past week

mele kalikimaka!! [hawaiian for merry christmas]

its interesting for me this year - im working christmas day. i don't much mind b/c im here w/o family, so im free to work that day, and it give the local people the day off. im constantly amazed at the number and diversity of people i chat with throughout the day, people from australia, new zealand, britian, france, sweeden, germany, japan, china, canada, and people from all around the mainland. for most people coming here are ESL [english as a second language] folk. oh how i wish i knew french!!!

ive been asked many times if working here is what i expected or if i think i could see myself doing this full time. i say no, then i say maybe, then i say i'll have to wait until im finished my term to decide. i love the work, talking with people, and helping people understand the way the environment works around them - im interpreting nature. i find it fufilling, but i would rather get to really know & spend time with people. i must meet 55+ people a day, but i don't get to know them as people. all i do is get them to a place of smiling and excitement to see the park. and then the fulfillment is over, they leave & i go onto talking to somebody else.

add to that mix that im w/o a christian community, surrounded by people who don't believe the same a i do, and don't have the love of my life with me. so its really hard to know if this is what i really want to do in the future. God knows what He has for us as time goes on, and i'll trust that that will be enough.

one think i know: i don't mind being away from the snow for the winter. really, that fact alone is enough for me to be willing to do this every winter!!! maybe everglades for winter 2010-2011 :)