I’ve been thinking for a while now about starting up a blog because I feel like writing. Not because I’m a writer by trade - I’m not. And not because I have any experience writing anything other than Emails, Tweets, Facebook posts or college papers – because I don’t. Oddly though, I kind of liked writing papers. Though last done for class projects while getting my masters, I’ve actually missed the creative process behind writing one. I enjoyed looking into a subject that interested me and then putting my findings together in written form – such as starting up a new university in Abu Dhabi, UAE or about the necessity of language and cultural training prior to starting expatriate assignments to reduce their subsequent failure rate. Having lived overseas a couple of times, I especially loved writing about all things international.
So why a blog? I want to do something important. I'd like to do something for me. I'd like to do something I like.
My current job is not at all what I want to be doing in life. Far from it, actually. I’m there because it was offered at a time I wasn’t otherwise employed. Simple as that. Sadly, I'm there for the same reason I started working for my previous employer: because I didn't already have a job. While my job has its place in commerce, it’s not overly meaningful to me nor is it fulfilling in any way. I’m undervalued and am basically overqualified (I have two degrees, the job doesn't even require one), yet cheap, labor. Am I happy there? No. Not really. Grateful I have something, yes, but happy? No.
I’d very much like to do more, i.e. something important that can be deemed a positive contribution to society. I’d also very much like to do it another country because I love traveling and because I tend to thrive while immersed in another culture. My personality just works well in that kind of environment. In another culture, I feel like I'm in my element. Though they’re growing a bit rusty at the moment from lack of use, I’ve studied languages nearly all my life. I feel that through language, a person can gain a fair amount of insight into other cultures and by extension, a much better understanding of said cultures. Of course, I’m working to learn yet another language, Arabic, simply because it’s fun. Well more important because I just don't understand it and want to travel to many amazing places in the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, I just love learning about other cultures and interacting with all sorts of different peoples from wonderful places. I'm very fortunate in that I've been able to visit a fair number of countries, meet the people, try the foods and in the process, learn about their cultures.
So that said, while I have a rather uninspiring primary job, my second job is far more fun: teaching kids. I am grateful to have the opportunity to teach and influence children, albeit teenage children who are all actually taller than I am! Ahem. This is one part of my life that I feel IS meaningful and while I wasn't originally thrilled with losing my Sunday afternoons (Can't help it. I love football), I do love my kids! Fortunately, I have a private class as well, right afterwards with 10 more kids, so I teach 35 in total.
With a blog, I can write about anything and everything and as little or as much as I’d like. This is fun to put together and hopefully the same to read. However, I eventually hope to touch on more than just the silly stuff. As I’m inexperienced in this arena, I’m starting with what I know I can do but will work towards what I don’t yet know I can do.
So there you have it. Au Lait in a Sidecar, while by no means a literary masterpiece (or a publication on which others rely for their jobs or as a source for news) IS a part of my life over which I have full control. Like knitting, it's a healthy and creative outlet for me where I don't have to follow anyone else's rules, nor do I have to be 100% objective, though there will be times I make that attempt. Since I'm not actually a reporter however, these will indeed be my own thoughts.
In other words, this will be me.
So why a blog? I want to do something important. I'd like to do something for me. I'd like to do something I like.
My current job is not at all what I want to be doing in life. Far from it, actually. I’m there because it was offered at a time I wasn’t otherwise employed. Simple as that. Sadly, I'm there for the same reason I started working for my previous employer: because I didn't already have a job. While my job has its place in commerce, it’s not overly meaningful to me nor is it fulfilling in any way. I’m undervalued and am basically overqualified (I have two degrees, the job doesn't even require one), yet cheap, labor. Am I happy there? No. Not really. Grateful I have something, yes, but happy? No.
I’d very much like to do more, i.e. something important that can be deemed a positive contribution to society. I’d also very much like to do it another country because I love traveling and because I tend to thrive while immersed in another culture. My personality just works well in that kind of environment. In another culture, I feel like I'm in my element. Though they’re growing a bit rusty at the moment from lack of use, I’ve studied languages nearly all my life. I feel that through language, a person can gain a fair amount of insight into other cultures and by extension, a much better understanding of said cultures. Of course, I’m working to learn yet another language, Arabic, simply because it’s fun. Well more important because I just don't understand it and want to travel to many amazing places in the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, I just love learning about other cultures and interacting with all sorts of different peoples from wonderful places. I'm very fortunate in that I've been able to visit a fair number of countries, meet the people, try the foods and in the process, learn about their cultures.
So that said, while I have a rather uninspiring primary job, my second job is far more fun: teaching kids. I am grateful to have the opportunity to teach and influence children, albeit teenage children who are all actually taller than I am! Ahem. This is one part of my life that I feel IS meaningful and while I wasn't originally thrilled with losing my Sunday afternoons (Can't help it. I love football), I do love my kids! Fortunately, I have a private class as well, right afterwards with 10 more kids, so I teach 35 in total.
With a blog, I can write about anything and everything and as little or as much as I’d like. This is fun to put together and hopefully the same to read. However, I eventually hope to touch on more than just the silly stuff. As I’m inexperienced in this arena, I’m starting with what I know I can do but will work towards what I don’t yet know I can do.
So there you have it. Au Lait in a Sidecar, while by no means a literary masterpiece (or a publication on which others rely for their jobs or as a source for news) IS a part of my life over which I have full control. Like knitting, it's a healthy and creative outlet for me where I don't have to follow anyone else's rules, nor do I have to be 100% objective, though there will be times I make that attempt. Since I'm not actually a reporter however, these will indeed be my own thoughts.
In other words, this will be me.
Take the foreign service exam. :-P
ReplyDelete