"I'll follow you where you're leading..."

Remember that whole thing about new beginnings and going back to the start? Well, quite a few things have started this week! Many exciting and new things, many exciting and new possibilities and potentials.

First things first... I finished my training for my new Museum Program Assistant job at Jamestown. Today was our final clearance and a written exam - and I passed! Only one more thing needs to be done before I start giving my own tours...and that is follow a tour as an observer just to learn the ropes from a veteran and see all the different scenarios and possibilities. My mentor, Margaret, is absolutely amazing and such an encouragement, but it will be good to see someone new give a tour and to actually see the tour from the school kids and teachers eyes. This will be next Wednesday, and I'm very excited to step in toes first and begin this new adventure!

I also just had the first week of my Evening tour training. Such a great group of people and it's something entirely different from what I've ever done with Colonial Williamsburg. I feel as if I'm stepping back into my theatrical routes. I've found a love of creating stories and feelings to go along with those stories. It is a bit nerve wracking having to figure all of this out in 2 weeks time, but I'm encouraged by our amazing trainer and mentor!

An exciting and new possibility is that I may be working for 2 weeks in DC over the summer during the International Spy Museum's summer camp!! My interview for the position is this coming Monday via skype. This would be such an exciting venture, and something completely new to me as I've never really done museum summer camps before...or any sort of summer camp before!! I'll keep everyone posted on how this goes. :-)

I also took a chance yesterday... I had noticed that a private homeschool academy/group (Classical Conversations) had been looking for tutors and directors for the 2012-2013 school year. I emailed and asked about it, and an application is being sent my way for both positions. I have always remained very much attached my homeschooling roots. I have also always remained an avid supporter of homeschool education, and for museums to develop specific educational programming for homeschoolers. This would be my first time actually working with homeschoolers as their teacher. I am truly excited about this potential opportunity, and it is something that I know I would truly love and value.

I guess the biggest news of this week has been that my good friend, Stephanie, (from Longwood University Anthropology) and I have been planning a trip to New Orleans for the 4th of July. And you know how things generally go... You talk about doing it, you plan on doing it, and, in the end, it just doesn't work. However, this time, it is happening! :-) We have booked the B&B for 3 nights, and are looking into flights as we speak. The B&B is located just 4 blocks away from the infamous French Quarter, which we are very excited about as this is the area we want to explore the most around New Orleans! There are so many amazing sites, museums and plantations all around the area... I have a feeling that I will be wanting to go back again after this trip. It's, again, a very exciting adventure and one that I cannot wait to go on with Stephanie!!

That's basically been the end of an amazing week full of brand new starting points, and potential starting points... I just hope that this "Start" button remains stuck for a while, because I'm really enjoying this phase of life. :-)

"I'm going back to the start..."

I thought I would try this out again, as I enter a completely new phase of life. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. Though it's good to always try something out, right?

I don't want this to be all about me, my life, what I'm doing every day... I'm creating this as a place which will allow me to just write about...things. New job. New car. New apartment. New furniture. New pet. New people. New city or town to call home. So far I only have the new job - that's a start!

I really am going back to the start....back to the drawing board, as many would say. I very suddenly move back to where it all began after 2 years of living alone in a foreign country in the world's most global city. And yet, the place where it all began is a place which is also entirely new. Nothing is the same. Maybe that's, in part, because I am not the same. I like it though...I like it a lot. It allows me to have that clean slate. It allows me to go to that drawing board and figure out life all over again. I like that...again...I like it a lot. Well...as the drawing board has began to receive some markings on it, I think I'm off to figuring out life once again...it's definitely a start.

My new job as a Museum Program Assistant - Educator at Jamestown is nice, and I'm getting a lot out of it. Experience. Education. Fun. The people are all great. The training has been the most influential, uplifting and educational training I have ever received from any position. I just can't wait to start working with the kids. I can't wait to pull out that first artifact out of my red bag and to see their faces light up with questions, thoughts and opinions. It's an exciting new venture, and one that I believe will lead me down a very fulfilling path. Again, it's a start...a start to a new beginning.

...and now - in just a short month or 2...it's time for the new car.

...though I've all ready jumped a bit ahead in time and have all ready bought (whilst in Paris and London) 3 paintings for my eventual new place! ....and I've all ready started picking out furnishings, colors, and curtains - all mismatched and rather antique-y, wacky. :-)

...now...back to that start.