Today I went crazy-nutso on the packing. Clothing, electronics, duct-tape, socks, multiple pairs of sandals, all into 4 bags and weighing in at under 80 lbs. I used the Peace Corps packing list with little variation.
A big challenge was finding what is known in the local language as pasalubong; gifts for my host family(s). I brought a bunch of Moe's Bagels stickers and a giant bag of Sharpie markers. I hear that small gifts are good and that lots of little things are better than one big thing; this way everyone can participate.
My state of mind is one of chaos right now. It wasn't until 30 hours before my plane flight leaves for Detroit for staging that I really got on the ball and started thinking about all the other business that I have to take care of before I leave. Fortunately, I planned well and have only small things to cover so that I can go the Philippines completely free of financial responsibility.
Looking around my room where I am sitting, I can see all sorts of mementos from my grade school days. There are so many familiar items with long, intricate stories behind them. I am mere hours from leaving all this that I take for granted as familiar and am going to generate two years of thoughts and stories. Every item in my four pieces of luggage will have something new and unexpected associated with it by the end of my adventure.
It is really scary when I put my mind to work on the magnitude of what I have gotten myself into:
A trip.
To the other side of the world.
To a country the culture and language of which I have only a cursory understanding.
To live.
For 2 years.
To have limited contact with anything I could potentially call familiar, be it persons, places, things or customs.
Will my body only notice climatic changes or is moving halfway around this small blue sphere in the vast empitness of our universe enough to alter the energies that keep me alive and interested? I have always known myself to be exceptionally sensitive to chemical and physical changes in the world around me. Living in the tropics is going to be a trip.
Who knows? Oh well, the countdown begins...
1 comment:
So you are now on your way. Let us know when you get there and are all settled in. I am excited to here about the adventures to come. Good luck!
Love ya,
Christine
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