The Job Search Continues

I obviously haven't blogged nearly as much as I would like recently, and I have no other excuse than making the time to write is not my forte. Having said that, I'll at least give a brief update on what I have been doing for the past (almost) 2 months.

As you know, I returned to Oklahoma at the beginning of October after a total of 6 months in Italy. I have been searching for employment and determining the next career steps I would like to take. One might ask: what have you been doing for 2 months without a job? Well, I assure you it has been a lot more than sitting around eating bon-bons. In fact, the process of finding a job and (possibly even more important) planning your career path is both time-consuming and tedious.

The good news is that although I am not "there" yet, I feel I have come a long way. I have been working through several books that help identify your interests, strengths, ideal positions, etc. and have been able to narrow down significantly what I think my next career move should be. I've applied for several jobs in the Tulsa area and will continue to plug along.

I am still primarily looking at international companies and particularly focusing on marketing/ strategy-planning positions, but if anyone has any job/ company ideas for me, I'd be happy for the advice or a contact!

The Job Search Begins

Whew, I've made it back to the States after a chaotic final few weeks in Naples and the usual 20 hours of travel! In my effort to leave on a positive note, I spent much of my remaining time there "closing out" my life -- saying good-byes, clearing out my things, and trying to transition my teaching jobs into the hands of American and British acquaintances. After my decision to leave, it was somewhat difficult to take the appropriate time and energy to do this sufficiently; however, despite the usual challenges, I feel at peace with my departure.

Less than 24 hours after landing, I had already begun a full-scale attack to find my next job and plan my career future. I am incredibly excited about what the future may hold, and look to my experience in Italy to only bolster my ability to get a job in the international field. In fact, (although I do not feel at liberty to speak too openly about exactly what I want to do because I am still exploring that myself), one thing I am certain of about my future job in that it is in the international arena. My life-long interests, education and experience lead me to believe that this is the proper fit of me. So, I am currently looking at international jobs in the private and non-profit sectors.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Many of the job-search books I have consulted emphasize the importance of networking in the job search process, so I am shamelessly asking anyone and everyone I know for help. If you have any ideas, know anyone, etc. that may help me gain employment with an international company or organization, please let me know! You can do this by emailing or calling me (if you have my contact info) or commenting on this blog (comments go straight to my email account).

Big Announcement on Andrea's Future

In two weeks, I will be completing my second three-month stay in Naples, Italy. After much thought and prayer, I have decided not to return to Italy after my trip back home in October but, instead, to stay in the States and look for employment. Although I am sad to leave my friends (and especially my boyfriend) in Naples, I am certain this is the best decision and am excited to get back the good ol’ U.S.A.

Many who have followed this blog are aware that my time in Naples has been challenging. I am proud of the things I have accomplished here (acclimating into a new and different culture, beginning to learn a new language, making a decent profession for myself) and do not regret my decision to give it a try, but I feel very strongly that God is telling me it is not the place I should be now. Most importantly, although many people (Italians and expats) assure me it is perfectly fine to live and work here illegally, I refuse to do that any longer; however, getting the proper paperwork to stay is a long, cumbersome and confusing process. It requires someone really be committed to making Italy their home, which I am not. I have never completely liked it and career opportunities (especially in Naples) are extremely limited (if you don’t want to settle for teaching English).

I will cherish the time I have spent in Italy, but I look forward to saying arrivederci to Italy and stepping back on American soil!

(The picture above was taking on the island of Capri last week, where Mohamed and I attended a wedding as English-speaking witnesses.)

Short Trip to the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is truly a place of beauty and splendor just 1-2 hours from Naples. People from all over the world flock to this area just east of the Sorrentine Peninsula to catch glimpes of towns clinging to steep cliffs or nestled on the water between lush, green mountains. The town of Maiori hosts a coastline of prestine beaches, colored with beach umbrellas and recreational boats. While towns like Amalfi and Positano seem to attract more foreign tourists, Maiori is a bathing resort for local Italians.

In our last attempt to embrace the spirit of vacation (and before I start back to work full-time Monday), Mohamed and I took a short trip to Maiori last week, where we met up with our friends Bruno and Patty and their children. Bruno and Patty have a boat, which gave us an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the coast from the water and endulge in some beachtime on a secluded, rocky beach close to Amalfi.

I got some great pictures of the trip! You may view them at http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/.

