i changed my blog. this one is mostly about india and now my life is very different from the way it was then. so, here's the new one!

hmm...it won't display the link. another good reason to switch to wordpress. ok, here is the address. juliejames.wordpress.com. it will take a little more effort to type it in than just clicking it. sorry.

confessions of a job searcher

time for my usual 'every now and then' blog. we've been busy trying to wrap up our time in missouri and get ready for our coming adventure in dc. i feel like we're as prepared as we can be, which is uncharacteristic of me. i'm not sure i've ever felt prepared for anything. maybe jared makes me a little more grounded. or maybe i'm in denial.

we have a tiny little apartment on capitol hill. i have only lived three places in my life: richland, shawnee, and the himalayas. capitol hill is a big jump for me. but yes, we are literally ten minutes away from union station and paying dearly for such a great location. what surprises me is that i'm very comfortable in dc despite my small town-ness. i know the metro system really well. i have finally figured out the stupid quadrants the whole city is divided in. as far as cities go dc is very manageable.

i actually just returned from dc. i flew out on a whim for three different job interviews. my dear friend, jessie, and i both crashed with suzanne and we had a great time. jessie was nice enough to walk with me to my different interviews and it was such a blessing to have someone to process everything with. she is also looking for jobs in dc and we are very much in the same boat. we lived together for a year in college and used to build forts in our apartment. whenever we got stressed we would hide in our forts and eat apples and peanut butter. how good of the Lord to bring us back together and give us each other during this time. i'm not sure what His plan is for us but i can't help but hope we end up being neighbors on capitol hill.

as for the jobs--well, i can honestly say i have worked very hard to find a job. i had three wonderful interviews and would be happy to have any of those jobs, but the decision is out of my hands. of course, nothing can make you feel like a loser faster than job rejection... even so, i know i am not a loser. i put on a power suit and trudged through the humid air to put myself on the line on the tenth floor of ritzy office buildings. i was nervous but it was still a piece of cake compared to trekking through ice and snow alongside poor donkeys until my feet turned blue. the hard thing is how easy it is to forget all that now that i'm heading towards washington. for some reason i feel like i should naturally transition from mountain girl to top notch non profit executive.

pride comes in both a sari and a power suit. and i don't want any part of it. i will feel disappointed if none of these jobs work out but i will keep looking. i will choose to be satisfied with what the Lord provides because He knows what is best for jared and me. so if any of you hear me complain about my employment (or lack thereof) PLEASE smack me in the head and tell me i didn't live in the third world for no reason. remind me that so many in the country i love will never have a chance to work at all.

well, thank you for reading my thoughts sans pictures. i have a cute one of suzanne, jessie, and me but i forgot my camera cord. and dang it, kelley, i just remembered i never sent you that picture of us. and i KNOW you did not forget because that is how you are :) i shall send it soon!

please come visit us in dc. we will be there in two weeks!