Santa Clara University

Alumni Update: Jenn Errante

Casa Spring 2003

Me with a few of my fourth-grade students

August 2005: Hello friends! Yes, I'm in Cali - equidistant from San Francisco and San Jose. Straight from summer camp in Oklahoma I went to Springfield, IL, for orientation as a Dominican volunteer http://www.domvolsusa.org/. From there, to St. Louis to visit my grandmother and a couple of friends, and then to Kansas City for a few days to pack and say goodbyes to my family.

 

So here I am. With my feet on the ground, but my head in the clouds and my heart all over the world. I can tell I'll love it here, but this week has been a whirlwind of emotions. Still transitioning... I'll be teaching Spanish and religion to first generation Hispanic-American fourth-graders, English and computer to their Spanish-speaking mothers, coordinating volunteers for our clothing and food bank, and so many other things that a job description cannot possibly anticipate!

 

 

 

 

Hangin' on the edge of half-dome in Yosemite

I'll be keeping an online journal for anybody who'd like to take this journey with me. My website is up and running (though at times in a lull), and it has links to photos as well:: http://www.livejournal.com/~jenn_in_cali/ 

 

A recent college graduate, I am Errante. Still searching for my place in the world, discerning my purpose, my vocation. A degree in Spanish and International Studies landed me in a catering facility working as a sales rep and event planner for 30K. Exactly what my seven semesters of studies had prepared me for, eh? Four months of superficial sales and undiscovered talents left me debt-free and restless for change. An 8,000 mile road trip ended in Vian, OK, where I spent two months counseling a Presbyterian camp. Filled with the spirit and a desire to continue working with kids, I found my way as a Dominican Volunteer to Casa Alianza and the St. Francis Center in Redwood City, CA. After four months of itinerancy, I am finally home.

 

Me with Christina and Susan, the two Dominican sisters with whom I live.

 

Knowing that for the next ten months I'll have the same friendly housemates to greet me each morning, the same humidity-free California weather to bask in each day, the same women and children to share life with each week, the same pillow to rest my head on each night... All this tells me I'm finally home, done wandering, through vagabonding -- for a while at least. But I am still restless. Still searching for my place in the world, discerning my purpose, my vocation. I am Errante.

 

 

Yes, I am restless. Very. Here's my mailing address and phone:

 

Jennifer Errante

2426 Delaware Avenue

Redwood City, CA 94061

(650) 299-0210

 

 

 

Hope you all are well and transitioning successfully in your own part of the world. I miss you! Keep in touch,

 

Jenn

 

 

Me with Lulu, one of the mothers to whom I teach English and computers

Me with Alyssa, the other Dominican Volunteer with whom I live