An update.
Seven months ago, March 12, was the day I launched my blog. On that day, I also made a commitment to find an art teaching position in an international school by summer 2013. After signing with Search Associates, an educational recruiting firm, I began receiving daily lists of educational positions for the upcoming months. Although the list includes all subjects, from all countries, I am only interested in the art vacancies. However, I’m fairly open to what part of the world I want to live in. Since then, there have been 48 schools that have posted their need for an art teacher. This is really encouraging! I haven’t applied for all of those, because from March through September, the jobs were primarily for teaching positions THIS year, i.e. NOW. But over the last month it’s been changing. I’ve seen start dates for 1/2013, and many more are beginning to show up for a start date of 8/2013. As I understand it, the job openings will be plentiful between November and end of February. At this point, I have submitted my paperwork to twelve schools representing ten countries. It’s exciting!
The daily job posting list from Search Associates appears in my inbox each night at 10:00 pm. I’m so eager for it! I wait up for it, and tear open the lid to my laptop, just as if it were a sealed envelope in the “golden oldie days”. I can’t wait to see what schools are listed. Where will I be writing my blog from this time next year?
Last weekend I had my Phase 2 Garage Sale. My first one was in early June and I sold the majority of my sculpture tools and small, household goods in preparation for moving across the world next summer. This recent sale included, among many other things, clothes that I’m choosing not to keep. If I knew where I was going I could easily get rid of even more, but I don’t know yet, so I want to keep the very best of both warm and cold seasonal wear. If I go to Thailand, I probably won’t need my UGG boots or heavy winter coat and if I go to Northern China, I might not need my bathing suit or my tank tops. As I was cleaning out my closet, I tried to keep in mind that wherever I go, I’ll more than likely rather wear clothes from that new place – not my Texas/USA clothes. I’m guessing that shoes, underwear and bras might be the only things that might be hard to find, or to fit in, “over there”.
It’s easier to tell you what I still have than what I’ve sold. I think I could fit everything I still own into my 12’ x 12’ bedroom if I had to. I still have my simple IKEA dining room table and two chairs, a coffee table and 2 mattresses and box springs, a couple of lamps and a couple of small end tables. I’m not sure what to do with my refrigerator and my washer and dryer…perhaps I can use them as negotiating tools when I sell my house. My living room furniture has sold to a colleague although she’s not in a hurry to get it, which is nice. When it’s gone, I’ll have my carpets cleaned right before I put my house on the market after the holidays.
In early spring, I’m planning on having one more sale. This sale will not be a garage sale. It will be an invitation-only sale that I will extend to friends and family and friends of friends. This sale will be an art sale. Original art that I’ve made, original art that I’ve purchased from others, art supplies, art exhibition catalogs and books, anything art, all priced to sell. I’m hoping that people will come and support me by purchasing a piece of art to help me along on my adventure.
Empty space is good. I like it. It is quiet and soothing. “Don’t FILL IT,” I tell myself daily.
Art Teach Travel 
Hi, Anita! My name is Lori Souza. I am a teacher (presently a substitute teacher), here in Hawaii, the mom of three girls in college, wife of Alex, and excited-out-of-my mind new candidate with Search Associates. I was just activated, last month, by my associate, Ralph Jahr. Alex and I want to go to Asia, as well. The only thing is, he is not a teacher, so I have to focus on the schools that answer, “Makes No Difference” to the question about non-teaching spouses. I also love my nightly emails, revealing the brand new list of the day. Like you, I wait for that time of evening with great anticipation. I have recently sent emails to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, and Bali. So great to have found your blog!!
Dear Lori,
I’m so glad to meet you! And I’m so very glad you found my blog! We’re in this together, sister! I’ve sent out 48 applications so far! Isn’t that crazy? 🙂 I’m so curious about you…what are you certified in? What does your husband do? What do your girls think about you moving? Are you going to any recruitment fairs?
The older I get, and the more I travel, the more minimalist I want to be. Someone gave me great words of advice once….”Ride easy in the saddle of possessions”. Getting excited to find out what your next adventure is Anita!
Roni, I love that quote…I’m ridin’ easy, and its about time! Astounding how much junk we can accumulate… It’s like a tiny snowball rolling downhill; as years roll by, the snowball grows big and deep and wide. Thanks for your comment.
Anita, this is so exciting!! I’m sending hugs and positive vibes. T. (I’m with you. Nothing soothes the soul like an almost-empty, spic-n-span room. Breathing is easier. Thinking is easier.)
Yeah, right, T, but if I were hangin’ out with you in sweet Paris and going to all those knick-a-knack, bric-a-brac places, I’m sure I’d be collecting more than clearing! 🙂 In the process of moving, from here to over there somewhere, perhaps we could meet! 🙂
Anita, I am so excited for you! Will continue to pray God will guide your steps… You have inspired me both physically and spiritually to do some cleaning and clearing!
Mendy, this is such a big deal to me that sometimes I feel very scared. Even though I say that, NOTHING makes me light up more than to talk about it! So, thank you for your encouragement. Please continue to pray with me about where I land. Things are starting to get kinda crazy!!! Quite a bit is showing up for possibilities. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me, and thanks for reading!
You inspire me mom. That one made me tear up a bit not gonna lie.
And you, my child, inspire me. All I ever hope is that I’m a good example for you. Reach for the stars, love.
I have read your blog 3 times and each time it gets easier. I can feel your excitement and I want to be able to share and it may take me until summer or longer…., but I am working on it. I am so glad to read that you will continue with your writing. I am getting addicted to your blog. My suggestion: if parents and children are having difficulty understanding different viewpoints and who doesn’t, a blog could help. Jimmie, I especially enjoyed your last sentence, so true.
Maybe you should start a blog? 🙂
Empty space is good. It’s like clearing your head and distilling life to what’s really important. The same is true on a spiritual level. Clear out the temporal and make room for the eternal.
For me, the physical and the eternal are close. Remember that book we read, “Heaven is a Place on Earth”? I’ve got to get rid of all this stuff, all kinds of stuff, to make room and find the eternal, for it can be easily hid, or lost, amongst all this stuff.