Go Fly A Kite!

Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, or a new country. ~ Anais Nin

Today two students from a rural high school made their way through the crazy snowy weather to arrive at my work for a tour and an opportunity to look at a career as an interpreter. I was pretty darn nervous when they did not arrive by 10:00 and I had not heard from them. They called 15 minutes later to say that they were close and would be there soon. Whew!!

The one student had a Deaf cousin and wanted to explore becoming an interpreter. The other was a “tag along”. I had prepared a day of classroom observations, meetings with a recent graduate of the interpreter training program and a veteran teacher, and a tour of the Deaf School. By the end of the day, the tag along was inspired and was thinking that she might take an ASL course in the summer.

This made me think about what happens when we tag along or open ourselves to opportunities that we might not choose to do willingly. In fact, as I write this it is International Date Night and I must admit that I do not really know how to date. I mean, I have been on dates. I hate them for the most part. Once you get to know the person and are in a relationship I like dating better but I hate that awkward, “Do I like him? Does he like me?” UGH!! I mean, really, I have better things to do most evenings.

Having said that, I did admit to a few friends that I would like to date more this year. In a recent long distance phone call, a friend challenged me on how I was going to go about doing that. I have no clue. She suggested that I try online dating services. I have too many hesitations despite having a few good friends having success with it. I am open to meeting someone through friends though. However, most of my friends say they don’t have anyone that would be a match.

I have no romantic fantasies about bumping into George Clooney at Safeway and him falling madly, deeply, and passionately in love with me. Well, ok, truth be told, before I left for Africa, I secretly hoped that he might see me at work and be swept off his feet by my compassion and brilliance. Just my luck that he meets the love of his life just before I leave!

I have good friends who keep me grounded in reality. This summer in Ottawa I had a conversation with friends who made me rethink many things about men and the dating scene. They are not experts but their perspective was so different that I did have to examine mine. If I want something serious, I have to get more serious about it. I have traveled several provinces to meet someone who was a blind date. I have been surprised at times and ended up in a relationship with someone I did not expect to meet. I am open but I am not sure how to increase the pool of people I know.

This week Sympatico had on its webpage Tips for the Dating Scene or something equally as obnoxious. In keeping with getting serious about dating, I went through the slide show. I kind of chuckled at a few and gagged at a couple but keeping in mind what my friends said, I tried to be open to some of the suggestions. Who knows? I may end up dating again and actually liking it. Wouldn’t that be a novel activity? I’ll throw my kite in the air and see what I get.

Peace,

Suzanne