Beginning of the Ends

This past month has been a whirlwind. We’ve been settling into the reality that the Peace Corps is really happening, and Mozambique will be our new home for 27 months. Preparations are well under way, and that includes being conscious of the fact that some things are coming to an end whether it be forever, or just for now.

As of July 1st, I am no longer an employee of the company I have worked for the past 6 years. I am really glad that everything ended on a very positive note, and they threw me a lovely send-off party :). Chris gave his employer notice the same day, and his boss was actually asking if he could stay through August, possibly September. While it would be great to make a little extra cash, we’re not sure how practical it will be since we have lots of travel plans coming up and do have to move out of our place by August. Anyway, it was great that his employer took the news well. So, aside from ending work, we are starting to take in other “lasts”. Like this past weekend, we watched a fantastic fireworks display at my Dad’s 4th of July shindig and realized this will be the last traditional 4th we have for a couple of years. Sure, we’ll celebrate with our fellow Peace Corps Volunteers in Mozambique, but it won’t be quite the same. My sister, her husband and my beautiful niece are coming to visit next week and this will probably be the last time we see them before we leave since they live all the way in Salt Lake City. Our niece is only a baby now, but will be a full-fledged toddler when we get back! Thank goodness I can see her grow a bit on Skype!!!...And the big trip to Florida is less than 2 weeks away. We say goodbye to our cats as they settle into their new home with my Mom, and I have to be prepared that this may be the last time I see my Mom and grandparents in person. Oy, that trip is going to be a rough one...Then the goodbyes to friends and family will continue through September, and we also say goodbye our home in Columbus, which as of now, we don’t plan on coming back to when we return.

Ok, ok enough with the melodrama!! Of course, with these goodbyes, comes the excitement of preparation for this life change. For one, I am enjoying not having to work until our departure!!! Well, there was a sense of “uh, what am I supposed to do now?” that first morning I didn’t have to set my alarm for work. There certainly wasn’t a lack of tasks to be done (that’s one of the reasons I quit my job early in the first place), I just didn’t know where to begin. It only took a day or two or organizing and now, I am into my groove!! And I am not going to lie, it’s also nice that when I was craving challah french toast one morning, I could go to the store and buy what I needed and come home and make it. And this my friends, is a perk of not working! :) So also, we’ve started to compile our “what to pack” and “what we need to do” lists, bought our luggage and are starting to buy gear (I never through I would need to own a headlamp!), starting to pack up the house, continuing our Portuguese study, etc. etc. We also started a Facebook page for our Peace Corps training group so that we can get to know them before we get to Moz! I am blown away by the diversity and intelligence of our fellow trainees. So far, it looks like we’ve got a Yale graduate, San Diego Scuba Diver, and a lot of high achieving, well-traveled peeps. It’s going to be great to be with a group that will keep me on my ‘A’ game! By the way, it looks like our entire group is going to be teachers and so far and I am the only English teacher! Everyone else is science or math.

On a final note, I wanted to talk about people’s reactions to our news. Of course, we’ve seen a lot of different reactions, luckily, most have been very positive. In fact, I can’t say there has really been one negative reaction (at least when they talk to me :)). But I find one of the most interesting reactions to be after someone asks what I will do with all the things I own (my home, cars, money etc.). You can see their wheels spinning as I explain what I am selling or moving and then they say, “So then when you get back, you’ll have to start all over?”. This is surprising to me because I really never thought about it that way. Yes, we will have to acquire some new stuff, but who I was before the PC and who I will become during will not go away. Actually, my previous experiences will only shape me into what I am going to do moving forward. It’s just a new chapter, not a whole new book and I have a feeling it’s going to be the best chapter yet. :)

Até próxima!