't know about it.  I will try to inform the next assistant as soon as I know who they are.

Well, I bought my return ticket with JetBlue.  I arrived safely with them.  The only problem was that the sound wasn't loud enough from the movies that they play.  Otherwise the trip was good from NYC to Vieux Fort.

I'm looking up Couchsurfers in Vieux Fort.  I'll see if one can welcome me for a night.

Until next time,
Aaron

Decisions, decisions...

I want to work after living in Martinique, but I don't know if I really want to stay in the U.S.  I saw an interesting job in Montana and one at the LaGuardia Community College in Queens.  But would this be enough I ask myself?

I don't know...

I have a chance to work as a librarian with the School of the Nations in Macau, China.  That could be amazing.  The contract is for three years and I could develop my responsible librarian skills while on the job.  The only thing that is sure is that I need to do my homework by writing my essays for LIBR 289.

I feel so stupid, because I let myself earn an F for LIB 246!  It brought my GPA quite low.  I hope that SPAN 132 will re-balance the grade to a C.

Well, I'm heading home to study and eat.

Wish me well.

Softer Men Not Appreciated?

Hi, blog, it's been a while since my last entry.  Christmas holiday was OK, but a bit dry.  I didn't do much.  I wish that I had made plans, but it didn't happen.

It is now January and it's still warm to hot, lol.  I've gotten over that initial phase of being surprised that everyday is hot and beautiful.  Now, I notice little changes in the trees and in animals and in the humor of people in regard to the seasons.

At times I'm a bit bored, but I keep myself focused on graduating with my MLIS degree from SJSU!
I just submitted my application for graduation.  I'm happy about the prospect of finishing my degree.

I wish that I were free to travel more and just go out, but life is what it is.  I have an interview by telephone this evening at 9 PM for a librarian position in Macau, China.  I'm crossing my fingers that I get the job or get primary choice.

I think this may be my last occasion at teaching abroad.  I hope to practice being a librarian after Martinique.

I still have some awkwardness to deal with like at church I don't feel comfortable with the sons of the pastor.  I need to be more kind and not worry about how I appear.  My social anxiety is crazy.  Often I need to scream!  I need to... unwind in a way that I cannot most days here in Martinique.  (sigh)

My title for this post is "Softer Men Not Appreciated?" because I got the impression that a middle school boy whom I don't teach was saying something about me being gay.  I didn't understand what he said.  Me being sensitive, I started to feel bad, but I tell myself that if the person does not talk to me directly, then I shouldn't worry about what they say.  I assume that they don't like my soft demeanor.  For me it is natural.  Well, I'll just keep faithful to God concerning love.

I told one girl today, Cassandra not to wear her I LOVE PLAYBOY belt.  I hope that she stops wearing it.  I told her it represents women who dress sexy and sell their bodies.  Let's see what she does.

I must be honest, I'm more interested in my studies than in living in Martinique.  I'm being spoiled again, but it's the truth.  I feel like I've learned enough here and I'm ready to head back to the U.S.  I only have another three months and then I'll be on my way back home.

I have this weird tug of war complex.  Part of me is happy when I go out to do things, then part of me is... bored when I just stay in Marin or if I don't really see or talk to anyone.  Sometimes there's a lack of intellectual stimulation here, but I guess I should put on a smile and just be happy, though that is so against my nature.

Well... I'll try my best to be happy nonetheless.  I may go to Fort de France this Saturday to see a movie and to go to the Schoelcher Library.  I must return those books that I borrowed.

Until next time,
Aaron