Why am I starting a blog? What do I hope to accomplish with this? What are the changes in my life that begin in less than two weeks? After 4 years of InterVarsity leadership, there's one thing I've learned (yes, just one) and that's how important it can be to ask the right questions to get where you want your audience to go. So with that, this is some of what my life will look like for the next two years.
Basically by accepting a position with Schlumberger as an international mobile field engineer I've signed away the next few years of my life to the will of the company and God. I was offered a choice initially between Mexico and Siberia. I chose Mexico the way I make more important choices. I weighed the options, allowed people I trust to have input, prayed about it, and then one day I just knew the answer. I'll have many more choices to make down the road, often without the benefit of time to make those choices in.
Over the next year I expect to have my butt kicked by pretty much everything. The hours of my job (scheduled for 12 hours a day, probably working 14-16 hr/day), the culture I'm submitting myself to (likely the only white girl on a Mexican oil rig), the language barrier (I took French in high school) the travel (I'm living out of two suitcases for the next several years of my life) and the million other factors I haven't even thought of.
So why am I doing this to myself? Good question (tune in next time) I'm slightly terrified if I allow myself to think though the various possibilities. Which brings me to why I'm starting a blog at all. Now more than ever, I'll need the support of you, my family and friends. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update. I'm not sure how much I'll be allowed to share about what I'm doing and where I am. I ask only that you bear (yes BEAR, haha) with me as I make bad puns, ramble on, and all the other annoying habits I have that will translate over cyber-space. And for this, all I have to offer in return is hopefully what can be assurance that I'm still alive, that I'm happy, that the adventure has been worthwhile and that God is good.
My schedule, as I know it, for the next few weeks:
August 20th- September 1st -- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Why? Two weeks of on board training. I'll learn about the company, my benefits, get my coveralls, and (best of all) skid a car around as part of driver training.
September 1st - October 1st -- Guadalajara, Mexico
Why? Four weeks of intensive language training to beat the French out. Kidding, but I will be living with a host family (who I secretly hope is a Mexican version of the Rowlettes) and taking classes during the day.
October 1st -- the next 1-3 months -- Villahermosa, Mexico
Why? This is my job and what I agreed to. Why the timeline? After observing for a while I'll get shipped out to a second training facility so they can teach me my job and I can finally start making some money for the company. My job is not actually to stand around and make sarcastic comments. That may surprise some of you.
Cool! I'm excited to see what you write next! Good luck in Brazil!
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