Technology

On a good day and when I roll with an older crowd, I am tech savvy. If I am around a younger group or left on my own with my own technological devices, I am slow at best. I really hope there are some good techies to help me in Bulgaria when I get in over my head. I haven't had a day where there has not been a technology hiccup. Thank goodness my sister in law is pretty bad ass and helps me. Of course if you saw me crying on your couch having a meltdown you might help me too. I am hoping that will change when I don't have any other option but to figure it out.

Now they are gone.

The Davis's brought this great sweat shirt and got almost everyone to sign it!

Here is Theresa and her hot dog cart! Thanks T

The Bean and her new favorite "toy"

My wonderful friend Rowena with her daughter and sisters

These two came from Ohio and Florida to wish me well!!

Well the guests came and went, and soon I will too. I cannot say enough great things about my party. My great friends and family really came through and made it a special day. It was everything I wanted, hot dog cart and all.

Thank you all!!

Guest Are Arriving

My Birthday/Going Away party is tomorrow. The part about the birthday party kind of got skipped over, but when your 29 that happens and with so much on the horizon I am not worried about it. This party has had a tentative date for at least 4 months, back when we didn't know when or if the whole Peace Corps experience would happen, so facing the reality that it is here, and I am leaving sits heavy on my heart. I am going to really try to focus on everyone and the moment rather than skip over all the good stuff and just start crying. I think everyone gets the picture that time seems to have sped up, but I just can't say it enough, slow this train down!!!

Barely.

I am barely holding it together these days. I wake up anxious in the mornings, just about everything in general. I started crying while reading the birthday cards I got today, and when my cousins were talking about their visit this weekend. It seems like every emotion I would normally be feeling is heightened because I am leaving so soon. I keep forgetting it is my birthday tomorrow, thats when you know your overwhelmed. I am also going though periods of extreme calm which throws everything off. Either way I am feeling, I am always excited, and I am looking forward to this experience. Peace Corps has also been great about sending lots of information for us trainees to look over and that helps divert my attention away from my many lists of things to do. I want time to speed up so I can go already, and I want it to slow down so I can spend more time with my family and friends.

On a side note, I finished my Peace Corps CD I am making for my family!

It's April...

And time for an anxiety attack! Seriously, what just happened, I am gone in just over a month. I have so much I have to do and I have to do it, like yesterday. I have so many supplies I need to buy, professional clothes I need to purchase, and shoes I need to find. I joined a group on Facebook for my Peace Corps training group B26! I think that actually stressed me out more. Somehow, someway I keep putting this in the "reality to come" section of my brain, only causing a little bit of stress, but after reading up on the group page I finally realized that this needs to be in the "get off your a$$ and take care of business now" category. Commence freak out!

Countdown

BULGARIA!!!

May 10th, 2010 I depart for Washington D.C. I will arrive in BULGARIA by May 12th! That does not give me a lot of time to get everything in order but it certainly can and will be done. I can't really describe how it feels to finally have real, concrete answers. I was so tired of people asking me questions without having any answers, now people can ask away!

Please Hold

I got a phone call Tuesday from the Peace Corps. I had a nice chat with my placement officer and we went over a bunch things in order for him to place me where I am most needed and useful. At the end of the conversation he asked me about my timeline and if I would be available earlier than my early June nomination. I told him I could do that, so he told me I would be leaving May 10, 2010! In other words 7.5 weeks! I think I was able to sputter out a few words of thanks and appreciation before hanging up, but I am not totally positive about that. The country will remain somewhat of a mystery until I actually receive the invitation that he said would be here by Friday. Of course as any good Peace Corps applicant knows you can figure out the country pretty easily with a little research. I am keeping my lips sealed until I know for sure!

I can't believe in a matter of hours I went from practically giving up all hope that I was going to make my June departure to leaving an entire month earlier than expected! I think this is going to be really great for me, and with any luck I will make it the entire 27 months! I say luck because sometimes leaving isn't your choice, life still happens. I hope to be able to post very soon where I will be off to, so keep checking back for updates!

Dovizhdane!