It’s A Start.

I have always wanted to travel and work with intercultural/multicultural communities but I have rationalized and allowed budget to constrain me or some minute detail.

I have imagined myself in Martinique on an anthropological journey studying and researching the linguistic attributes and cultural aspects that compares Martinique to Haiti. I have seen myself in Guatemala and even Brazil on a volunteer trip. I have even played with the idea of doing missions work in Eastern Europe, Honduras and Costa Rica. I’ve considered and looked over internships or other opportunities to work in the embassy in France or Germany. I have researched governmental positions to work in Washington D.C., Chicago or Haiti. I have talked about study abroad and came close to going about the process for one. In the latter process of things I was encouraged to teach English in South Korea.  But, as the opportunities came, so did the reasons that would limit me from participating. Of course, there were some that I was not qualified for (perhaps, some at the moment I came upon them) but, for many I have psyched myself out of applying or going all-in.

Somehow, in February of my last year of college, I was talking to someone about “Idon’tknowwhat” and we got to speaking about her backpacking trip to Europe and I said something along the lines of how that had been a dream to do something like that in my lifetime. She challenged me to do it. I thought about it and with 3/4 conviction that it is something I would strongly consider.

Originally, I was supposed to volunteer my summer in Latin America and while I had applied I have been and still am waiting for a response from the organization.

I continued to get hyped at the chance of making such a decision simply on a “want” more than “calculated measures” “overanalyzing” and “computations”. I told her that I will go and I would do it. Though, I was serious about it, she eventually said that I was not allowed to speak with her until I booked my ticket, (the shock).

Anyways, I have since spoken to her, we have both graduated and while she has been to both Paris and London. I am here at home writing this blog post. I am trying to come up with a hashtag to document my independent study abroad adventures in France and Germany. It is a great professional opportunity and personal accomplishment that I can’t wait to begin.

Let me know about what you think of: #annmakirjournal #annmakirgermany #annmakirfrance.  This is important because being a storyteller and a public relations graduate, social media is a medium I use to tell stories and while I am going to these foreign places, it is very important for me to find a story. Be sure to follow the adventure if you choose.

No matter what I end up doing as a career, I will be telling stories.