It seems like I’ve been here before…

It seems like I’ve been here before;
I can’t remember when;
But I have this funny feeling;
That we’ll all be together again.

– Harry Chapin, Circle

 

Today is one of those days I have written about before in different posts. I’ve connected with friends and family via social media like I wrote about in September 2010,  March 2013 and May 2013. I’m also planning a new adventure which like this one will involve volunteering. I keep thinking I will get this timing thing sorted (in spite of signs to the contrary) but now I find myself already thinking ahead and making tentative plans for what I will do after my next adventure  – the one that doesn’t even begin for nearly another year!

Here’s where things stood when I got up this morning:

  • I am starting my third year in my current teacher-librarian position above the shores of Lake Geneva. Here is the view out the library (floor to ceiling) windows:IMG_0005

  • I have submitted my resignation effective the end of this academic year so my last day of work will be 3 July 2015.

  • I am planning to go and volunteer in Bolivia with an organization called Biblioworks that sets up libraries in rural villages around Sucre. I would like to arrive towards the end of August 2015 so I have time to walk along the Camino de Santiago for at least three weeks as well as spend time in North America catching up with (some) family and friends in person. I would like to stay for about 10 months which would give me the chance to have a holiday and then start a new job in August or July at some international school to be determined.

And then I got on Facebook…

A friend was talking about getting rid of stuff before a move to a new house and her husband saying they wouldn’t be able to afford new stuff due to buying the house. I replied that her house would be fabulous even empty but that she could have my stuff in June. And that let piqued the curiosity of my sister-in-law’s mom so we ended up having a private conversation about my plan to move to Bolivia. She asked what they would have to get me to come to Manila. Initially I said one of the international schools would need to be looking for a teacher-librarian but then I said that if I didn’t find a job after Bolivia, I’d come and hang out at Gentle Hands (if your school blocks Facebook – like mine! – visit the website). I have debated volunteering long-term at Gentle Hands in the past but hadn’t come up with how I would best use my librarian skills there. I then started an iMessage conversation with my sister-in-law, Charity, letting her know her mom was trying to get me to Manila.  I told her that if I didn’t end up with job for the 2016-2017 school year (or sooner if Bolivia doesn’t work out), I’d come and do whatever she needed me to do. And then as I did dishes, a thought came to me that I shared with her – I COULD SET UP A LIBRARY AT GENTLE HANDS. All my teacher-librarian friends could send us their discarded books in balikbayan boxes. Charity got excited and suggested we could also set up a library in Malabon (Gentle Hands does outreach to slum community there). And now my thoughts are leapfrogging ahead to August 2016 and beyond. Oh my.

And while all of that was going on, I was wearing a princess skirt to do housework and bake brownies while connecting with family and friends via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and iMessage. I definitely do not have a boring life even when it goes in a circle!

IMG_4777

IMG_4776

It seems like I’ve been here before;
I can’t remember when;
But I have this funny feeling;
That we’ll all be together again.
No straight lines make up my life;
And all my roads have bends;
There’s no clear-cut beginnings;
And so far no dead-ends.

– Harry Chapin, Circle

One thought on “It seems like I’ve been here before…

  1. Hi Megan

    I’ll be sad to see you go. It seems like yesterday that you arrived and now you’re off again!

    The idea of setting up a library in the Philippines sounds wonderful. We’d love to donate some books. It sounds a bit like Room to Read who also builds libraries in developing countries.

    Wishing you a very happy year and a smooth transition. God will find a special spot for you to serve Him in for next year and beyond. You’re open, willing, adventurous, and flexible… Those are rare traits to find in a single person.

    ~Vivian

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