Final Hours

I am all packed. I have taken all my final vacation time. My entire process and involvement with the Peace Corps has only been close to 4 months so far and thus can be deemed as relatively short. I have not been preparing for this nearly as much as applicants who have waited for up to a year for a specific place or any other stipulation. The fact that I just graduated from school in May and less than 6 months later, I am being sent to Central Asia for two years is a bit crazy. I have barely given myself time to really think about it fully. I do not mean to say I haven't given this venture adequate thought, but that I feel a little bit like I'm in a whirlwind of change. 

eh I could go on but I am feeling pretty swamped. Tomorrow I check into staging officially as a PCT. Next time i update this blog, I will most likely be in Kazakhstan. 

Until then.

До свидания

Timing

This venture is one that will mark my longest time away from my home, family and the life i've known up to this point. I will, of course, still have my connections to this life through constant contact and updates via e-mail. My replacing and renewing of routines will, i predict, be one of the most challenging things for me. I am not afraid of change and most of the time welcome it, but the grander routines are the ones I feel will upset my balance (momentarily). To explain them is almost impossible, because I cannot pin point them myself yet. It will only be when I am out of element completely and getting used to the new one, that I will notice them. I am not worried about convenience, as I can do well without it. I am more worried about the simple act of seeing my best friend at least once every few days. This routine will be far harder to go without then having my favorite brand of toothpaste. 

I am currently in D.C. awaiting my departure to Kazakhstan on wednesday. I enter into "staging" on tuesday the 18th at 12 noon. There I will check in and have orientation from 2 to 7pm. I have already left the west coast and will not return for some time. I was able to say a good solid farewell to some of my most favorite people, which has made me feel at peace with leaving home. The only chance I wanted to take while I was still at home was left as is. This was a decision based on my intuition to not ask for more but to accept the situation as it is presented to me. As Nick Drake puts it so eloquently "Time has told me, not to ask for more. For one day our ocean will reach its shore." 

Maybe its the idea of leaving my safety net and stepping out into a multitude of challenges that makes me want to latch onto those feelings for someone special in my life. Maybe these feelings have had a long time coming and the culmination of such complex feelings is deemed greater by the timeline. Irregardless, I feel somewhat at peace with my decision to keep my feelings inside, for the time being. This question is really directed at anyone who will read it. 

Have you ever felt an affinity with someone and you just knew that you would be together someday? Maybe not next month or even next year, but someday?  

I feel this wholeheartedly. Its all new to me and I go back and forth in my decision to keep my feelings bottled. In the grand scheme, two years is nothing, but here in this instance it seems like an eternity. 

I feel it all belongs to the timing that the "universe" or what have you provides us. Its hit or miss and those of us what are lucky enough to pay attention and take the shortcuts fate has graciously decided to bestow once in a painfully scarce while, are the real winners. 

Airports

I've decided that the airport is the ultimate place for people watching. So many different colors, shapes, sizes, personalities and obvious travel styles (which to me says a lot about a person). There are people in high end name brand attire, there are business men in their "casual wear", single younger travelers with just a carry on. I'm currently sitting next to a outlet plug in the middle of my gate in the Denver Airport. Within the last 5 minutes i've seen at least 150 people. Couples, families, single independent women, old friends traveling together and I wonder where each of them are traveling to and what they have done up to this point to warrant their presence at the airport. I guess i'm fascinated by regular people and their regular stories. hmmph. I've decided to wear sunglasses at all times so no one can tell i'm staring. I just find differences in people so interesting. We as humans are 99.9% identical. It's only in the >.1% where we find all of our quirks, personalities and idiosyncrasies. 

I'm on a rant. I tend to have those when i'm stuck in the airport and they offer free wi-fi. yay blogging. 

Here are some pictures from my going away party with my friends and family. this is a link to my facebook album. 

T-4 days until I meet everyone.  See you all soon, can't wait to start this adventure! 

Getting Closer

I type with anticipation and anxiety, but I also feel extremely excited for the coming adventures. The last few months have been filled with amazing memories made, wonderful send-off's from both the island and home, and excursions with friends. I have never felt so loved! These feelings come at a time of major change in my life, which adds to my meager apprehension. I am going to miss all these people with whom I have grown up and been through many different stages thus far. My only consolation is the knowledge that saying "goodbye" really isn't as final as it used to be. I will have adequate internet time and skype is such a connecter. 

My bags are packed (not without some multiple sessions of unpacking) and I left ventura for the last time, at least for awhile. Friday I will be flying to D.C., where i'll be touring and relaxing with my mom and gene for a few days. I'm excited to eat a lot of rich food and relax for a few days before heading off to the Asian continent. There are so many things I have been thinking about all at once, its hard to even write an entry with a focused mind. I guess a mini update wouldn't be out of order. 

I left the island in the middle of july and since then i've eaten some really great mexican food, taken a trip to portland, climbed a lot and "tied up loose ends" so to speak. I've been also doing a lot of language learning of Russian through online Rosetta Stone. 

All that is left now is enjoy D.C., relax and prepare my mind for the journey ahead.