Update/ 5-Year Plan

So, since my last post, I received even more phone calls, was able to go shopping, and spent a lovely weekend with my friend Michelle. I also got to see my friend Norma on Sunday, which was nice. It's good to be in a city where you have at least a couple friends to start with. I'm slowly but surely getting settled in. Now I just need a few more activities and a job and/or a rich French husband...more on that later.

I also got two pieces of good news this week. I have been accepted in the Master's program, so if I pass all my classes, which I'm sure I will, I will have a Master's in International Management. Sweet! Also, the whole schedule has been rearranged so that I can go to my mom's wedding in December. I may not end up going to Austin, but I will at least be in the US for a couple weeks, which makes phone calls really easy :)

Everything seems to be going really smoothly, which is nice. My days haven't been too boring really, and I always have the internet to keep me entertained during the day. I've also started running again...very slowly. When I first started running, I followed a plan to be able run 30 minutes without stopping at the end of 10 weeks. I'm doing that again. So, this week it's run 3 minutes, walk for 7 repeated 3 times. I used to be able to run an hour without stopping...now it's 3 minutes. Oh well. It's better than zero. For now, my knee isn't hurting too bad...fingers crossed. I also started trying to do some push-ups and stuff at home. Walking is great for losing weight, but I like my muscles and don't want to lose them.

I want a bilingual life. I'm loving being here so far for so many reasons, but that is one of them. Hence the need for the rich French husband. Okay, so I'd settle for employed :) Maybe he wouldn't have to pay for all my stuff, but if he could just cover rent, that would help my financial situation quite a bit :) Nobody panic, I'm not in a super rush or ready to marry the first person who comes along. I'm just saying I love the French language and would love it to be a part of my daily life forever. I suppose it could be another language, Spanish or another one that I could learn at a later date. I just love bilingualism and multi-culturalism. This sort of leads me to my 5-year plan...

I keep reading all this stuff about picturing the life you want to lead and writing it down and all of that. Honestly, that's hard for me to do. My life has regularly taken turns that I would have never expected. I like to keep the future open but why not start to make a plan? As long as I stay open to changes, I think it's fine. So, here goes...

I see myself in France for at least the next two years. Ideally I'd get this Master's degree and then be able to work the 2nd year, but we'll see how that goes. After that, I'm not sure where I'll be, but I think I'd like to use my degree to help run and/or start a non-profit. I would like to do something helping women. It could be working for Planned Parenthood, HIV/AIDS education, health education, women's rights...something like that. Not sure exactly what yet, but I want it to allow me work with people from around the world, use my language skills, and travel.

In my personal life, I see myself with a family. There, I said it. I know for years I said I didn't want kids and marriage was optional, but I changed my mind. I would like to be married at some point in the next 5 years, and ideally I want kids before I get too old. I think the first one around 34 or 35 would be good. All of this is subject to change...just some ideas...

Okay, that's probably enough for today. I hope everyone is doing well.