Planning and Packing and Visiting, oh MY!

So apparently I completely suck at updating this blog. I guess I could argue that until recently I literally knew nothing about when, where, or what I would be doing with the Peace Corp.  Then all of a sudden I’ve been swept into a whirlwind of preparing mentally and physically to leave the country for 2 years. I feel as if a tornado has spun through my head, and my room. Let’s just hope that all of the debris will land in the country of Georgia.

I guess I should start at the beginning. After 2 years of postponing life plans, saving money, and telling everyone I was going into the Peace Corp, I pretty much got fed up with waiting for what had been non-responses, avoidances, and changes being made, in which PC didn’t feel the need to inform me of. I finally made the decision that it was now or never. I sent a rather blunt and straight-forward e-mail to PC telling them that I needed someone to tell me something because if I wasn’t leaving in the next couple of months, I was going to withdrawal my application.If I had known that would be all it took, I would have sent an e-mail a lot sooner. Within a week I was called by my Placement Officer and a package was sent in which I was assigned to the Republic of Georgia. Ecstatic as I was, It couldn’t have come at a worst time. That day I learned that my dad was in the hospital for a completely collapsed lung and had to have major surgery.

I immediately flew into Ohio and went straight to the hospital. Long story short. I decided the best move would be to return to Ohio and live with my parents, so 1.I could help out with my dad AND 2.I could save money (all my savings went to my jobless, yet active lifestyle in Charlotte). Thankfully, I was able to reprise my role at the Golf Club of Dublin and begin my preparation for my 2 years abroad.

My List of things to accomplish before my departure:

1. Visit all my friends and family (Ceal, Grandma, German group, Kat and Leris family, GCD friends, the Boye’s, etc.)
2. Pack all the suggested items on the Packing List supplied by PCVs
3. Make sure I leave my rooms clean
4. Get into the right mind-state to enjoy my journey

Since moving back to Columbus from Charlotte, I have yet to unpack or even put my things away. I guess I figured since I was just going to have to pack anyway, it would be completely pointless. So now my rooms (yes, rooms. I have taken over the 2 extra bedrooms upstairs, both housing my clothes, and then my actual sleeping quarters downstairs) are a wreck. And nothing is packed. UNCHECK.

About 2 weeks ago I went to Oakdale to visit my grandma and now, at this very moment, I am sitting in the Columbus airport awaiting my flight which inevitably will land in Tampa, where my sister is. Departing Tampa, I will head to Charlotte where I will say farewell to all my Charlottean friends and head back here to Columbus to pack. So visiting my sister and German friends and the Leris clan should be a CHECK.

I have yet to really focus on learning the language and am a bit nervous and apprehensive about how I am going to feel when I arrive in country. Especially, since I’m sure all my peers will have at least learned the alphabet. So right mind-state….UNCHECK.

I suppose only time will tell. All I can do is enjoy this rest of my time in America and focus on Georgia when I’m there. For now, I’m drinking as much sweet tea as I possibly can and eating everything insight (so much for the 10 pounds I had lost). I’m sure my next post will be in Georgia, the country….