Take It on the Run, Baby

It's been three months, to the day, since I wrote my last blog post. Life continues to speed by, as ever, and my plans and ideas and hopes for the future change as quickly as do the contexts in which I find myself. I stay far behind in maintaining in contact with others, which I regret.

ACorps N-Trip graduation came about on July 22nd, my team leaving on the next day to head back to their separate destinations all over the country, back to homes, family, and friends, and away from the absurd, intense, and unforgettable time we spent cooped in a van, or in a set of bunkbeds, or in a leaky warehouse, or in a musty pigeon-crap-filled wagon barn, together. The end of the corps year had its kinks--especially from my end--but we finished on a good note. Our amazing last project, whose work the very last week (throwing away wood!) had us ready to head back to campus, helped set the good tone for the final days of the program.

Now, I've embarked upon a new set of adventures. Once the corps members left, the other team leaders and I finished up cleaning and putting the vans and campus back into order, after which I began my travels to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver/Colorado Springs, Chicago, and currently Columbus OH area. I'll be heading to DC to visit grad school at American University, where I've applied, and also to visit with some friends, before heading to Durham/Chapel Hill area to visit a good buddy from high school and perhaps more college friends. Finally, on my way back to my folks' place in Tampa Bay area, I'll stop by Americus, GA, home of Habitat for Humanity International, to see if it's a place where I could see myself working, before arriving home next Wednesday evening, the 26th.

My flight leaves on August 29th at 6am, to head up to Alaska until October 14th, working for my bro in Anchorage, saving some money, doing some hiking and fishing, spending time w/ Jesse & Elena, and [hopefully] beginning to study for the GMAT. By the time I'm back in Florida, I should know about whether I'm accepted to begin grad school at American University in the spring, and if I am, will begin practicing my Spanish and preparing for that future.

Additionally...I just got confirmation from American University that in the spring I can begin the Master of Arts in International Affairs--focus on International Politics at the graduate School of International Service--and that if accepted to the business school could then begin the joint MBA program at American in fall 2010, on track to finish the dual MA/MBA in three years. Whoa. I wasn't anticipating this much school in my near future, and my admittance is by no means assured, but at risk of losing educational assets currently available to me as a disabled vet's dependent, enacting this plan soon would cover my bases financially and qualify me for just about any of my future, anticipated public service career paths--particularly management roles in domestic and international nonprofits, or in government.

Of course, my plans change by the day, as I've said, so we'll see where this one leads me. Wish me luck!