Dear reader,
Some not-food food for thought.
I admit there has been an absence of posts these past few months due to the all-consuming task of getting my life in order post-graduation. Finally, I have news. And a new direction.
I’m on the move. In exactly two weeks, I will be packing up my apartment in Chicago and headed to St. Louis. While I’ll miss Chicago’s neighborhoods, people and food offerings, I will not miss the cold.
At all.
Seriously.
Why was it 45 degrees the last week of May?
Get me out of here.
I couldn’t be more excited about returning to St. Louis. It has taken me a longggg time to figure out where I wanted to be after graduation. Three years ago, I was moving to NYC. Then I realized I like nature, personal space and the ability to afford food. I next thought Pacific NW for sure (Portland, Seattle). Then I realized I like sun. I like sun a lot. After that, I was convinced Austin was the place for me and everyone else. I honestly should work for that city’s tourism department with the way I talked about it. I went down there in March and had a blast, but coming from Chicago, I was surprised at how small it was and realized how far away I was from my family and friends.
Ultimately, the things I wanted in my city: family and friends nearby, seasons (and warmer weather), affordability, history, professional sports teams, attractions, small town feel in a medium/big place and a growing food movement all led me to my new home. Which was my old home. I place this realization in the category of my life titled: Things You Never Realized How Awesome They Were Until After They Ended/You Didn’t Have Them. Unfortunately, that list is a little longer than I’d like it to be, but that’s not important.
Because we are talking about the present.
The present consists of me graduating college in two weeks with a degree in journalism, a piece of paper that says I love writing so much that I made a public declaration in the form of a diploma that will inevitably hang on some wall somewhere. Maybe my future classroom…cue my transition to announcing my post-grad plans.
I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching for elementary education starting this fall. Becoming a teacher and working in the education system is my cliché millennial decision to “follow my dreams.” Luckily, I don’t have to give up journalism completely in order to do this. I recently accepted a great position at the university I’m attending where I will be working with college undergrads as the general manager of the school’s paper. Journalism + helping teach at an educational institution = dream job.
So that’s my present. And a little preview of my future two years. Now it’s time to edit some of my biographical information on this blog.
Love,
Amanda
Soon-to-be St. Louis food blogger (say hi if you live in STL!)
