#gypsylife

When I introduce myself to new people, it usually goes something like this:

"Hi! I'm Jessica. I'm a Social Worker and my favourite colour is purple. I have a pet rabbit named Beauregard, I'm a middle child, I have multiple pairs of overalls that I wear in public, and sometimes I'm a bit of a flight-risk."

Let's talk about that last part for a hot minute.

Over the last few months, things have been a little shaky. Ever since my car accident in January, I've had a considerable amount of time to really take a look at who and where I am in my life, and what it is exactly that I want...and because of that flight-risk piece, "what it is exactly that I want" looked like maybe moving to Edmonton for school. Or maybe moving to Istanbul. Or maybe quitting my job and buying a 13-foot Boler to hook up to my Toyota Yaris and living in that for the next 5, or 10, or million years while I drive across the country.

But alas, reality set in and I came to a few conclusion;

a) I don't want to go back to school yet.

b) Istanbul is really far away.

c) The 13-foot Boler doesn't have a bathroom.

So then I was right back to square one. Still feeling unsettled, still feeling bored, still honestly contemplating Istanbul...and then, the Job Posting happened.

I'm sure if you've talked to me for any amount of time in the last year, you'd know that I LOVE my job. I love it. I talk about it all the time, I think it's exciting and challenging and I think my clients are amazing and I've got some of the most ridiculous and hilarious stories and I L O V E M Y J O B. However, I also went to school for 4 years to earn a degree that I don't even need in order to do this job, so that I could *actually* help change people's lives. So I could *actually* fight the systems that oppress the people I work for. So that I could *actually* make a difference. But, in this job that I love, I don't really get to do those things. And that's been really hard for me to accept.

And that, along with feeling all of those feelings that I have been feeling, prompted me to consider that it may be time to branch out and see if I had any other options*.

*Spoiler Alert: I did. I did have other options!

---

Flash forward to this week, on Wednesday. I'm sitting on my couch, waiting to hear from the Executive Director of the agency I had skype-interviewed with on Monday morning. Now I don't mean to braggggg but, I killed the interview. The ED told me that I gave the best personal strengths list she'd ever heard in her career. One of the Board members asked if I was single, and then offered to set me up with her son. I sat with these women for over an hour, and despite not having the million years of experience they were hoping for, I proved to them that I am smart, and determined, and hard-working and passionate and that they needed to take this chance on me.

I was confident I was going to get the job.

I was also just about peeing myself from how SUPER FREAKING HOLY-MOLY NERVOUS that I was definitely not going to get the job. But like, I think that's pretty normal, yeah?!

Anyway. This is a long-winded way to tell you, friends and internet strangers, that I got the job.

I, 'less-than-a-year-in-the-field, currently-wearing-coveralls-with-green-hair" Jessica, am the new Children Who Witness Abuse/Safe House Program Coordinator -in Mackenzie, BC.

I'll leave you to your own Google Maps search 😳

And everyone keeps asking if I'm scared, or nervous, or if I realize that Mackenzie is in the middle of nowhere and that I can no longer get my nails done by my nail guru and that there will be no Starbucks coffee and that there will be even more snow in the winter than I have currently.

And the answer to all of those questions is yes. Yes I am. And yes I have. And yes I'm going to be saving $100 AT LEAST a month from not stopping at Starbs every afternoon...but I'm okay with it. I'm okay with being a little nervous, I'm okay with not knowing anyone and being so far away from what is comfortable for me, and I'm okay with this new challenge.

I'm NOT okay with the fact that I can't have #flawless nails anymore, but sometimes sacrifices need to be made.

So, I have exactly one month until this new adventure begins. One month to finish at my current job, pack up my life, and move to the Great White North (kinda). One month to stock up on Blonde Via Instant packages. One month to prepare myself for the culture-shock that will be Mackenzie.

One month until everything changes. I told you that exciting things would be on their way!! And in case you're reading this and I haven't told you before, thanks for hanging out with me in this crazy life - I'm pretty sure it's only going to get wilder from here on out. Stay tuned, because Delightfully Dillon is on the move!!

Jessica*.

PS. feel free to drop me a line if you want to know more about my new role, my new agency, or the work that I'm going to be doing! It's really amazing stuff, but my head is just spinning too fast to get into it all here! XO