The new plan.. or the daily reality

To say that i had a plan would be a bit presumptuous. But I am pretty sure I can say with certainty where I am right now and what I am doing.
With 6 days notice I took a teaching Job and moved from my settled root in the Vermont countryside to a bustling secret city in the heart of Colombia. I dropped one plan (to live in a cabin on a hill, grow a garden, fall in love and settle down) and erupted into a new reality. one, honestly that suits me better.
there was no promise of a job in Vermont, despite a noble effort. This job, although it drains me, is rewarding and I am reminded why I am meant to be in the classroom. I am my best there. It requires my talents, strength, humor and patience. (all of it) sometimes I wonder if I am left with anything else...
For now my conscious (and much of my unconscious) is taken up with thoughts and plans of my courses: Modern US History and Comparative politics and Government. The other night I dreamed of nothing but bibliographies and proper citation format. Not even in REM can I escape the reality of my present choices.
I am here and love it. but sacrificed a lot in the process.
and I am sinking under the strain of old habits, daunting grading and the age-appropriate loneliness of a single 30-year old woman living in a foreign county. Sandwiched by weekend adventures and rest, my work days can be digested.
there is friendship, adventure and hope to be found here. it is just a matter of mustering or conserving the energy to find it.
As for a plan... I am starting to learn that there is no such thing, however, that said, I have signed a contract to teach here for 2 years... and so that suggests some kind of plan. commitment. Beyond that I am not sure. isn't that a relief.

an old plan

A plan emerges (sierra's life abbreviated and updated)

Since I have left China, I have spent several needed months among the weeds, rivers and friend of my childhood home in Vermont. I have befriended kittens, downloaded music, developed a coffee habit and remembered how to breathe.
What was intended to be a relaxing three week retreat has bleed into, first, six weeks and now eight. Yesterday, with no clear end in sight to my respite I took a leap into the planning of the future I have been incapable of doing until now. I have financially committed to what my heart and mind have been working on for months. I have bought a ticket to begin my South American Adventure. What started with a desire to learn Spanish and become fluent has evolved into something much bigger.
I have let the crucial summer months and the first few weeks of school pass without accepting a teaching post. I have let the passage of time make the choice I was too tired to make months ago- to not work this year. (And in this way I mean “work” in its most literal meaning: full-time, stationary employment… with a school). I am calling this a sabbatical.
It is my intention (and I say this, because I am open to change) to spend roughly 6 months studying and traveling throughout South America. I have a number of friends currently living in various places across the continent. I hope to work my way through most of the Spanish-speaking countries there while studying and practicing my Spanish and studying the rich history and cultures of the various nations.
I am hoping to work for the next few months to save some money for this adventure. With a ticket in hand, I am scheduled to depart from San Francisco on November 13. For most of the time in between I will be living in Vermont and staying with my dad. In this way I hope to save as much as possible, enjoy the fall foliage and investigate the possibilities of moving back to Vermont to eventually settle down (someday).
I am still putting myself back together from my experiences in China and am giving myself permission to be patient to that end. And ironically, two months ago I was so tired that I never wanted to go anywhere again. So it is fitting, since I wanted to settle down, that I am going on a 6-10 month, 10,000 mile trek around a foreign continent far from family and friends. But I seem to be propelled by a greater power then having a baby (at the moment). And because I really do want to have a baby eventually, I think it is most appropriate that I do this now. I am trying to be realistic about the cost and strain as well as danger which I will encounter over the next few months. I will prepare for it as best I can, but in truth there is no way to be prepared. I will simply try to practice patience, kindness and follow my intuition fiercely.

I will be religiously posting my photos and reflections to my blog. It fell into disarray and neglect while I was in China due to their severe censorship. But I hope to share as much of the journeying as possible. I also want to be able to communicate my whereabouts, exploits and state-of-mind. So feel free to check up on me often: www.sierramelcher.blogspot.com