Hot, Hot, Hot

The temperature in Naples has been sizzling lately! At one point last week, the temperature at 9:00p.m. was in the 90s. Although Naples is sunny and beautiful, it is almost unbearable to be outside for any length of time. And you can't just jump into an air-conditioned car and drive to the nearest air-conditioned mall. In fact, it would be presumptuous to assume that a someone has air-conditioning - shops, retaurants, wherever. I feel so fortunate to have a little air-conditioner in the apartment! Unfortunately, I have become terribly lazy, not wanting to go out for any length of time and not having much to do to entertain myself indoors. I am looking forward to the weather cooling off even a few degrees so as to allow me to enjoy the last few days of summer.

Job Stuff

For those of you on the edges of your seats to find out what I'll do next (ha!), I have decided that, at least for this school year, I will continue to teach English as a Foreign Language here in Naples. Beginning in September, I have two teaching positions, one at an international elementary school and another at the private school (for adults) where I worked last spring. At the latter, I will be taking on some office management and advertising responsibilities in addition to teaching some classes. This will give me a 7-hour day with a 3-hour break for lunch in the middle. I may choose to supplement with a few private lessons.

Although I have enjoyed working at the hostel this month, I believe for the long-term that teaching is the better. Not only is teaching more lucrative but it also promises some good experience (especially where I will be doing office management). Plus, a 14-hour night shift at the hostel doesn't necessarily fit with my sleep schedule and, with my boyfriend doing the same shift, I just think it is better for me to work at the hostel on a more irregular basis.

I am still exploring other business opportunities in my spare time and things are looking good to help my boss at the private school with a few weddings (his side business) coming up!

Vacation Month in Italy

Unlike most other countries where people vary their vacation times throughout the year, almost all Italians take their vacations in August. As early as the end of July, I started seeing shops closing up and people heading for the train station or port.

"Vacation month" culminates in the Catholic celebration of Ferragosto (Assumption Day) on August 15th. I have been warned to do my grocery shopping early and just plan to stay at home since Naples will apparently resemble a ghost town on this sacred holiday. Even in the weeks to come, the city will remain at half capacity and many shops and restaurants will simply be boarded up with a sign stating their reopening in September. For an American, who is used to a capitalist society where you find most places open even on our most celebrated holidays, it is a bit of a shock to me.

The fun-loving, free spirit in me admires the Italians for taken their vacations so seriously. I've often lamented that part of source of many Americans' unhappiness and discontent is our inability to take time off, have fun and relax. Well, having seen it firsthand, one thing Italians do like clockwork is take breaks (a long "siesta" lunch every afternoon, not working on the sabbath, and, of course, the vacation month of August.

The more practical, business-minded side of me, however, yearns to explain to these Italian business-owners what income they are losing by closing shop. Especially in the midst of tourist season, it amazes me that so few Italians want to capitalize on it!

Nevertheless, for the next few weeks, I will be one of the few "working" people in Naples and will welcome a slightly quieter and less-crowded Naples.

Harry Potter Mania

I am a huge fan of Harry Potter (the books, the movies, everything). I have been known to even read the same books several times, and my boyfriend know that if I had the chance, I may just leave him for the actor who plays Harry Potter!

In all seriousness, I was concerned that when the seventh and final book of the series was released on July 21st, I may have trouble getting a copy here in Italy. Luckily, the local chain bookstore did pre-ordering and had a stack of books just a few days after their release. So, I have been sitting around for a few hours each day immersed in my beloved fairytale.

Still trying to get onto one of the Navy bases to see the new movie in English!

Church Search

I was very active in my church in Washington, D.C. (National Community Church) and considered myself very blessed to find a church that I felt matched personality and spiritual needs. That is not always easy to find, especially if one is as picky as me in that regard!

Well, a change in location obviously means that the church search recommences. I guiltily admit that, until recently, I have not been diligent in trying to find a new church home. And I am fully aware that this could be part of the reason that I struggled quite a bit in my first few months here. Since there is no reason to linger over past mistakes, I recognize my fault and am moving forward.

There are a handful of English-speaking churches in the Naples area. One is Anglican (Church of England) that I visited in April right before I came back to the U.S. for the summer. It had a ton of great people (English and American) but it just wasn't exactly my style. Now that I am back in Naples again and feeling the need to find a new church home, I tried one of the churches affiliated with the U.S. military (there are two U.S. Navy bases outside the city) today. It was quite difficult to get to (not accesible by public transportation) and, anyway, wasn't exactly a place I'd feel comfortable.

Next week the search will continue. The number of remaining English churches is dwindling, and they are all outside of the city (mainly for military people close to base), but I am hoping that I may be able to find something that feels like home and is not a nightmare to find! Otherwise, I may have to go back to the Anglican church (in town) or rely on podcasts from NCC!

