Seriously, What Now?

The crossroads I am currently at may be the greatest of my life. Not “greatest” meaning “best” or “most important,” but “greatest” meaning “largest.” Large enough, I think, to justify a pretty big metaphor.

In the past, I have usually had to choose my next step after completing some kind of milestone, such as a degree or a contract. Most of those times, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do next. When I finished high school, for instance, there was very little chance I was going anywhere other than university. When I finished university, I knew I wanted to go to both Spain and New Zealand; when I’d done the first, I knew I was going to the next as soon as possible.

Those intersections were a bit like the one described in the only Robert Frost poem I can quote, the one about two roads diverging in a wood. I wouldn’t like to claim that I’ve always taken the road less traveled by, because that would mean I’d be ending a sentence with a preposition. And also it’s not true. I do think, however, that the roads available to me have always been distinct from one another, and that I have always had a clear preference. When I chose to go to New Zealand, for instance, I knew that if I didn’t go, I would always be looking for a chance to do so in the future. So I went, and it “made all the difference.”

Now, having completed my Master’s degree, I’m at another crossroads. For a variety of reasons, this one feels less like a choice between paths in the woods and more like deciding where to go from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The Arc de Triomphe stands in the middle of a roundabout/rotary that connects 12 – count ‘em – 12 different streets. Paris was heavily rebuilt in the 1800s (thank you, planning education), meaning each tree-lined street has similarly gorgeous architecture. Although the Champs-Elysées is wider than the others, all the options look pretty good and relatively similar at first glance.  

Part of me wishes I was back in the woods, choosing between a few dirt paths. But if my current situation is like standing on top of the Arc de Triomphe, I can consider myself pretty lucky. 

Me standing on top of the Arc de Triomphe, more youthful and less metaphorical. 

   

What Now?

My last post left off at the beginning of the final semester of my Master’s degree. I spent my Christmas break getting acquainted with my nephew, who is an absolute delight to be around. So much so that I’m off to visit him and his parents tomorrow; now that I’m done studying, it’s time to start uncling (for a week).  

The final semester’s focus was a team project; my group’s task was to design a conservation subdivision in New Brunswick. I was pleased to find that the originator of the conservation subdivision concept did much of his early work in my first home, the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. His name is Randall Arendt, if anyone wants to look him up.

One of my major commitments early in the semester was arranging the international field trip to the exotic destinations of Boston and New York. You may have heard that Boston had quite a winter (Halifax did too); we were lucky enough to arrive on a day when it did not snow, but had a day’s itinerary cancelled due to a blizzard. Our time in New York was longer and had a more substantial itinerary that was not interrupted by weather. As much as I get tired of hearing how great NewYork is, I enjoyed my first bona fide exploration of the city that never sleeps (I did sleep, though). I also managed to pepper the entire trip with encounters with friends I hadn't seen in years, a pleasant addition for me.

  

In addition to school, I kept busy by captaining the first organized basketball team I’ve played on since I was 16. Although we only won one game by the score on the scoreboard, our team’s enthusiasm earned us several forfeit victories just for showing up when the other team didn’t. I also played on a European handball team (just handball for Europeans reading this) and quickly fell in love with the sport; I nearly lost my arm by playing in a one-day dodgeball tournament the day before playing two handball games in a row. After the Masters students entered no intramural teams at all in my first year, I was thrilled that we had such enthusiastic participation this year. We even gave out little certificates at the end.

Regardless of what we did, this final semester felt a bit like a victory lap for my class; knowing that we were within sniffing distance of our degrees, many of us turned our focus to the future. When we finally handed in our last assignments, about half of my class had secured jobs in the field in various places throughout Canada. Of those who remain unemployed, most are still actively job hunting and (I think) likely to find something. Which leaves the question: what am I going to do now?

I’m going to go visit my brother and his family for a week. Enjoy the photos.   

The State House in winter.

I guess snow doesn't have to "make way for ducklings."

The railyards, soon to be skyscrapers.

When in Brooklyn...

Pedestrianized Times Square! Probably what I was most excited to see in New York.