Going, going, gone...

So I've been packing this week. Had a whirlwind trip to Cali to see some family. I don't see them as much as I'd like, but whenever I'm there I always have a fantastic time.
Anyway, came back and have been busy trying to get my life in order to leave. I am so mentally ready...my apartment is not. I have too much stuff. I have too many clothes. I have too much dust. I am trying to purge as much as possible. After all, I won't be back for 2 years and know that I will not want to dig out old stuff from the attic to decorate with, wear, etc. So I have 2 piles of things that are exponentially increasing in size: Trash and Good Will. It's a good feeling.I was totally stressed yesterday trying to get things together, didn't sleep (AGAIN!), but feel tired tonight, so hopefully will get a good night's sleep. I NEVER have trouble sleeping and was complaining to a friend about it...I have had trouble sleeping all summer. She reminded me that it could possibly be that I was a llittle preoccupied about a major life change like, oh, I don't know, MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY?!?!? She's right, but it doesn't make not sleeping any easier. This is how it makes me feel...So, after I finish this blog I'm turning it in. Hopefully I'll wake up early tomorrow morning. I love doing that...so much better than falling asleep at 5-6 and waking up at 11. The day seems over before it begins. Have been importing all of my CDs to my iTunes to cut down on lugging them all the way to South America. I have so much good music that I rarely listen to...The process is prompting me to listen to those old CDs that sit in the back of the case. Fantastic stuff.

So, tomorrow, saturday, sunday, and then i'm gone.

Mi visa de la Republica de Colombia

Yes, I finally have my visa!! It makes me feel as though everything is official. Made a weekend out of the required trip to Chicago and stopped in Iowa to see some college friends. Everyone is in various states of "goodness." It was fun to see new homes, new men, old men, new bars, old personalities, etc. Got to see a friend in the hospital and she's still working through some things, so if you're reading this, please send out some good healing energy up to Iowa for her. Spent Sunday night in Chicago at a hotel right off Michigan. Didn't want to deal with traffic for my 9 AM appointment on Monday, so it was nice to be able to walk to the consulate in the morning.

Getting the visa was a bit of an experience for me. I am told that I will need to get used to the Latin way of doing things, and I think the trip to the consulate was definitely a reflection of that. The lady on the phone scheduled an appointment with me for 9 AM on Monday. When I got there at 8:55 (punctuality!!!) I was accompanied by 20 other people who had evidently been to be there at 9 AM on Monday, too...SO, we signed in and I began to fill out the forms they gave me. BUT, they were all in Spanish. Luckily the people waiting with me were friendly, encouraging, helpful, and bilingual! They helped me out big time and if they are a reflection of the Colombian people, I will be in good hands.

Finally around 11, after bugging the lady behind the glass, I was taking back into the office of the head lady, who, after a quick glance at all my paperwork that I had spent MONTHS diligently copying, labeling, organizing, asked me how long I would be staying in Colombia, typed it into her computer, and printed off my Visa. She stuck it in my passport, Elmer's glued my picture on top, and handed my passport back to me with a smile and "Congratulations, you have been approved for a Colombian Visa." That was it! Easy and painless, besides the 2 hour wait.

So, it's official. I can work in Colombia! Less than 2 weeks to go...and I am SOOOO ready!

Discover Medellin

So this is a website that gives a good overview of Medellin, Colombia, where I'll be moving in a few weeks. Makes me excited...

http://www.medellin-travel-guide.com/index.html


And this is the website of the school where I'll be teaching...

http://www.thecolumbusschool.com/default.asp

If you're curious, check it out!

Thunder

A big old storm is rolling into KC right now! There is nothing like a summer storm. Just got off the phone with an OLD friend. This lovely gal I have known since before I can remember. While were far apart, and soon to be even farther, it's good to hear and see that we can still have a great convo and catch up on life changes! I'm super proud of her and everything she's doing :) Med school, Africa, long distance relationships....all things to be admired. Speaking of OLD friends, props to P and her band for a killer show here in KC. She is also another one of my old school pals doing fantastic things. I'm proud to wear her band's t.

Just got back from a trip to South Dakota. My uncle has a cabin on the Missouri River. For those in KC, it's not like it is down here. Up there it is clean, clear, and natural...full of wildlife and vigor. It's the best place I know for some secluded sunbathing and good times with family. It was great to see all the relations. Cousins, great aunts, uncles, and everything in between. The kids are no longer kids and it's fun to sit and chat with lovely young men and women that i am proud to be related to!