Life at a Hostel

I realize that (although I cannot even count the number of hostels I have stayed in over the years) many of you have never experienced life in a hostel or backpacker's inn. I'll give you a brief introduction and explain a little about my job at one:

There are many different kinds of hostels and each is unique, but they, basically, provide a cheap bed in a dormitory-style room for backpackers and other travellers. The hostel where I work (Hostel of the Sun) is particularly nice, having been ranked Hostelworld's second best hostel in 2006. We provide a kitchen, nice breakfast, free internet, DVDs and international television, plus the staff is very helpful (if I do say so myself!) at helping people plan their stay in the Naples area. It is colorful, lively and fun; we cook pasta once a week for a free meal and take large groups to a famous pizzeria in town. Even if someone is travelling alone, it is easy to meet other travellers and develop instant friendships with people from all over the world! Many hostels, including HOTS, also have relatively inexpensive private rooms for rent.

Since August is the month when almost all of Italy goes on vacation but tourists flood the towns, I am working a lot. I do the night shift, which lasts from 6:30pm to 8:30am (but I get a few hours of sleep between maybe 1am and 6am). I am having a lot of fun with it so far! As I said, you meet people from all over the world and just help them enjoy their time in Naples. I get to explain to them about the city and its top sights and help them organize trips to Capri, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and other tourist destinations around Naples. Luckily, at the moment, I don't have a whole lot I have to do during the day, so I can catch up on sleep a bit at home.

I am not sure how long I will work here, but it is entertaining and helping pay the rent for the moment!

On My Own (For a Few Weeks)

Two somewhat significant events occured for me today. First, my boyfriend left for two and a half weeks at home with his family. This leaves me to fend for myself for awhile. It may not seem like a big deal (especially for someone who lived on her own in DC for 5 years), but for a person living in a foreign country who has a relatively small network of acquaintances, believe me, it is significant. Although I am naturally sad and a bit nervous, I am trying to be optimistic about the next 18 days. I have a list of things I'd like to work on, including continuing to search out job prospects, work on my Italian and a variety of other personal projects.

Thankfully (point number 2), I started work this evening at a hostel in Naples (the one where Mohamed also works). I will be working a lot (especially in Mohamed's absence), so that will keep me busy and occuppied. Also, I'll have good internet access to keep in touch and (hopefully) blog regularly, so stay tuned!

Progress . . . Finally

I've now been back in Naples almost 3 weeks and am finally beginning to feel more comfortable in this crazy, crowded, unpredictable town. As many of you know, I struggled a bit with culture shock when I was here in the spring. Moving to another country is a lot to get used to, especially when you don't speak the language or understand the culture. Not only did the way of life feel very foreign to me, the way Naples operates is much different than the approach I was used to. If you always feel you need to have things organized, have a plan for each day or if you feel out-of-place in such a vocal, in-your-face society, Naples is not necessarily the place you'd feel comfortable living.

Well, the above would describe the Andrea of, say, one year to a tee! Some could argue I was too organized and efficient, forever a slave to my calendar and commitments. One year later, I can proudly say that I've made definite progress towards breaking that mold and learning to survive in a completely new environment. In the past week especially, I finally feel like I have come to feel more "at home" (as much as possible, I suppose!) here in Italy. I am slowly learning to appreciate the Naples and its culture for all it offers, I feel I can better communicate with the people, and I realize I can operate without things perfectly planned out and packaged. Let's face it, Naples is a different world from Washington, D.C. (or even Oklahoma), so I need to learn to deal with it or leave!

Part of this progress is due (finally!) to some career opportunities coming into view. As many of you know, my boyfriend works at a hostel in Naples (where I stayed when I was travelling last fall). I am now the newest staff member! I have been training over the past week and will start work on Sunday. Another very promising turn of events: I did my first tour of Naples today for a group of Americans. It seems that there is a lot of opportunity for private English-speaking tours, especially with all the cruise ships docking at the port. I am looking into how I can try to make this into a business. I think it could provide pretty decent money and it has been fun to learn more about the city and its history! And in the fall, I can always return wholly or partially to teaching English, if I choose.

I know it has been an extremely long time since I have blogged. I can only apologize and move on. So here it goes. . .

I spent a wonderful two months (May and June) back in Oklahoma with my family. We spent the majority of the first month preparing for my sister's wedding in early June. The wedding went off beautifully, and I gladly welcome a new brother-in-law! After the wedding, I spent several more weeks at home, hanging out with my family and planning out the next few months.

