From the Corporate grind to the maize grind?

Working in corporate America has it perks. I get great benefits, paid vacation days, a regular paycheck. My life has stress but stability.While some projects require a lot of extra work; for the most part I go to work, do my job, and come home. I work 40-50 hours a week and then get to do whatever I want in that time in between.

The salary I make affords me a comfortable living with the basics.

But Corporate America has its drawbacks. There is more "red tape" than you could ever imagine, it takes forever to get things done, do more with less seems to be the never ending motto, and don't get on the bad side of a boss. I have endless amounts of paperwork and all those comforts of living require a bill that has to be paid at a certain time each month.

That car that my job affords me requires insurance, and gas, and repairs. That phone costs a good chunk of change each month, and I don't have any fancy plan. And just try living without internet these days!

Freedom is really quite a relative concept. Yes the constitution may grant me freedom of speech, and religion, and the right to bear arms. But try to bring any of that to the workplace? It's a pretty sure way to make yourself unemployed. Business, especially corporate business, is a giant game. A game of persuasion and problem solving. In some cases it is a game of back stabbing and sucking up to the right people. That old adage " it isn't what you know but who you know" still rings true!

The contrast to living in a much simpler manner with no rent, utilities, internet bill, car, or any of the luxuries that clutter our lives here in America sounds pretty appealing right about now. Sure it will be like camping for 2 years but just imagine what a relief it must be to not have to figure out which paycheck will pay each and every bill. The struggles change from hiring problems to the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter. The problem solving becomes centered around how to create food security and literacy rather than how to get some developer to like you and make adjustments to the programming.

I'm not saying Zambia will be free of bureaucracy but the change in pace will be a welcome contrast. And the meaning in what I'm doing will be much more rewarding than furthering the profits of a money hungry company. I'm hoping the change from much to little physically will result in a change from little to much intrinsically. Maize grind, here I come!

My desk after returning from a work trip. My team wrapped every little thing on my desk as a prank.

The boss' desk after a business trip. I promise we work those photos just aren't as interesting.

The daily grind.

Back in the cubical days.

The view everyday that I will miss!

The legacy of generations.

It would come as no surprise to most who know me that I come from a long line of teachers. My Aunts, my Grandmother, my Great Grand Mother, and many before were teachers.

It seems to reason that I would be selected to teach English in Zambia. The job role of a rural education development volunteer excites me to think that I will perpetuate the legacy of so many kin before me. And I'm not alone, my younger sister is a science teacher. Heck if Josh could teach math we'd have all the primary subjects covered!

While my professional life is centered around managing a team I have always found ways to use my natural teaching gift. I taught Swing Dance for 9 years, I coached a Speech and Debate team for many years,and I've tutored English now for over a year. I also conduct copious amounts of training with my organization which could be thought of as teaching to a professional audience.

So you see, the leap to teaching English in third-world Zambia is really not so big of a stretch.

It makes me to smile to think what my Great Grandma Smith and Grandma Chrismon would say if they could see me now.

Daily Devotion

One of the things I would like to do before leaving is compile my very own daily devotional filled with verses, phrases, and whatever words of wisdom you have for me to get me through this experience. I will have a notebook that I would love for you to write whatever words of encouragement you have in. If you are not able to physically write in the book please feel free to comment or email with anything you'd like to add. One of the things I love is how miraculously the spirit works and I have a feeling your words will come on just the right day at just the right time. So please share your words of wisdom, encouragement, tough love, or whatever you have for me. I love you all so much!

The process....

Joining PC comes with many obstacles. These include mountains of paperwork, loads of doctor appointments (read: expensive), a ton of patience, and some serious time management skills. None of these compare to the stress and anxiety that come with trying to downsize a two bedroom home to a few boxes for storage! I've started by gathering all the possible items I'll take with me in a large Rubbermaid container.  I've organized the little things like toiletries and electronics. Meanwhile I'm taking little steps going through clothing, books, shoes, papers, junk draws, kitchen cabinets, etc trying to downsize little bit by little bit. I can't say I've been too super successful as of yet but I have successfully made a giant pile of stuff to to offload.  This next 3 months is going to fly by! And all the while I'm trying to fit in as much Tai Chi, snowboarding, friends, motorcycle riding, time at synagogue, and all the little things I love about this town! Whew talk about a tall order! Here's to another week of doctor appointments.