Saw my great-aunts, Erma and Ardell. Everytime I see them i realize how amazing they are. Strong, poised, honest, full of faith and wisdom, funny, and kind. I feel honored to be a part of their family. They truly are matriarchs in the best way. They sent me off with well wishes for my new adventure in Colombia and offered up many prayers for my safety and happiness. I'm not a religious person, but knowing that these ladies are sending out prayers for me gives me SO MUCH comfort! I'll be excited to see them in a few years and show them what their prayers have done for me.

So, now I'm back in KC. Finally got my contract for the school and some much needed paperwork, so will be making my appointment for a trip to Chicago. I have to apply for my Colombian Visa in person and the closest consulate is there. I'm a little nervous cause everytime I call up to double check that I have all the needed paperwork, it changes...not to mention the levels of English at the consulate are varying and my Spanish sucks! I guess I should get to used to the frustration of struggling with a language barrier. Hopefully by this time next year I'll be on my way to fluency! Going in to finish up my shots...got through the yellow fever and MMR one just fine, but still have another round of bombardments. Also heard that the 3rd leading cause of death in the US are doctors. Doesn't give me a lot of confindence in the medical world...ah well, gotta get them anyway!

Dad and step-mom got me a new laptop for my trip, so will hopefully be entering in these posts more often cause now I've got internet at the apartment. :)

Overall, things are good. I have a little under a month before the move, so will be busy busy busy...

Adios!

Work out

I love summer because I actually can commit a decent amount of time every day to working out. In college, I was a gym buff...there all the time, attending free classes, running the track, swimming in the pool...which is important to me cause I've been blessed with strong German traits: blonde hair, blue eyes, big hips, big booty, etc. and in order to keep all of those in check, I've got to have some sort of daily exercise. Running around after 5th graders is great, but there is nothing like going to the gym and sweating hard! You get to spend some quiet time with your favorite music, zone out on whatever topic you choose, and sweat through your t-shirt. It also makes me happier, more confident, more strong. I don't know what the work out situation will be down south, but I am definitely going to enjoy it for these two months!

So it was finally hot these past few days. Haven't turned on the air, but the celing fans are going and my wardrobe has decreased in number and size to accomodate for the warm air. It's nice to hop into the shower after a hot day and then crawl into the cool sheets of my bed! A definite plus of summer time!

Found this poem, loved it, though I'd share it:

In Praise of My Bed
Meredith Holmes

At last I can be with you!
The grinding hours
since I left your side!
The labor of being fully human,
working my opposable thumb,
talking, and walking upright.
Now I have unclasped
unzipped, stepped out of,
Husked, soft, a be-er only,
I do nothing, but point
my bare feet ito your
clean smoothness
feel your quiet strength
the whole length of my body.
I close my eyes, hear myself
moan, so grateful to be held in this way.

I'll be sad to give up my bed...

The end...

So I have started this blog as an attempt to document my experience abroad. Granted, I have 2 months (almost to the day) before I leave for Colombia, but the action will start VERY soon. I have been putting many of the preparations on the back burner. Currently am teaching and the end of the year is always loco, nevermind the fact that I have to totally pack up my classroom and my life! But, tomorrow is the last day of school here in the States for a couple years, so I have decided to sit back and enjoy it...

Thinking about it now makes me tear up a bit. I don't have kids and don't want them (yet!), but I feel like these young men and women I have been spending most of my waking hours with are my kids! I can't even fathom what love must feel like for a biological kid...Anyway, will miss the school and staff and community terribly. So much so that I can't really put it into words. I'm not even gonna try. I know the decision to teach abroad is the right one, but it doesn't make the goodbye any easier. Got some really nice letters from my kids and fellow staff members. Being 5th graders, it's hard to get them to open up, but re-reading them tonight made me feel good about what I have done these past 3 years and I know the kudos are coming from an honest and pure source...It is nice to hear it from the students themselves. Blah--enough of that!

So, if you're reading this, you've probably received a mass email from me inviting you to keep up with what I do over the next few years. A little self indulgent, I admit. However, I enjoy reading my long lost friends' blogs'---thought you all might, too! It's also a way for me to keep in contact (very passive contact) with people. I suck at making phone calls, sending emails, writing letters, etc., so this will be a way to let you all know that:
1. I think about you often
2. I am having fun
3. I have not been kidnapped by the Cartel

So, welcome to my first blog. It will be a blog of beginnings...HOW EXCITING!

Oh yeah, the school I am teaching in is located in an area of Medellin, Colombia known as "El Alto de las Palmas"...hence the title!

Love!