I returned to Naples on July 6th, exactly two weeks ago. I am relieved to be back with my boyfriend and am working on job prospects. There is no work as an English teacher in the summer, so I need to get a bit more creative. I will work at the hostel, where my boyfriend also works, at least for the month of August. I am also setting up some private tours for people coming to Naples, for example, on cruises. I have several ideas for businesses here as well that I am exploring. Last but certainly not least, I am desperately trying to improve my Italian. Even after not speaking it for two months, I see some improvement already!

Mission Accomplished! (. . . I Guess)

This will be my last blog from Naples (at least, for a few months). And, of course, in busy-Andrea fashion, within 36 hours of arriving on American soil this coming week, I'll be jetting off to Tucson with my mother for a bridal shower for my sister and, soon after, heading to D.C. to visit friends and take care of some business. Nevertheless, as I say my temporary farewells to Naples and my friends here, I am terribly excited about coming home!

The last few weeks have provided me a more relaxed schedule, which has fortunately given me time to do some very important things: (1) continue to search for work (opportunities for both summer and fall) and begin to try to figure out some of the bureaucracy and paperwork required to live here, (2) relax and focus on getting more acclimated to Naples, and (3) (last but certainly not least) spend time with my boyfriend and continue to nurture other friendships I have made here.

I must admit, even in my last days here, I am still very undecided on my next steps. As I mentioned in my last blog, I have decided that even though the past few months have been difficult, I believe I owe it to myself (and Naples and my boyfriend) to give it another try. Three months just aren't enough to really experience a place and sense whether you are meant to be there or not (unfortunately!). The current question in my mind, however, is when to come back to Naples. The answer lies in how much (and what kind of) work I can find in Naples for the summer (since the possibilities for teaching English will be more sparse) and, for paperwork, if it would be better for me to stay in the U.S. (not to mention financial concerns).

Regardless of the many questions and unknowns, I am trying to remain optimistic that whatever is supposed to happen will happen and that God will provide the right opportunities and signs for me to follow. :) It is not only a lesson in faith, it is also a lesson for me in patience and tranquility.

Culture Shock

I will soon be entering the last week of my 3-month "experiment" in Naples. When I began to consider moving here several months ago, I opted to, rather than commit to the unknown, do a 3-month "look/see" trip to give myself a chance to decide if moving here were really do-able (and desirable). Well, after almost three months, my results are a bit mixed (unfortunately). I am now very attached to the man I came to "get to know better" and less-attached to the city I came to.

I have tried to be optimistic about living here in Naples, but I must admit that the past 3 months have been quite challenging. Not only is it still very difficult for me to communicate, I have had a little bout of culture shock, getting used to the Italian (and Neapolitan) culture and trying to feel comfortable in such a "foreign" environment.

So, it is not with complete sadness (and, in fact, far more eagerness) that I depart from Naples on May 1st to return to the grand ol' U.S.A. Now those of you who may be hoping that means I've completed my "rebellious stage" and will come home and settle down, I am afraid you may be disappointed. Despite not being crazy about Naples and still being quite uncertain about what I actually do want to do, I will most likely give Naples (and Italy) another try this summer. I felt very strongly that I was making the right decision in January to do this, and I believe I need to give it a fair shot. Plus, I cannot help remember my first few months in Germany also being rocky years ago as an exchange student, and then I fell in love with it! I've been fortunate lately to come into contact with many Americans living in the Naples area, and they assure me that I will love it once the initial shock phase has passed (and that leaving forever now would prevent me from experiencing la bella vita I keep hearing about).

Please don't get me wrong, I have had some good times here and seen some wonderful and interesting things (view my pictures at http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com). It has been a stretching experience for me, which I will be positive in the end. But I do look forward to reuniting with my friends and family and enjoying a hamburger and American-style pizza!

Easter on the Islands

Easter is a holiday Italians take very seriously and one in which many take time from school and work to take a vacation. Being in Italy, my boyfriend and I decided last week to do the same with a little vacation of our own!

The Bay of Naples is home to several beautiful islands, which allow one to connect with nature and enjoy the nice weather of a southern Italian spring! On the morning of Good Friday, we took a 45-minute ferry-ride to Ischia, a volcanic, mountainous island in the northern part of the Bay of Naples. Interestingly, Ischia is a popular vacation destination for Germans, so I found myself translating some signs and menus! We stayed in the town of Forio (one the largest on the island with 20,000 inhabitants), but it only being an island of about 46 sq. km, we were able to easily take buses to other parts of the island for daytrips. We visited the medieval Castello Aragonese, a castle built in 474 B.C. on a rock near the island, and even got some beach time near the port in Forio!

