Hello,
Finally am getting around to sending my "real" update. It's a strange thing to write about your life. Our lives are made up of moments, rather than events, but I'll stick to the basics!
I attended college at a state university in New York where I graduated with a degree in Spanish and Spanish Literature. After college, I returned to Buffalo, not knowing what I was going to do (and broke!). After two years of various jobs: waitressing, office work, painting and substitute teaching I decided I needed to return to school. I initially thought I wanted to teach Spanish, but after substituting, I discovered that doing work that addressing others emotional and spiritual lives was a better fit for me. I returned to school in 1998 for a Masters in Social Work. After my graduate program, I was able to combine my two degrees and worked for about 2 1/2 years in an outpatient mental health clinic, where I worked as a therapist for a mainly Puertorican population, conducting a majority of my sessions in Spanish. It was hard work! The clients often had severe trauma histories and little resources materially and emotionally. Trying to do all that in Spanish was difficult and I often felt depleted. Therefore about 4 years ago (wow! writing this all down makes you realize how time has flown by), I transferred to a more suburban counseling setting and am working with all populations: children, adolescents, adults, families. The change was positive for me as my clients are more able to make changes in their lives. While being a counselor is a good fit for me in so many ways, the work can be emotionally taxing at times, and I wonder if outpatient counseling is something I'll always want to do. I think once you settle into any career, you have times where you are enchanted and energized by it, and times it simple feels like work! I have not used my Spanish in many years, so I am on a personal campaign right now to refresh my skills by reading in Spanish, listening to TV in Spanish and hopefully taking a few classes in the fall.
I did some travelling to Europe in 1998. I was in Spain for 3 weeks and then traveled to other big cities: Paris, Bern, Rome, Venice & Florence. Most of my traveling lately has been in the U.S. I have family who now lives out West. After not feeling the travel bug much over the past few years, I'm starting to feel drawn toward to trip to South America.
I remain in Buffalo, NY where I still have my sister and my neice and nephew, as well as my Dad and stepmom. I have treasured being an aunt and have other nieces and nephews in other places. I'm in a transition place right know, wondering and trying to stay open to the possibility of new changes in my life. I started singing in my church's contemporary band this year. After almost 14 years of not singing in a formal way, it has been challenging but rewarding to rekindle that part of me.
Sage has been in graduate school close by for the past fews years, so I have been lucky to connect with her. I took a trip out to L.A. in February to see Andy. I was such a blast to see him doing his "Hollywood" thing.
So that about does it! Hope all are well and wishing blessings and peace to everyone in their own life journeys.
-Barb
