Today is January 6, 2010

I am 29 years, 6 months, and 8 days old.

I woke up today.

I started reading a book last night, "Eat, Love, Pray". It reminded me of the thing that I love most about life. Traveling. I love to travel. I love getting on a plane and the whole process of travelling. I love all of it. But travel, for travels sake, does not pay the bills. I cannot just be a professional traveler. So, I have to find work that allows me to incorporate the things I enjoy the most about life:

Travel
Cultural Experiences and Engagement
Making Money
Entreprenuership
Writing
Photography
Tennis


Yeah, that is my favorite things. But, let's consider this: I could live without tennis, though I do love it. Which leaves:

Travel
Cultural Experiences and Engagement
Making Money
Entreprenuership
Writing
Photography

Photography and Writing seem to go hand in hand. And though I have a penchant for photography, I have no professional equipment. I realize that Journalism may seem like the natural thing for me to do. Coupled with the fact that I someday want to have a best selling book (non fiction or real life based fiction of course) would seem that Journalism would be natural for me. Unfortunately, my career to this point really has not incorporated much in the line of journalism. So, I have two options: Go back to school for a Masters in Creative Writing or Journalism OR Start a blog and try to build readership and eventually a following, and eventually an income.

Things to do: START A BLOG

Of course, I need access to international markets, international businesses, international law firms, international, international, international, it is all I think about. So, what does that mean.

Well first, I must decide on what my background consists of:

1) Managagement of Personnel
2) Management of Projects
3) Budget oversight
4) Marketing/Sponsorship
5) Business Development/Development (Fundraising)
6) Foreign Languages: Spanish, Chinese
7) Intercultural competency

Only you can make this decision, but right now, if money was no option, what would you want to be doing?

I would want to be operating my own international NGO or for profit socially focused organization, as well as photography and writing. I would be trying to sell both of the latter. I would want it based in an international setting (Phnom Penh)and I would want to be living there for several months out of the year. I would want to be a Social Entreprenuer.

Aha, but money does matter and I have debt, and the truth is, it has to be paid off: Really though, I do not have much BAD debt. Student loans, Car loans, Medical bills. I need to pay off the "bad debt" or that with the highest interest rate first.

I need to go back to school, because the situation here is this: One, I do not enjoy living in Hampton Roads. It is BORING TO ME. So, I need to look to an international city.

The city that has always come to mind is Washington, D.C. I love New York, I love San Diego, I love Seattle, I love Miami. All of them really in truly speak well to me.

So, maybe that guy from proworld was the guy that changed my life. But, maybe this Mr. Schumacher is too. I mean, afterall, our backgrounds are similar and now this guy is working for USAID. I mean, how awesome is that!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, what would prepare me to do that sort of work? well, I think that it would be...Hmmmm...what? Oh, I get it. Yes, it would be going into the Peace Corps. But then a familiar friend called low self esteem walks in and tells me Im not good enought for the Peace Corps and that my debt and past mistakes will prevent me. But, there it is again. I WILL OVERCOME YOU!

Then there is the feeling that I can not decide on stuff. Look, you can have it all. It is all out there for you. You can have this life, you just have to start going after it as opposed to victimizing yourself all of the time and treating yourself like you have no control over whether you get into this program, get this job, go to this school and you need to STOP THINKING that you can control the Universe, because you cannot or that you are TOO OLD, because you aren't, or that you AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH, because you are Smart and Handsome and Multitalented. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO, SO JUST GO DO IT!

Masters International program (Peace Corps)

How to get it done? apply to both the Peace Corps and the academic program I want to enroll in. Spend a year in studies, then go overseas for 27 months, come back and finish (depends on school). So far, here are my options. There are no law programs.


There is one business program (MBA)

Masters International-Business Admin.
2. Monterey Institute of International Studies,

Then these schools offer a Master in Public Policy with a concentration in International Management.


3. George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Public & International Affairs - Public Admin.
4. Rutgers University - Camden, Camden, NJ
Public Policy Administration-NGO Mgmt/Development
5. Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA
MPA in International Management
6. University of Washington, Seattle, WA
School of Public Affairs

The Peace Corps is not the only way to do this. So, I need to define:

1) Do I want to join the peace Corps and if so, in what capacity? I would join in the Business Development, Business Advising and NGO Development capacity.

My background includes 2 years of nearly full time management experience. 2 and half years as a Department head, 1 year of international non profit experience, 1 1/2 years of non profit management experience (this reflects only paid work).

2) Am I eligible for that capacity? I have the experience.

3) Would I do MI if I joined? Yes.

Business School-I realize that I really do enjoy management and the business side of thigns. The creativity that goes into it, but I want to do something more intellectually challenging and I want to improve my analytical skills. That is why dual degrees in Law/MBA or MPA/Law are so appealing, but they must relate to INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE!