17 Days to Go!

In just a little over two weeks I will be on a plane to Philly for a two night stay before leaving for Kenya. Two weeks is not a long time. I have so much left to do. Such as getting my parent's psycho cat, Louie, to like me, or at least not attack me every time I walk by him. I tried to sweeten him up with tuna last night. He just glared at me. I also have some stuff to pack. By some stuff I mean everything. I pretty much have most of my items that I want to bring so that is not a huge issue, it's just getting everything together and then freaking out that I am forgetting something.

I've been neglecting my kiSwahili the past couple of weeks, but have decided to brush up on some words that I think will help me. So I looked up snake today. Just in case I come face to face with one I can at least shout it's swahili name before it bites me. Tomorrow, I will learn "the lion is chasing me."

In the middle of reading "Bossypants" by Tina Fey. I am really going to miss 30 Rock.

Is this a dry on run for Kenya?

So it's been storming like crazy here in Arkansas (and all over the south) for the past three days. Every afternoon for the past three days I have turned on the radio to listen to some (mediocre) tunes. I can't get through a whole (crappy) song without the national weather service beeping. Luckily for my family we have been lucky and have not, really, been affected by the weather. Sadly, many communities around us were not so lucky.

We did not get totally away unscathed. A branch crashed down on our power line. Thus, we lost power. Monday night. So far it has not been found again. Living without electricity is not the worst, I have now been able to get through a lot of my books. But since we have a well, which runs on electricity, we do not have water. Now I know what you guys are thinking. Stop complaining, whiner, this is what you will probably have to deal with in Kenya. True. And I'm not whining. I'm not in Kenya yet, and this totally screws with my whole way of living I've been doing. Mainly, the line of thought "hey, I'm going to be in Africa for two years, they may not have this, I might not be able to do this in Africa, I better eat this because I may never have it again." I expected a short stint in eden before going to Kenya.

Here's to hoping the electricity will get turned on back on by Friday. If not, does anyone (with electricity) want a houseguest for awhile?

It seems to be the popular thing to do

So it's only 42 days until I start this Peace Corps thing. It seems like a long time away, but it won't feel that way. I've only been in Arkansas for a month and it seems like about 2 weeks since I moved back in with my parents. I am having to start to come to terms with some of the changes that I will have to make. Yes, I've had to make some changes in terms of moving back home and moving away from NYC. (Do you realize that things in Arkansas close at 10? Do you know how much time I apparently spent online in NYC and how apparent that is when your parents do not have internet? Bagels. Dunkin' Donuts, Shipley's and Daytime Donuts do not know real bagels). Moving to Kenya will be a big change, so some things that I think I will miss:

-Cheese. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cheese.
-A fan to sleep with. I'm trying to wean myself off of sleeping with a fan. This has been a habit of mine forever, I'm trying to figure out a way to fall asleep without it. I probably will not have the electricity to do this.
-sushi (though to be honest, I am already missing that. Landlocked states are not really known for their good seafood)
-Eating. Let me be specific, if I crave something I can easily hop in the car and go get it (with the already previously noted bagels not included).

eh

I am writing this while sitting at the airport, waiting for my plane to take me back to Arkansas. Unlike my previous trips home over the course of the years, this time I am not coming back. As my cab was careening towards, what I was certain of at the time, sudden death, I got a good view of Manhattan. It kinda made me sad. In a way I don't want to leave.
There are so many things I haven't done! It can't be time for me to leave. I never had tea at the Ritz. I never went to a Knicks game. No La Bernadin, no kayaking the Hudson. My mind knows that I can always come back and do all of these things and more. It's always there to do. But I don't think I will. New York was fun and I had a blast, but I am done with it. Let others have their fun.

I am off for bigger and better things. First up, surviving the wilds of Lonoke, AR.

That was obviously written a little over a week ago. It was not posted until now because my parents don't believe that getting the internet at home would be beneficial. Since that time I have survived the first week of Lonoke, attend the 40th anniversary of University of Arkansas rugby, and watched hours of Yo Gabba Gabba. Only one of those things I did under my own free will (hint: it does not involve a farm or toys that come to life). So now I'm in Kenya mode. Well, not really. So far my preparation has been buying a skirt and two shirts, trying on my Chacos and deciding if I want to bring a halloween costume. I'm sure I will get more into it the closer it comes.

