Georgia Preparations

UPDATE: We’ve received an e-mail that states we should plan on leaving Sept. 28^th. It’s not definite; it is, in fact, extremely tentative, based only on the departure dates of previous groups. Anyway, that’s the latest: I might leave on the 28^th.

In order to be ready to possibly leave on the 28 ^th, I’ve started to begin some necessary preparations. First, I made a list of all the TV shows I will need to catch up on when I come back. It’s a really long list, but it will be a nice time killer when I come back, and I just want to sit. To go along with this, I have started stocking my iPod full of free episodes of upcoming TV shows. I have at least 6 pilot episodes, so my already-too-long list may become even longer.

Second, I’m making full use of the foods that I will not have a chance to eat while I’m gone. For example, this morning, I went and got breakfast from McDonald’s. I really love the #12 (although it changes everywhere) of a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel with a hash brown and a medium Coke. This morning, it called my name. I answered. 

I have also packed most of my winter clothes in a large suitcase in my closet so they are all together to repack into duffel bags when my family returns with them from Africa (on Sunday!). I think I made this preparation a bit early because it has become winter very quickly, and I am stuck wearing a tank-top with a thin jacket and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders for warmth…in the house. Granted, I could just open my suitcase, but that seems irrational. 

The final, most recent, preparation I have made is to stock up on the free e-books offered throughout the week from Kindle or Kobo. I don’t want to have to bring an entire suitcase made up purely of books (at least that’s what I keep telling myself), so I am trying to have an adequate amount of reading to do via my e-reader. I think the problem is that I am inevitably going to hate the free e-books I’ve downloaded, as they are comprised mainly of cheesy Christian romance novels and science fiction crap. I’ll probably end up reading Pride & Prejudice and Anna Karenina hundreds of times, so if I come back quoting either of these classics, don’t judge me.

While many more preparations (probably more important ones) wait on the sidelines to be started, I feel as though I’ve accomplished a lot in completing the crucial four I’ve highlighted above. I’ll keep you apprised of any further arrangements I make in regards to my upcoming adventure.

I'm Moving to Georgia...not the state.

Most of you are already aware that I at the end of the month, I am moving to the republic of Georgia, where I will teach English for 9 months. One of the reasons I started a blog was to have a central location that I could update friends and family on my experiences on the other side of the world. However, I realize I haven't addressed Georgia at all, so allow me - if you will - to do so now.

To those of you who may ask, "Where will you be teaching?", the answer is...I don't know.

To those of you who may ask, "What age will you be teaching?", the answer is...I don't know.

To those of you who may ask, "When do you leave?", the answer is...I don't know.

To those of you who may ask, "When will you be back?", the answer is...I don't know.

To those of you who may ask, "What will you do when you return?", the answer is...I don't know.

To those of you who may ask, "Georgia is a country?", the answer is...I hope so.

Here's the thing: I don't know many of the details, which is probably why I haven't used my blog to update anyone on the "Georgia experience" yet. I know that my departure date is September 30. That does not mean that I will leave the US on September 30; rather, it means I should be prepared to leave 3 days before/after that date. However, I won't actually find out my flight information more than 5-7 days before I leave, which complicates things a bit. When I arrive in Tbilisi (Georgian capital), I will be in orientation/training for one week. At the end of that week, I will be placed in city, school, and host family.

That's the basic gist of it. I'll teach for 9 months. Travel a bit. Be back in the States by this time next year.


Yes, I am excited, although my excitement has varying degrees depending on the week, day, even hour. As it approaches, however, the amount of panic is significantly less than the amount of excitement, so I guess that's a good sign.

For now, I shall stop rambling about the little I know regarding Georgia. Hopefully, I will have more details for you the next time I attempt to update the world (because that's how many people read this...).

ძილი ნებისა.

  "Good night."

Your Personal Invitation

Come one. Come all. Welcome to my trip down memory lane, hosted by me.

Stay a while. Enjoy a hot beverage. Cuddle up with a fuzzy blanket. Surround yourself with plenty of comfort foods. Ensure there is a box of Kleenex within arm’s reach. Prepare your emotional awareness by watching a Lifetime movie. All settled? Good.

One week ago I said goodbye to my Missouri life, to which I have grown accustomed in the past five years. My life in Springfield has progressed throughout the years, and it has adapted to each new stage I introduce. Maybe that’s why I am so hesitant to leave; no matter what changes I have made in the past few years, my location has remained constant. It has been a security blanket, and I liked it.

I will admit that in my first year or two in Springfield, I was less than thrilled. Sure, I liked the idea that the mall had more than Kohl’s, Younker’s, and Sears in it, and of course I enjoyed my proximity to Hong Kong Inn and Sonic, but the city was not my home. Over time – and I cannot pinpoint the exact moment – Springfield, however, became just that: home.

