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I used to get a lot of flack when I’d say “I’m going to do this” and a bunch of people would go “You can’t do that!” It didn’t matter what exactly it was I was going to do, what program I was going to apply for, or what newspaper I was going to talk to (it could have even been something as simple as saying ‘I’m going to bake a pie’)…all of a sudden a dozen people who have their glasses perpetually three-quarters of the way empty would pop out of the wood work and start whining telling me why something wouldn’t work, was impossible, or just unable to be done. To this day, I’m not even sure why they thought I couldn’t do something…barring it being banned by international law…and even then I didn’t see anything stopping me.

What would inevitably happen is that I’d do whatever it was I said I was going to do, turn around and say “hahahah, looks like I just did” (I’ve always been a bit more mature than the rest…clearly…) and they’d go back to their respective corners.

I think it all started when I had a teacher tell me in Middle School that I’d never graduate High School (dipshit that he was), but now a few years and five-ish pieces of paper later, I have a proven track record so I’m not all that worried at this point since I seem to have left that crowd behind with their last big out cry of “you can’t move to the Middle East!”…and oh look, I did!

However, I did realize that if I didn’t figure out (incredibly roughly) where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do with myself in life, I might be floundering (time moves too quickly to leave everything to chance, and the divine architect(s) help(s) those who help themselves). I don’t want to wind up 40, with no career…or just breaking into my field. I need a nice mixture of chaos mixed with a dash of order.

Being here in Israel, my mind has never been more clear, more confident, more introspective…I’ve had my love of God just increased to levels where my heart swells with happiness on a daily basis (even on the bad days). I see the rising sun, the green leaves, the desert sands, the gush of flavor from the freshest fruits all as divine acts and beautiful gifts of grace.

I no longer take the ocean or sunsets for granted, but find them to be things I’m thankful to have created. I don’t know if I’d say I was more religious (a word that has so many different connotations - both positive and negative - to so many different people), but I would say that I feel more cognitively aware, or perhaps more full of praise. No, I don’t wear all black, no I don’t have a beard, no I’m not getting rid of my tattoos…God and I understand each other well enough to the point where I don’t need to dress like I’m from the shtettle, though I have taken to wearing a Kippa on a daily basis for a multitude of reasons.

I’ve had hours to myself this past month to put serious thought into what I want out of life (because if I don’t work for it now, where will I be when I should have what I want?) and really, I want a job that lets me lead a life of service. I want a job that will let me dedicate my life to the Tikun Olam, one that will also let me travel, one that will incorporate my love of the outdoors and my love of writing, and speaking and my love of social justice, and my love of language…all together into one package.

So below is a rough road map, a general idea, a prayer, an inkling, a hope, a slight wish, subject to the usual chaos that life throws in, but it exists nonetheless:

August 2008
August 20, 2008 - Begin 1.5 Years Army Service

September 2008
In The Israeli Defense Forces
September 2, 2008 - I turn 24

October 2008
In the Israeli Defense Forces

November 2008
In The Israeli Defense Forces

December 2008
In The Israeli Defense Forces
December 27, 2008 - In Israel for 1 Year

January 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

February 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

March 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

April 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

May 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

June 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces
June 15, 2009 - Lease Expires on Apartment, Re-sign lease?

July 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

August 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces
August 20, 2009 - One Year in the Army

September 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces
September 2, 2009 - I Turn 25

October 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

November 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces

December 2009
In The Israeli Defense Forces
December 27, 2009 - In Israel For 2 Years

January 2010
In The Israeli Defense Forces

February 2010
In The Israeli Defense Forces
February 20, 2010 - Complete My Army Service

March 2010
Visit The United States, Toronto, Quebec (Harass Anne & Dominic)

April 2010
Visit Dharm Sala WIth Jeruen (correct timing?)
Visit Carrie in Austria

May 2010
Make My Grand Return to Yaoi North, Reclaim my Panels
Visit Lizzie in Panama, Learn Spanish, Date Hot Latinos as a Study Aid, Do Volunteer Work

June 2010
Visit Lizzie in Panama, Learn Spanish, Date Hot Latinos as a Study Aid, Do Volunteer Work

July 2010
Visit Lizzie in Panama, Learn Spanish, Date Hot Latinos as a Study Aid, Do Volunteer Work

August 2010
Intensive Hebrew Ulpan at Tel-Aviv University

September 2010
Work (Freelance, Drag, Tutor, etc.)
September 2, 2010 - I Turn 26

October 2010
Work (Freelance, Drag, Tutor, etc.)

November 2010
Begin Givat HaViva (An Arabic Language Intensive - 100 Hour a Week - Program)

December 2010
Givat HaViva
December 27, 2010 - In Israel For Three Years, NBN’s Golden Handcuffs Removed

January 2011
Givat HaViva

February 2011
Givat HaViva

March 2011
Givat HaViva

April 2011
Givat HaViva

May 2011
Givat HaViva

June 2011
Givat HaViva

July 2011
Givat HaViva
Complete Giva HaViva
Fly to the United States

August 2011
Begin Graduate School on Long Island, Masters in Social Work (MSW) Program.

September 2011
MSW Program, Year 1
September 2, 2011 - I Turn 27

October 2011
MSW Program, Year 1

November 2011
MSW Program, Year 1

December 2011
MSW Program, Year 1

January 2012
Vacation in Israel

February 2012
MSW Program, Year 1

March 2012
MSW Program, Year 1

April 2012
MSW Program, Year 1

May 2012
MSW Program, Year 1
Yaoi North

June 2012
Internship Potentials: Doctors Without Borders, Hillel, Rape Crisis Services (For Male Victims), Tourette Syndrome of America, others, something in Washington, D.C.?

July 2012
Internship Potentials: Doctors Without Borders, Hillel, Rape Crisis Services (For Male Victims), Tourette Syndrome of America, others, something in Washington, D.C.?

August 2012
Begin MSW Program, Year 2

September 2012
MSW Program, Year 2
September 2, 2012 - I Turn 28

October 2012
MSW Program, Year 2

November 2012
MSW Program, Year 2

December 2012
MSW Program, Year 2

January 2013
Vacation in Israel

February 2013
MSW Program, Year 2

March 2013
MSW Program, Year 2

April 2013
MSW Program, Year 2

May 2013
MSW Program, Year 2
Yaoi North

June 2013
MSW Program, Year 2
Graduate MSW Program

July 2013
Vacation in Israel

August 2013
Begin Graduate School in Vermont, M.A. in Arabic
Get Hired by Hillel

September 2013
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1
September 2, 2013 - I Turn 29

October 2013
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1

November 2013
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1

December 2013
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1

January 2014
Vacation in Israel

February 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1

March 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1

April 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1

May 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 1
Yaoi North

June 2014
Volunteer Abroad

July 2014
Volunteer Abroad

August 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

September 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2
September 2, 2014 - I Turn 30

October 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

November 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

December 2014
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

January 2015
Vacation in Paris

February 2015
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

March 2015
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

April 2015
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2

May 2015
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2
Yaoi North

June 2015
M.A. in Arabic Program, Year 2
Graduate M.A. in Arabic Program

July 2015
Vacation in Israel

August 2015
Find someone who wants to hire a Social Worker fluent in English, Hebrew & Arabic, who can get by in Spanish, who wants to work in war-zones, who can also do work with the LGBT community and who wants to work with refugee populations, a TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certified Teacher, with a passion for hiking and the great outdoors, black coffee and standard poodles. Travel the world working for aid organizations, work in New York City with the LGBT and Homless communities, work in Israel.

September 2015
September 2, 2015 - I Turn 31