Next, we headed to the island of Capri, a vacation spot for many celebrities (and now I understand why!). Capri is just off the sorrentine coast, a little south of Naples. The town of Capri being ridiculously expensive (a tea was 4.50 Euros on the main piazza!), we luckily found a relatively inexpensive and nice hotel outside of the smaller town of Anacapri. We took a chairlift up to Monte Solaro for some amazing views of the entire island and rode a row-boat into the famous blue grotto, a half-way submerged sea cave of an unusual fluorescent turquoise blue. Luckily, Anacapri is a small, peaceful town, relatively unscathed by tourism despite a few shops along the main street. We passed tiny vineyards and children playing soccer in abandoned piazzas as we wound through the narrow streets. We took a bus to the far corner of the island to watch the sunset near the lighthouse (and almost got stranded) and spent an afternoon braving the more crowded town of Capri to see ritzy hotels and spas and restaurants boasting pictures of celebrities with the staff. Most importantly for both of us, it was quiet and relaxing and completely different from Naples.

View the pictures at http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/!

Spring in Napoli

I apologize for not blogging for quite some time, but what can I say, I suppose even la bella vita here in Italy can become busy. I will give an update on how life in Naples has been the past few weeks, and I encourage you to view the photo gallery I've just posted with tons of pics of the city (http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/).

This coming Tuesday marks the last day of my Italian class, and Wednesday I will take the final exam to determine if I receive a certificate. I am relieved to see this come to an end although I must admit it has been invaluable in helping me learn Italian, meet new people and, generally, feel more at home here. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to not spending a large chunk of my afternoons sitting in a classroom and fighting the traffic and crowds of central Napoli.

Praise the Lord! I have recently found an organization of American women who live in Naples and the surrounding area called the American Women's Club. I went with them last Sunday to tour a winery owned by one of the members' husband's family. They took us deep down into the cellar to show us how they process the grapes and store them in large barrels and, of course, gave us a little of each kind to taste with bread and cheese. Afterwards, the group of approximately 20 people went to lunch at a restaurant that serves the wine. I had a great time and can already tell that this is going to be a real blessing for me to have some Americans friends, who have experienced some of the same challenges I am now!

After a few weeks of chilly and rainy weather, it is finally beginning to feel like spring! Yesterday, Mohamed and I enjoyed a sunny afternoon walking around the city and pretending to be tourists, taking pictures around town and strolling around the narrow streets of the historic center. We found some great buys on clothes for him (can't beat shirts for 3 Euros and jeans for 10!) and saw bits of a concert being performed on a square. Today, we took the funicular up to Castel Sant'Elmo up on a hilly part of Naples and enjoyed truly breathtaking views of the city (see the pics on http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/)!

This Wednesday begins a one-week vacation for Easter, when most Italian take off from work and go on a little vacation. I am so excited . . . Mohamed and I have decided to visit some of the nearby islands that are supposed to be truly wonderful. On Friday, we leave for 3 nights on the island of Ischia followed by 2 nights in Capri! Although I suppose I must admit Naples is growing on me, I am always in favor of some time away from the big city.

Travel the World - Teach English

I would like to put in a quick plug for the opportunities that abound for native English speakers! When I said I was going to move to Italy and "capitalize on my mother-tongue," I think some of you thought I was crazy. True, when you are in the U.S.A. surrounded by fluent English speakers, it seems strange to imagine a place where that would be a novelty. But the truth is, there are so many places in the world you can go to simply capitalize on speaking English!

I have been in Naples for one month now and already have more offers for work than I can manage! Since very few people here speak English, a native English-speaker seems to be a hot commodity. Everyone wants to learn and improve their English, so I am getting paid for basically having conversations with people!

As I mentioned before, I have started teaching English at an independent school in Naples (for adults). I am doing both private lessons (basically an hour of conversation) and group instruction. In addition, once a week, I teach youngsters at an after-school program in a suburb of Naples. After posting a few advertisements online, I have had several inquiries for private lessons and just got a call this morning about teaching Business English at a company in town. I am very excited about getting some varying kinds of teaching experience, but at the moment I am trying not to overload myself too much. I want (need) to learn Italian too!

This should be encouragement to a few of you who have considered going abroad to teach English! There are so many opportunities out there that will allow you to see the world and learn more about it! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how to look into teaching English abroad.

Day Trip to Caserta

One great thing about living in Naples is its close proximity to a plethora of interesting towns and sites. I was able to visit a few nearby attractions when I was here in November - the ruins of Pompeii, a town completely destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 67 A.D., and Maiori, a little town on the Amalfi Coast. I look forward to traveling more around the Campania region, where Naples is settled, on my weekends and free days.