It stayed with me as I changed and developed into the person I am today, although some may not look fondly on that. I went to Evangel, and I met people with whom I will remain close. I had my first “independent living” experiences, and I learned to accept uncertainty. I dove into Capernaum, and I uncovered a passion I did not know existed. I developed new relationships and surrounded myself with a close-knit group of people to support and encourage me. I graduated college, applied for jobs, accepted rejection, and rejoined in success.  I became roommates with two of my closest friends, and I successfully let them see my crazy. I moved into a house and paid bills and recycled trash and killed mice and fleas. I started a new job and learned what to do and what not to do in my future careers. I found a church that I love, and I got involved…on my own terms.

I am proud of what I have accomplished. I am proud of the life I have built. I am proud that I made Springfield home.

It’s terrifying to leave what I know to be safe in order to go where uncertainty is the only thing waiting. In September, I am moving to Georgia. When I get back, I will be forced to start over – again.

Until that happens, I feel…homeless. I don’t really know where I fit since I no longer live in Springfield, and I haven’t lived in Fond du Lac for a while. I love my family and friends in Wisconsin, and I love my pseudo-family and not-pseudo-friends in Missouri, but I don’t feel “at home.” I’m in the process of accepting that because I know that eventually, I will build my life somewhere else; it will include pieces of WI me and pieces of MO me and pieces of Georgia me, but it will be new and scary and exciting and intimidating.And I'm okay with that.

Wizards, Bubble Gum, and Whoopi Goldberg

It is time. It is time for the inevitable post generated by Harry Potter.

For those who may not care about Harry Potter, skip the first paragraph and you will find that it eventually moves on from HP.

Last week I spent an entire week preparing for the midnight premiere of the final Harry Potter movie. I realize I have just classified myself as a complete child - a nerdy one at that - but admitting it's true is the first step to accepting it, although I'm pretty sure I've already accepted it. On Monday night, I worked on a 1,000 piece Harry Potter puzzle with my roommates (yes, I'm dragging them into this), and on Tuesday night, Misty and I began our 7 HP movie marathon. We completed the marathon on Wednesday night with butterbeer and golden snitch cupcakes and butterbeer (not as good as it looks in the movies). Sleeping into the late morning, I woke up and attempted to distract myself until 4pm when we would go to the theater to sit in line for 8 hours.

I would love to discuss the finer details of this movie and how completely phenomenal it was; however, I will not. The thing is, this post is not specifically about HP, although admittedly that’s what sparked the idea.

Here’s the main point: I want magic to be real, and I have realized that there are certain things that make convincing myself there is a secret world of wizards and wands easier. In case you tend to experience these same emotions, fear no more. I have written a list of the things to avoid in these situations.

1.    Harry Potter marathons. By surrounding yourself with only the wizarding world, it becomes it extremely difficult to drive around without yelling out, “Avada kedavra!” to the driver who cuts you off in traffic.

2.    Extra Dessert Delights gum, specifically the Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream flavor. More recently – as of about ten minutes ago – a new flavor should be added to that list: Apple Pie. I cannot chew this gum without expecting oompa loompas to appear from behind the door, a reference to the 1971 version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, for those of you who were deprived of a childhood.

3.    Corrina, Corrina. In this movie, Whoopi Goldberg's character can blow at red lights, and they turn green. I recently decided that I, too, could do this. It’s typically a matter of simply waiting for the opposite lights to turn yellow and then blowing at the light, which, if timed correctly, turns green immediately. However, there have been times when I have not watched the opposite lights, and out of habit, I blow at the light. As if by magic, it quickly submits to my breath and turns green.

Although I realize there are most assuredly more situations anyone prone to believing in magic should avoid, the three mentioned above are those that I typically encounter on a daily basis. However, sometimes believing in magic is fun - if only for a split second. In those times, feel free to use this list as a guidebook on how to see magic in everday situations.

Mulling

Warning: This post - unlike the others I have - will be less humor than serious. I apologize for this change in behavior; however, it is how my week has been. Hopefully, things will be back to normal soon, and I will be typing the rambling jokes I love so much in no time.

This past week has taught me a lot, which is a difficult feat in that I am not really seeking to learn anything except the Georgian alphabet, which I have conquered for those of you keeping track.

I am currently reading Francis Chan's book, "Forgotten God," which is a commentary on the lack of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians and the Church in general. I have grown up in church my whole life, and I figured I had the Holy Spirit pegged, as much as anyone could. Reading this book, however, has changed my perspective, and this week I am working on using that new perspective. Here's the problem: it's not easy. That's the first thing I learned this week. Reading about something is much easier than actually putting it into action. Bummer.

