THE LONG WAY ROUND
I regularly get asked the question "So, how long are you here for?" -the assumption being that I am on vacation or passing though. This usually happens shortly after I open my mouth and speak to a stranger, because as soon as I do that the other person realizes that I am not from here! My name is Rhona Meeks and I'm originally from London, England. Although I've lived in the US for the past 8 years (and Taos for the past 6) I have still managed to retain enough of my English accent for people to "notice." Another question that I have grown accustomed to hearing is "What brought you to New Mexico?" This always makes me pause and think back over the strange set of circumstances that led to me living in this wonderful place. I definitely went "the long way round."
I've come to realize that there are so many stories about how people have come to call Taos NM home. Many were born here and have deeply rooted connections to this land that run through generations. Some arrive here in search of the spirituality of the mountains, and others like me got here almost by mistake!
My journey started in 2004 when I accepted a teaching position in Hong Kong after working as an Art teacher in the UK for several years. The reason I got hired was as a result of a serendipitous trip to Thailand over Christmas that year. I bumped into someone there (also on holiday) who knew of a vacancy for an Art teacher at the International School in Hong Kong where she was employed at the time. She hooked me up with contact information and I applied as soon as I got back to the UK. One rainy February morning, after completing a telephone interview and being offered a job on the spot, I decided I was going to roll the dice and move to South East Asia. As they say, "that was that." I had no idea how long I would end up staying in Hong Kong, and no idea what I was letting myself in for (I had never been to Hong Kong before!), but jumped on a plane a couple of months later and left. I could not have imagined as I sat terrified on the runway about to take off that I would not be going back to my familiar old life any time soon, and no clue about all the adventures to come.
As it turned out I ended up living in Hong Kong for 7 years. During that time there I was able to explore Asia, spend a summer in Uganda teaching in an orphanage, learn how to cook Chinese food, and meet my (now ex) husband who happened to be a US citizen. We got married and eventually moved to theStates. Living in Taos was a dream for him, so we migrated here after a short spell on the East Coast (I had never even heard of Taos at that time and landed here in the dark on New Years Eve 2011 with no preconceived ideas about what to expect). Unfortunately, as life goes sometimes, things didn't work out for us and we decided to go our separate ways after several years but as I came up for air and looked around, I realized I had to make a decision.
Now, I am further down the train tracks as a Naturalized US Citizen, and am still so happy about my decision to stay. I work as a Case Manager for a local non profit that helps homeless teens and youth in crisis, and have done so for the past 6 years. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a way to channel my passion for working with people, and believe wholeheartedly in the mission of my organization. The young clients I work with are inspirational, and the privileged role I occupy in their lives has, on some un-explain able level, become part of my DNA over the years. I was able to register one of my dogs as a therapy animal last year, and I try to incorporate 'doggie visits' into my role as Case manager wherever it seems appropriate. My animals have been a huge reservoir of strength for me personally during my time in the US, and having the opportunity to share that with others is something that I value immensely.
My latest project is to qualify as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor which seems not only like a logical step forward in my career progression, but an extension of what I already do. I started my Masters in Counseling in August 2019 and am set to graduate (hopefully?) in Spring 2022. Even at the ripe old age of 47 I still feel as though I am a 'work in progress' and who knows what the future holds. In these uncertain times it makes no sense for me to worry about the destination too much, but rather just enjoy the ride (as much as it's possible to do while in the grip of a global pandemic). COVID-19 has taken its toll on all of us in so many ways. As long as I can scruffle my dogs, pet my cat, keep a roof over my head, and one nostril above water juggling school commitments and a full-time job, that'll be enough for me for now! With gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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