For our first excursion together, my boyfriend and I spent last Sunday afternoon in Caserta, a town about 45 minutes north of Naples. Caserta has a large palace and sprawling palatial parks and gardens, where we enjoyed the unusually warm Sunday afternoon. I've posted pictures at http://www.AndreaOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Although the sky was slightly more overcast on the Saturday before, we nevertheless had a fun day exploring the area of Capodimonte in Naples. We first visited a street market, where I purchased two shirts and a pair of pants for less than 10 Euros combined! Next we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant/ pizzeria, where a 3 course meal (including fried ice cream!) amounted to 15 Euros. After lunch, we made our way to the park and wooded areas of Capodimonte for a nice dip into nature.

While Naples is a fun and lively city, little breaks from the chaos are perhaps what will help me remain somewhat sane while I am here! The city is unbelieveably crazy at times -- traffic and motorbikes whizzing past you as you push your way through the busy sidewalks, the scream of an ambulance passing by every few minutes, the confusion of trying to navigate through the maze of streets and small alleyways, etc. This is much of what fills my days -- scenes that are almost so surreal that I have to laugh when I remind myself that I chose this plight. Napoli is both beautiful and ugly, exciting and tiring, intriguing and terribly frustrating.

Lucky for me, there are years' worth of weekend get-aways nearby when I need a break from reality!

Working Woman

After being (happily) unemployed for a little over a month, I have good news: I am reentering the working world! I met with the director/ owner of a small private English school in Naples on Friday, and I begin "training" Monday to be an English teacher. I am extremely excited about this opportunity! I believe it will be a good learning experience and has the potential of opening up many other professional doors.

My boss (an Italian married to an American) has been running the school and teaching all the classes himself. As soon as I spend some time training and sitting in on classes, I will take some of the classes from him. Then, when we recruit more students (we will begin an advertising push shortly), I will take most of those as well. In addition, he does some side work (for example, occasionally offering some intensive business English classes), which I may be able to get involved with!

It will be a great way to help me get "settled" here in Naples (and, of course, start bringing in some money) while still giving me a flexible schedule. In addition to my Italian class, which is 3 hours each afternoon, I will probably teach 3-4 hours at the school. Some of those may be in the evenings, so I may still be able to sleep in a little, get to the gym (hopefully!), and occasionally meet my boyfriend at the university for lunch before I officially "start" my day.

I really feel like things are coming together! Getting this job was more of a confirmation to me that I am supposed to be here -- it happened surprisingly easily (it was only my first real attempt to find a job). And through my Italian classes, which cost almost nothing for a university level class, I am quickly learning the language and making some great friends. I feel really good about how my life here is settling out right now. :)

Back To School

I am officially back in school! I enrolled yesterday in an Italian language course at the Universita' degli Studi di Napoli and begin classes tomorrow! Over the next four weeks, I will have 12 hours of Italian instruction per week at a university. By the beginning of April, I hope to have a much better understanding of the Italian language and a university certificate recognizing completion of my first Italian course. Trilingualism, I am on my way!

Although I realize it may be challenging at times, I am looking forward to not only improving my Italian but also to "settling in" a bit more here. For the past 3 weeks, I have felt more like a visitor than resident since I cannot communicate well with my fellow Neapolitans and have had no schedule of things to do. For those of you who know me well, you know that I operate best when I have a slightly more structured schedule. Granted, I don't want anything too stressful -- this is supposed to be a somewhat relaxed time for me to reflect and plan my future a little better, but I think having a littl more of a routine will be positive. It is time to really start living here.

Bella Napoli

I have somewhat mixed feelings about relaying this next piece of news (to those of you who do not already know), but seeing as how it would be impossible to describe my time here without mentioning a major reason why I am here to begin with, I will: the reason I decided on Naples is because my boyfriend lives here. I met him while I was traveling in the fall and we stayed in touch when I went back to the States. Now, we are enjoying this time to get to know each other! I won’t say much more now than he is a student at the university here in Naples and works at the hostel where I stayed in the fall.

Please don’t be alarmed, my friends! I did not decide to quit my job and move halfway across the world for a guy I knew for a few months! No, I assure you, most of you know that I have been wanting to move back to Europe ever since my study abroad year in Germany years ago. I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next. When I met my boyfriend, I decided Italy wouldn’t be a bad place to try!
Naples, in particular, is an interesting city. Hoards of tourists do not flock here like they do Venice or Florence. I believe it is a beautiful city in its own right if you can look past some dilapidated buildings and trash piling up on the streets. Southern Italy is considerably poorer than the northern part. Few people speak English here, which has made it even more of a challenge for a person who started with zero Italian, and unemployment is extremely high (around 20%). Although considerable renovations were made to the city in the 1990s, it is basically a big, crowded, dirty city!