Also there was a huge bull in our yard this morning.

Where did this come from??!?

I moved to NYC with, literally, 2 bags and a backpack. For the life of me, I do not know where everything else came from. The DVD's I understand. I bought those. I think everything else just reproduced. I left it in my closet or in boxes and it multiplied. There is really no other explanation. Trying to move has meant numerous visits to the post office and UPS. Keep in mind I have a large pile of donations to give, so the things left in my apartment that are not for sale or donation had to come from somewhere. I just don't know where.

I hate moving. I hate 3rd floor walk-ups.

Jersey, St. Pat's and Peace Corps

So for the first time ever I went to Hoboken, NJ for their St. Patrick's Day Parade and festivities. My friend Geoff and Kirsten live out there on the parade route so we watched the parade from their stoop then retired to their new, and awesome, apartment. What? I did not go out to a bar? I sat inside like an old person? Yes. First off the bars charge around $20 cover and you still have to spend $7 for a beer. No thank you. Second off, drunk people are annoying if you haven't been drinking. So we sat inside and talked. Geoff made some very good pizza, Kirsten and I made hummus (well okay, I squeezed a lemon). I met some interesting people, one VERY interesting. Apparently, through accounts from the others present, looked liked the movie Hostel was shot there. Talking with one of the party-goers we got on the subject of me keeping this blog.

I don't know if I want to call it a blog, but rather random ramblings and thoughts that pop in my head. Yes I occasionally do hit on some things going on in my life (Peace Corps) that is mildly interesting, but often it is just random things. So don't come into reading this if you expect hilarious/thought provoking/educational issues. No, it's just things that at the time I thought of and happened to be near my computer.

Work is going to be ending quickly. Just 14 more days. Only 29 more days until I am watching "What Not to Wear." Staging was moved back, but that really does not affect me too much since I will be unemployed as of March 26. On another PC note, we have a Facebook page which has allowed me to meet, and talk, to some of the guys and gals coming with me. This I think is pretty awesome, and from the look of it the people who are going seem pretty awesome.

Tonights movie: Pinocchio's Revenge. So far, so cheesy.

Things just got a little more real

So today was the day I told my clients I was leaving. I'm not leaving my job until March 25, but wanted to give my client enough time to process this with me. I told them all individually, not giving them full details just that I had accepted a job in Africa. I explained the transition process and what I was doing to ensure that they would continue to receive the services they need. I discussed how I would work with them to process any concerns, emotions and anxiety. I got a whole level of responses. A few were upset, one cried, but were happy. One stated she did not want a man to replace me. I got a blank stare from another. Another one seemed excited for me. The responses were all appropriate and were in step with how I knew each would handle it.

It was hard to do this, I almost felt like I was abandoning some of them. Trying to explain that they would have to work with someone else kind of felt like I was breaking up with them. I worry that my replacement will not have the patience, the knowledge or the empathy. I worry that my clients won't connect with the new person (some will probably rejoice though). Now this is not to say I am some bleeding heard social worker, I'm pretty straight forward on rules, boundaries and bullshit. But a lot of my clients I have worked with since I first started 4 1/2 years ago, some I am the only worker they have known since moving in.

I have to keep in mind I have done this before. I moved away to NYC leaving clients to work with someone else. The world will not end. It will not take long for them to make the transition (though I am sure the replacement will get what I got, mainly clients stating "That's not how ::insert name (me in this case):: did it). I have to keep reminding myself that I am not the gold standard and that the person replacing me will probably be at least as awesome as me (probably more so. I am still working on my organizational skills, but the HAVE improved).

In conclusion, I think telling my clients has really made this whole Peace Corps thing real. I left work tonight in kind of a freak out. I only have like 5 weeks left in NYC. Only 5. Freakin'. Weeks!!! So in the next couple of days I will be making an NYC bucket list. This will not include sitting in my apartment listening to my neighbors fight. No matter how entertaining. As one of my clients said "You are moving to Africa! Oh my God, that is exciting! You are going to have quite an adventure. You have to be scared and happy at the same time. My spiritual lady (her audio hallucination) is pleased with your decision and says"enjoy life and drink everything in."