And so the journey begins!

So today was certainly an emotional roller coaster!  I was up throughout the night sorting out various things to prepare to fly to DC today.  I finally finished (although I'm convinced that I still left some important things) and that's when the emotions started.  I said bye to my little brother before he left for school and started crying...no, not crying...BAWLING.  And then he started too!  So we were both bawling messes...which just made me cry harder!  Then my twin (my friend) and her mom came to see me, and that didn't help at all.  I got my stuff downstairs and began the journey.   But as we know, my life is eternally run by Murphy's law.  So of course, when we are a little over halfway to the airport,  I realized that I forgot my blue packet.  Winner right?  So we turned back around for me to get that and then went back to the airport.

At the airport,  I checked in my stuff (I swore that they would be overweight, but they made it!) and ran  to try to get to my gate after saying bye to my mommy (by this time it was l after 8 and boarding was at 8:30).  I got to security and my stuff had to go through like 4 times....why, you ask?  Murphy's law is why.  My mother put my seasoning in my camera bag just to make space and it came up as an awkward color in the screening.  Thus, they had to check it and open it and sprinkle and test before I could leave.  You know that you're late when they call your name on the loud speaker for final call for boarding!  I got on and continued with my crying saga.

About a half an hour later, the pilot said they were preparing for the descent (mind you, it was supposed to be an hour and a half flight).  I got off the plane and struggled with all my luggage (3 pull luggages and a camera bag) then took a cab to the hotel.  It was my first time in DC (although the airport was in VA, the hotel is in DC) and although I didn't get to fully experience the city, I can tell it's beautiful!  I checked in, got to my room, met my roommate, then went to go get food.  After getting food, I went back to the hotel to register for our training.  I got my passport, got my loan papers signed, and got a temporary debit card.  After that we started the session.

It was a long session (has to be to get out all the preparation info, right?), but I was glad to get to know the other M24s.  It seems like we have a fun group with great personalities.  I can't wait to get to know everyone better!  There are 46 of us and we're all so different but yet so similar.  I know training at post is gonna be great!

That's about all of my first day.  I got money, skyped my family and now I'm getting ready to go to bed so I can wake up at 4 am.  Despite all the emotions I've had today,  I can't wait to get started.  Today made me feel even more excited that I made this decision!  Bye for now!

7 days!!

I can't believe that I will be leaving home in exactly a week.  This is so surreal!  I have 7 days in New York...then I'm gone for 2 years.  I'm still, however, pushing my emotions aside in an effort to continue with my preparations.

I've started putting stuff aside and today I (finally) got my suitcases (a beautiful pink 3-piece luggage set)!  Now to fill them up.  Today I also tried to find a good gift for my host family.  Buying gifts for a host family is so hard for me to do!  I always over-think the process to the point of stress.  Right now I'm thinking of buying something that's both representative of New York and useful.  In my search, I got a few ideas, but I think an ideal gift would be something like

or a set that includes decorative plates, bowls, salt and pepper shakers, etc.  Clearly I'm thinking too hard, right?  I just don't want to bring something that would be seen as inconsiderate.    I'm still working that out, and will have it before the end of the 7 days.

Next thought of today had to do with my hair for the next 2 years.  I know I have those times when I just can't bother to deal with my hair.  But I know I won't be able to do that as a teacher.  So today I gave some time to the thought of buying a wig for those times.  The problem is that I've never worn a wig or a weave and don't know the first thing about purchasing one (in terms of quality and a 'look' that would fit me).  It would be super convenient to have one that I can pull on for those days when Zelda (my hair...yes she has a name) is just not having any of my foolishness.  But do I get curly or straight?  Lace front or regular? human hair or artificial?  What color?  Do I want something that is the same length as my hair or do I want something funky?  I have so many questions in this department.  And the questions don't even end at the wig.  How many products do I bring? And which ones?  Bless my soul with all these questions that decided to come for my last week!!

In further news though,  Tomorrow I will be getting my beloved long underwear (yaay for warmth...because Jesus knows I'm gonna need them).  After that, there is nothing left to do but start packing!  And that's when I'll know it's real.  Please keep me in your thoughts, guys, as I push through this last week!!

So many emotions

This was another slow week in terms of PC happenings, but my emotions have been all over the place. My staging date is approaching faster than ever and the closer it gets, the more I feel like I may want to cry.

First things first though.  I got an email this week saying that my forms in the new hire portal weren't complete (they didn't show up before...not sure why.  Maybe my computer is having a crisis of it's own).  I finished those up and now I'm officially left with just my thoughts.

This week was my last week at the school where I volunteer.  That was pretty hard.  Although I haven't been there too long (only since January),  I got to know the students and the teachers I worked with pretty well.  Considering I was there everyday, leaving was quite the task.

Also,  I keep thinking about how many days I have left with my family.  It's really starting to hit me that I won't be able to see them all the time.  Although I'll get used to it,  I know that at first, it will be really hard.  My brother (the one I live with) is 9 years old, but we are really, really close.  I don't even want to think about leaving him.  I know that God will be the only one who can help me with these emotions I'm fighting with.

As scattered as they are, those are the thoughts going through my head right now.  Hopefully I can get my emotions together enough to pack!!  Times a winding down and I have no more time to be dilly-dallying in denial.  Time to buckle down.

Slow Week

So this week, nothing much has happened in regards to preparation to leave.  I have been running through it in my head.  I don't feel like I'm close to ready although I am excited.  I don't have luggage, clothes, anything.  I keep wondering if there anything important that I'm going to forget/haven't thought of.  I'm also excited to go because I feel like I need a break from life as I know it.  I'm really going to miss my family, but everything seems to be chaos right now (things occurring in the country and in my state and even things in my personal life).  I think getting away for PC will help clear my mind and thus help with my ability to deal when I come back.  This experience will be a great one for me on so many levels and even if I'm not ready, I really feel I want to and need to leave.  Just a mere 18 days left.

It's May!

I leave in 26 days......26!!!!  I still can't believe it.  I called the PC Travel Agency and got my flight booked for staging in DC.  I also finished my orientation on the New Hire Portal(apparently I didn't do it...oops).  Now that that's all settled, I have to 

1.  Start Shopping

2.  Start Packing

3.  Get my loan info finalized.

I don't think it's quite hit me yet that I'm leaving.  Although the number of days are decreasing, I don't think it will hit me until I'm on the plane.  I AM, however, getting a little nervous though.  I feel like there is so much I need to get done, and so little time to do it.  Except, instead of getting it done, I keep having stuff to do (AKA keeping busy with the now, but also preventing my mind from realizing the urgency of my situation).  

Also, as a natural haired woman, I hadn't put enough thought into what to do about caring for my hair...that is until this week!  I sat and realized what am I going to do if I can't find products that will be kind to my hair?  How will I find my oils?  Conditioners?  I can't pack all my natural hair products?  Will my hair react well to the "typical", more drying products that will likely be available?  I sorted through my products and decided I will leave the full sized products behind.  I, however, have lots of sample sized products that I will carry with me.  I know that with the thickness of my hair though,  I will be lucky if that lasts a month.

There is so much for me to figure out within the next 26 days between shopping, figuring out my hair struggles, and finalizing my life in the states.  I hope I can push myself through it all!

Much <3!!