Almost done!

I am almost there! I have just come back from my summer job here in England and I am back at Aston. Not much more to go as I have to hand in my dissertation by Sept 30th, however I also have to leave my room by Sept 12th, so for me that is the real due date. I am confident though that I'll get it done well before the 12th, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some difficulties and that the dissertation will present challenges that I hadn't thought of. Whatever, I'll deal with them when they come. I only hope I am able to provide more of a critical analysis than I have in the past.

Anyway, I am glad to be done with my summer camp job as it was stressful, I didn't sleep well, some of the kids annoyed me and I, being an independent person felt the total opposite. But it was a way to get paid while doing research for my dissertation, in fact I am jotting down now the things said from my recordings which I will then compare with literature. But it was bittersweet as there were nice aspects to the camp such as the picturesque town, nice co-workers, a few exceptions here and there. it's strange to be back though as when I left three weeks ago it felt like I had left Aston forever, instead I am back here and it's a ghost town as most people have gone home to finish their dissertation. This is good news for me as my flat is virtually empty which is great as two of the noisiest have left. One was noisy but not in an obnoxious way, the other was the party animal of the flat who in the end proved himself selfish, disrespectful and sneaky. The bastard is lucky he isn't still here as I have a few words for him.

I am in a surreal situation. It's part scary, part exciting and part unreal. I still can't decide where I want to go and start the next chapter of my life. I think I will most likely take a job in the Middle East as that is a great way to save money and I want to save a bit for once in my life! Also I think the exoticness of it is appealing. My next choice is Europe. I think I want to stay here as the USA is quite possibly not for me anymore, but I am not sure (Connecticut is def out of the question). I don't think I'd fit in to be honest. So that leaves the UK, Ireland and Italy where I would consider working. My heart is in Italy and it always will be, but I have said my opinion of that country too many times. It's weird though, when you leave it you forget the bad things and you long for the nice things and all the great memories. Then you go back and you get frustrated all over again. But I think what I crave is a warm place with a warm feel among the people, but with the opportunity to have some alone time and a quiet place to sleep. These places are great but I feel only the Middle East pays the big bucks whereas Italy and Spanish-speaking countries offer the life and culture I want but not the stability. Is the UK the answer to that, rain and ugly carpets and all??

I am overwhelmed with the choices out there. I suppose I should be grateful that I actually have these choices. I would like to find a school that can work with me, that can help me grow as a teacher and one that can bring out the things I have learned here at Aston (which I hope are things that are hidden for now), one that I can provide decent pay and steady work. I suppose this is what any working person desires. I pray to God to help me choose but it's not easy to hear what He has to say in this matter as each place I think of moving to has me asking myself "Am I going to regret this?" But I will trust that whatever I choose is what He wants for me. I must admit there is a certain curiosity to go back to the USA and the idea of working in a place such as California is appealing. In the end, it's all going to come down to the following: PAY, location, conditions, benefits and overall package.