But if you can look past some of those less-aesthetically pleasing aspects, you see a city rich in culture and a beaming example of the non-glitsy, non-tourist-riden Italy. One of my favorite pastimes here is to simply take walks around town – browsing the storefronts of the bustling vias Toledo and Chiaia, ducking into the narrow, alley-like streets of old Spaccanapoli, strolling along the seaside with a gorgeous view of Mt. Vesuvius across the bay, or roaming the residential areas of Vomero or Materdei, where fresh laundry is hung outside to dry and venders set up fruit stands along the sidewalks.

Naples is a lively bustling city, where you can experience a number of interesting and distinct neighborhoods if you are willing to brave the moped-filled streets, where following traffic signs is more of a recommendation than a rule! It is also home to a large port, where ferries and boats head off to a number of appealing southern destinations, such as the islands of Capri, Ischia or Sicily. In short, I don’t believe I will be at a loss for things to do and see while I am here – in between teaching English lessons and taking an Italian class, that is!

First 12 Days

I have officially completed my first 12 days in Naples, Italy! After an excruciating 2 days of travel, I arrived in my destination exhausted but ready to begin my adventure! I have spent much of the last two weeks recuperating, taking care of some necessary first purchases (cell phone and internet), and just trying to learn more about the city.

With the weather relatively mild during the day, I have made it a point to take walks around town each day. This helps me to learn my way around the large city and take notice of the particulars of living here -- where to buy my groceries, how to recharge the SIM card for my cell phone, and what products I can find here (and how are they different than what I am used to at home). Becoming truly comfortable in a new place will take time, but each day I take one step towards understanding this new place a little better.

I am now on a full-time search for employment and will begin with Italian classes soon. Until then, I am trying to enjoy myself, relax and teach myself as much Italian as possible!

If you are interested in learning more about my new place of residence, check out one of the following websites: http://www.napoli.com/english, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples, or http://www.italyguides.it/us/napoli/naples.htm

Happy

The following is taken from Andrea's personal journal (2/2/2007):

I feel in general that the strides I have made towards becoming the person I want to be have been great in the past 6 months! I was looking through an old notebook today and came across some things I had written at a church retreat last June, when I started to really examine my life and realize I needed a change. Some of the "goals" I had haphazardly written in that journal -- thinking at the time how silly or unrealistic they were -- have helped shape the trajectory of my life. And amazingly, I am on my way to accomplishing several of those short-terms goals already (things like "live in another country," "do more traveling," "learn another language," "learn to focus more on myself," "do more journaling.") It is amazing to me how I have followed my inner-most desires without even fully realizing what they were!

When I look at myself now compared to the me of one year ago, I feel like I have come so far! It was at that church retreat last June that I realized how truly unhappy I was with my life. I had everything I needed or would have hoped for (good job, beautiful home, wonderful friends, many accomplishments), but those things did not fill me. I was too caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, trying to use money or friendships or job security or frivolous successes to fulfill me. I didn't even realize how far I was from pursuing my dreams. In fact, I can remember being astounded as I examined my life throughout the course of last summer and realizing that I didn't even know what my passions were!

I still may not know for certain all that I want to do with my life or where it will take me (do any of us really?), but I am discovering more each day!I have been able to reexamine my life and unearth some of those desires that I had almost forgotten existed. While I was traveling this past fall, I felt as if I was awakened from along slumber. Suddenly, I looked at life with a fervor and passion I had not felt in years. I realized that life could be so much more that what I had taught myself it should be!

I've been asked several times in the past weeks how it felt to quit a good job and say good-bye to the life I had created for myself in D.C. My answer is (no offense to all my friends in D.C.) : I feel great! I am unemployed, don't even have a next job lined up, am uprooting my life and moving to a country where I cannot even communicate, and I could not be more ecstatic about what opportunities life holds for me! Yes, I am slowly growing into the person I would like to be, and I feel truly happy, which is something I could not claim one year ago.

The Odyssey Continues . . .

By now, I have had the opportunity to tell most of my friends and family in person of my future plans. As you know, when I embarked on my "odyssey" in September, I had been contemplating my next life move for some time. Being away from the normal grind of life allowed me to really think about who I want to be and what I would like to do. It helped me to rediscover some of my passions and interests (namely, those associated with traveling and international relations) as well as begin some personal growth and exploration.

Well, after 4 months of being out of my normal life routine, I decided I didn't want it to end! Of course, there are many perks to not having to go to work for 4 months, but anyone who knows me understands that I would not choose to make a major life decision based upon laziness. Nevertheless, I was never happier with my decision to leave my job and my home of 5+ years than on my first day "back" to work (the start of my final 2 weeks at work) when I found myself crowded onto an aging metro car at 8 o'clock in the morning surrounded by tired and seemingly jaded runners in the rat race!

Yes, I have finally decided that I need a break from Washington -- the politics, the bureacracy, the hustle and bustle, the hoards of Type-A personalities who only seem to care about what you do and who you know. Washington is a fascinating city, and like so many others, I was drawn to it upon graduating college as the place where everything happens, the place where you are watching CNN and realize, "hey, I am just down the street from all the action!" It is the place where so many important events occur and for that, I appreciate the time I have spent immersing myself in its ways and culture. Nevertheless, I must admit, driving through the city yesterday and taking an admiring gaze at the capital building, the Jefferson Memorial and reflecting pond, various monuments and memorials, and finally my long-time neighbor, the Pentagon -- I felt completely at peace as I said "goodbye" to this chapter of my life.

So, what's next? I am officially unemployed, having tossed the secure government job for the unknown, and technically homeless, having rented out my condo to help pay the bills, and I couldn't feel better! I have decided to once again embrace my adventurous self and follow a dream I have held since arriving back to the States after a year abroad in Germany: I am moving back overseas! Yes, my friends, at this time two weeks from now, I will be arriving in Naples, Italy, my home-away-from-home for (at least) the next three months!

Do I speak Italian? Not exactly. Do I have a job lined up? Well, some ideas. Does that count? With these practical questions, I cannot be bothered right now! I have made the first big step, and that is, simply, making the decision to do it, committing wholeheartedly to this leap of faith that I believe will reap dividends in experience and adventure! I am essentially heading to Italy to give myself a 3-month trial run -- to allow myself to learn the language, explore work opportunities, continue my process of personal growth, and just see if I like living there.

As I mentioned before, I have longed to move back overseas (to Europe, in particular) since studying in Germany (wow!) 7 years ago. I absolutely love learning new languages, learning about new cultures, interacting with people different than myself. And my travels this past fall reminded me of just how much I love it! This passion has been a reoccuring presence in my life since my first trip abroad at 17; I have discovered that no matter what I do to occupy myself with other endeavors, it remains a driving force in the decisions I make and, ultimately, in the way I live my life. If my "odyssey" did nothing more, it helped me to reconnect with something that fundamentally defines who I am and what I want to be. Do I have all the answers? NO. Can I predict where I will be 5 years from now? Heck no, I can't even predict one year out! But I feel that I am truly blessed to be persuing my God-given interests when it seems that so many surrounding me settle with what is practical or comfortable.

So with this, I begin the next phase of "Andrea's Odyssey." It is a challenge that I unblindly accept, one that I recognize could be uncomfortable and scary, one that will surely push me in new ways. Do I know how I'll come out? Not exactly, but I feel very strongly that this is the right thing for me right now, and I ask only that as my family and friends you support me in what may seem a bold and perhaps illogical move. As my pastor has said many times, "God's plans for our lives don't always seem logical," but I recognize that God is leading me to embrace the unknown and to take a risk. As I like to remind myself daily, if you never take any risks, you'll never reap the benefits, which could be some of life's greatest pleasures and triumphs.

So, welcome to Part II of Andrea's Odyssey, and I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I think I will!

New Year, New Me

Happy 2007 to all! To those of you who are still faithfully following my meanderings (of both body and mind), I apologize yet again for my delinquency in blogging. I will forego the lame excuses and simply say that this sadly characterizes me oh too well - not that I am lazy or unaccomplished, but that I often have a great many insights into fabulous things I should be doing and unfortunately not enough hours in the day to implement them sufficiently. In a strange way, I believe it points to a positive personal improvement - that I have been able to relax and enjoy my time with my family as opposed to creating "work" for myself to do.

In short, after arriving home from my trip in late November, I spent the holiday season with my family in Oklahoma and then went on a family trip to Florida for Christmas and New Year's. And now, after an absence of 4 months, I am temporarily reacclimating myself to life in The District. Beginning today, I am back at work for my last two weeks as a federal employee. Yes, you read that correctly: I am ditching the government job in favor of spreading my wings even more.

"Crazy" some may say, but I am excited to try some new things and continue to explore who I am and what I want to be doing with my life. I am too young and life is too short to stay somewhere I am not crazy about. I've had a good run in D.C., but I feel like it is time to move on to another adventure.

More to come on my future plans soon...