Looking Forward

Lots and lots to think about

I have gotten a lot more information in the last few days about what to expect when I get to Armenia.

For instance, it will take me four days to get there, after leaving Michigan.

If I did the math right, I will be getting paid $3/day during training. This is supposed to ”cover minimal personal items such as toiletries, water, phone cards, Internet expenses, transportation within trainee communities, and other personal expenses.”  I will receive $13 in moving expenses when I move to my permanent site in mid-August.

No one ever accused me of doing this for the money!

My bags are all trial-packed, and so far I feel comfortable with what I’m planning to bring. There will be another post later on, where I try to list the items I’m taking with me for two years.

I have been studying Armenian. I know my pronunciation is horrendous, but I am pleased about my ability to sound out words, looking at the very foreign-looking letters. And although my handwriting rivals a 3-year-old’s, I believe I am getting better at making the letter-shapes.

Showing my nieces and nephews what an awesome "Auntie" I am has been fun. They will seem a whole lot older when I get back...

My friends and family better feel all visited-out by the time I’m through with them. Being home for a month now feels like it was a little excessive. (I miss California!!!) But I have enjoyed seeing everyone, some of them over and over and over again.

Other things I have done to get ready for the Peace Corps include:

• called my bank and credit card companies to let them know I’ll be overseas.
• cancelled two really old bank accounts that I never use anyway.
• talked to my Edward Jones guy about my Roth IRA.
• bought some stuff to bring with me and threw out/gave away many things I no longer need.
• got a haircut.
• backed up all my computer files.
• organized my email inbox.
• contacted a few teachers to start a correspondence exchange program.
• filled out some more paperwork.
• read a lot of blogs.
• paid off my credit card, younker’s bill, best buy bill, and phone bill.
• sold my car.

There is no way you can fully get ready for a journey like this. So I figure I am just about done. I could leave tomorrow and be content that I have prepared enough. Any more advice or suggestions are likely to confuse me, and I probably won’t follow them anyway.

Now I’m looking forward, and ready to move on.