I can't fix everything. That's the second thing I learned. I really want to, but unfortunately, it it doesn't work that way. The best that I can do - especially from a distance - is to keep working on the first thing I learned. Interestingly enough, God has a better understanding of what should be happening than I do, and I tend to forget that. I have had to step back a lot this week and say, "God, Your thoughts are higher than mine. Your ways are higher than mine. You know the plan. I don't." It's kind of a scary thought. I take that back; it's not "kind of" a scary thought...it IS a scary thought.

The third thing? Life isn't fair. People who are good are stuck in crappy situations. People who are not so good are stuck  in perfectly fine situations. I realize this doesn't make sense to many of those who are not in constant contact with me, but that's okay. I think the point of the thought is that life sucks sometimes. This, fortunately, ties in with the second point I made: I can't fix everything. The best part? God doesn't expect me to fix everything; He just asks me to do my best, to follow Him along on the path.

I'm sure I've learned a lot more than those three ideas this week, but those were the three that mattered. I don't like to be that person who writes a blog on her relationship with God, which is not to downplay or criticize those who do, because I read them and like them, too. However, this was a post I wanted to write simply because it's my life right now, and my mom keeps up with my life via this blog.

Toodles.

My Bucket List

I've decided to make a bucket list. Like recently starting a blog, I realize I am very "behind the times" in doing this now, but I think it's something I should do. Many - if not, most - of you may not care what I want to do with my life in the future, and that's okay, but I figured I should have a least some accountability. So, for those of you who were just waiting for the right opportunity to be more involved in my life, you could print out a copy of this list and bring it along when you are going to see me. When we run out of topics to discuss, you can pull out the list and quiz me on how many I have done and any plans I have made to cross off others on the list. Or not.

1. Get the sand out of my bed. Seriously, I went to the beach today, and apparently the sand has traveled with me. I'm not even in the same clothes! How is it everywhere? But I digress...okay, starting over, for real.

1. Go on a road trip - no agenda, no destination (maybe a budget) - just a car, my iPod, and a few fantastic playlists.

2. Learn to dance. 

3. Read the top 100 best selling books. 

4. Live in a different country. 

5. Suck it up and sing karaoke. 

6. Watch every movie that has been awarded the Oscar for "Best Picture."

7. Write a book. I don't care if it's published; I just want to write it. To be honest, no one would even have to read it. 

8. Design my own garden.

9. See the Northern Lights.

10. Become fluent in another language. 

11. Be in a musical. If I have my way, it will be one of the following: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Newsies (I realize this is stretching it since there are all of 2 female roles in this movie/musical), The Music Man, Guys and Dolls. 

12. Watch all 8 Harry Potter movies in 24 hours. 

12? Only 12? I can't believe I can only come up with 12 things that I want to complete in the next however many years of my life. Well, I'll keep working on it and update it occasionally...maybe. (That should be #13!)

The Post That Sparked a Blog...

This is the conversation in my head that sparked this blog. Hold on to your hats, boys and girls; it's about to get interesting!

For those who just sort of know me, you know that I watch dancing shows and movies (and by shows, I mean SYTYCD and ABDC) and occasionally find myself sucked in to YouTube videos of my favorite choreographers/dancers/music.

For those who know me a fair amount, you know that I want to be a dancer. In fact, you know (whether you agree or not) that I think, given the chance, I could be an excellent contemporary or ballet dancer.

For those who really know me and accept my crazy, you know that I secretly dance around the house pretending I am a dancer. This would include the two or three people I've lived with that I've made stand and watch me prance (mom, dad, brother, etc.) and the two or three people I've lived with that have just caught me "dancing."

Regardless of the group you fall into, you will all have the same update into my dancing life in just a few words. I. Cannot. Be. A. Dancer.

There, I said it. I have accepted it. I'm not happy about it, but I've accepted it. This revelation came to me as I was pirouetting (I don't even know if that's a thing) in my bathroom amidst my dirty clothes on the floor, the door that my foot promptly hit when I attempted to straighten it over my head (I got halfway), and the "fan light" that makes me look tanner.

I am heartbroken, but I will survive. (Cue singing) And while I have accepted the fact that I will never be great, a select few of you may still be able to steal a glimpse of my far-fetched dreams as I spin around the kitchen in socks, jump and do the splits in the air (well, not the full splits, of course), or point my toes while watching TV. Cherish those moments.

And to those of you who can dance, I hate you (and by "I hate you," I of course mean, "I desperately want to learn to dance.")