the quest for Teresa's place in the world continues in 2009 ...

smaller falls in Great Falls National Park near Washington D.C. (January 2009)

Hello my dear friends & family,

Over the past 5 months, I've been on the rollercoaster ride that job searching often is ... experiencing the HIGHS of exploring new possibilities and getting excited about postings that call out to me and breathing through the LOWS of different options falling by the wayside. In particular the Activities Assistant position on Vancouver Island that some of you know about, that I thought I was heading toward last Nov./Dec. ... the plug was pulled on this in the 11th hour as I was waiting for the contract they said would be sent in a couple of days. Such was the impact of the big "economic downturn" on non-profit organizations relying on their endowment funds!

Many have been the opportunities for practicing PATIENCE, NON-ATTACHMENT, and COMPASSION for myself and others.

stillness & beauty of the frozen C & O Canal near Great Falls

After making as much peace as I could with myself & the situation that revealed I was not going to be working for Pearson College or on the west coast (at least at this time), I kept pushing on with my job search. A few weeks into the new year, I found myself gearing up to return to the Great White North for a few job interviews for outdoor, seasonal positions with the Alberta government. So, I prepared to return to Edmonton from my "sojourn" of a couple months out in the Washington D.C. area that was possible through the generosity and kindness that Margaret & my family on the east coast graciously shared with me in my "no-fixed-address," job-seeking, gypsy state-of-being.

sunset over the Capitol Building almost ready for Barack Obama's inauguration (January 15, 2009)

So, a few hours after watching Barack Hussein Obama be sworn in as the 44th president of the U.S. (on t.v. - we had no desire to wade through the sea of people that we knew were coming out for this historical event, especially the crowds in the Metro stations), I had to bid "adieu" to my sweet Margaret, & then board an airplane bound for Canada.

Turns out I was able to land quite softly into a house-sitting opportunity for my friend Munira, thanks for the connect on this Mary-Frances :) Munira's generosity & plans to travel around Argentina for a little over 3 weeks made this all possible. I've even been able to hang out here at Munira's cozy little house since she's returned. I was very grateful for the ability to settle into a space of my own for a while as I prepared for at least one job interview per week over the next 4 weeks.

ASIDE: this gentler landing was back to snow and Canadian Winter temperatures that dipped down to -25C for about 4 days shortly after I returned!!! I was away for the month long cold spell of -20 to -30C temp's but have endured a couple more that have appeared since I've been back.

West Virginia sunset (November 2008)

As a result of this recent & most welcome interview activity, I am now contemplating a few job offers & hoping for a few others to be coming in soon ...

Of the two offers I am contemplating, one is with the Alberta government, as a "Guardian," helping recreational users on public lands understand ways they can enjoy their activities while still playing lightly on the land and water http://www.srd.alberta.ca/aboutus/careers/guardian.aspx
(I've actually turned down this offer in light of the other prospects on the horizon)

The other is with Frost Valley YMCA, located in the Catskill Mountains (2.5 hours north of NY City). I would be leading adventure teen trips and possibly also coordinating their Counsellor in Training program for 16 year olds. Here is a link for FV YMCA & the Forstmann Castle where I could be living this summer in the shared staff accommodations that are in part of this building http://www.frostvalley.org/lodging/inn_style.htm

swirling tides of the Pacific Ocean welcome a gorgeous Assateague Island sunrise (December 2008)
morning beach walks with the rising sun inviting us to keep exloring :)


Even more exciting than this, I am doing my best to generate some really good positive energy for the prospect of working with Northern Edge Algonquin aka "The Edge" http://www.northernedgealgonquin.com to help offer their adult retreats & canoe/kayak trips and perhaps even some of the deep ecology work I am so passionate about.

Please feel free to meditate or think happy thoughts on this option to help generate more positive energy into the mix to help me move toward life at "The Edge" for this Summer and even longer.

.... another iron I have in the fire is an application with Outward Bound Canada for the courses they offer in the Rockies, where I could be helping with their mountaineering and youth asset building courses or possibly even the position they recently posted for a Recreation Instructor at the Banff Centre http://www.outwardbound.ca

I have a much greater preference for The Edge because of their overall philosophy that resonates so much for me. Their operating mantra is "Rediscover Ourselves, Empower Each Other, Restore Our Connection with the Earth" ... the founders & staff at The Edge also uphold values that are important to me such as seeking out local, organic foods as much as possible, and a mindfulness about the impact of operations on the planet. The Co-Operating Partnership arrangement among staff is also a most welcome operational relationship http://www.algonquincanada.com/blog/about/

I'll need to respond to the offers that have come my way before St. Patrick's Day & am persevering in my contact on the hottest irons I have in the fire now so that I can make decisions that factors these possible opportunities in as well.

the pastels of sunrise over the Pacific Ocean from the beach of Assateague Island (December 2008)

I am eager, yet patiently waiting, to see what will unfold for me in my quest to share my gifts and skills with others and in ways that benefit the natural world and all beings.

I'll be in touch as this clarity for my path forward is revealed ...

Hugs 'n' Bugs & heaps of love,

Teresa