No,I was nowhere near the shooting that happened today and yes I heard about it and yes I am fine. Now that that's out of the way, on to the post:
Saying goodbye is always hard and these last two days have been the hardest. It is now really hitting me that I am leaving for the Ukraine and that I won't be able to simply pick up my cell phone and call my friends and family when I want to (of course I'll have Skype, but not for the first few days). Soon I will be surrounded by a language I know not, as well as become immersed in a culture I know almost nothing about and this is causing me to have stomach aches.
"But Jamie", you say, "you've been through this before!"you say. "Twice!", you remind me.
Yes, I have, but it was also different circumstances and for a shorter amount of time. Not to mention that I actually had somewhat of a grasp on the Japanese language and culture before I entered the country. I have only managed to learn how to say "good morning" in Ukrainian which only covers me for one quarter of the day. Also, both those times I did't feel like I was leaving behind as much as I am leaving behind this time around.
But I do not regret my decision because I like to live on the motto of "no regrets" and this is the opportunity of a life time so I am doing my best to swallow all those feels I have been struggling with in an attempt to emotionally prepare myself for this next journey in life. It will be fantastic and all those wonderful, amazing, caring people that I left behind to go on this adventure will still be around and still be amazing and wonderful and caring for the rest of my life so I really shouldn't be so worried. 27 months is nothing compared to the amount of time some people spend in a job they absolutely loath.
I'm excited. Super excited to start this new adventure. But I'm also overwhelmed. Super overwhelmed. At least I am not alone in my overwhelmed state as it is safe to say that all of the other 48 volunteers present at this pre-departure orientation are feeling the same way. It just sucks to have this giant knot in your stomach all the time. Feeling the urge to simultaneously burst into tears while destroying your hotel room with all your belongings because you can't find the one skirt you wanted to wear also sucks. Seriously, it was at the bottom of the very last bag I went through.
Anyway...
I'm a tad disappointed that I was not able to get out and see all those historically significant monuments that I wanted to see while rendezvous-ing in DC. There was just no time which means there are no pictures again. Sorry to disappoint you, my lovely audience. Perhaps when I fly back state-side I'll stop over on the East Coast for a spell and get my fill.
That being said I do not have much to say on DC itself other than the water taste completely awful and I'm glad that I have a water bottle that uses filters. Living in Portland (and really Oregon in general) has really spoiled me for goo tasting tap water. I did have a bagel this morning because I figured that was an East Coast thing to do but then I laughed because I totally went to Star Bucks to get that bagel. Oh well, what can you really expect from a Pac Northwesterner? Star Bucks runs through our veins. It was a good bagel though.
The other volunteers that I had the pleasure of meeting all seem to be very cool people though. We all sat at little round tables around the conference room in the hotel while the orientation leaders lead us through ice breaker activities and preached a little on the Peace Corps Core expectations. We are from all over the the US but mostly there are a lot of Minnesotans and East Coasters. However, I did happen to find one other legit Oregonian who is from Hillsboro! And, to make that even more exciting this particular gentleman knew of the high school I went to in Keizer and confessed to have dated a girl there that I was in jazz band with! Small world indeed. He even graduated from U of O so, go Ducks! There are also three married couples here which I find to be ultra amazing and romantic at the same time (but it also makes me miss a certain person in my life and does not help the overwhelmed feeling I am feeling). But seriously though, what a fantastic idea to do if you're married (also what a way to challenge your marriage at the same time!) I wonder if it's a honey moon thing for any of them...I'll have to find out. There is even a lady here who is a second timer, her first service being in Guatemala years ago. She is also one half of the married couples but this was the first assignment for her husband.
We did not hear much country specific information as we will apparently be told all of that stuff in country at our 2 day pre-pre-service training in Kiev. Regardless, it was a good distraction from all these feels I've been feeling about going and missing the all the important people I'm going to be missing.
Tomorrow we head to the airport at 12 and fly out at around 6pm. We will receive our fancy diplomat passports tomorrow which we will be required to use for any and all out of country travel during our service. However, will we not be able to travel outside our communities until after 6 months have passed, nor can we have any state-side visitors until after that milestone passes *nudge nudge, hint hint* ;)
We have a short lay over in Frankfurt but not long enough to enjoy anything there. It will take us about 8 hours to get to Germany and then another 3 or so to Kiev. It's going to be a long day of flying and sitting and no sleep for Jamie. Wish me luck.
-Jamie
Saying goodbye is always hard and these last two days have been the hardest. It is now really hitting me that I am leaving for the Ukraine and that I won't be able to simply pick up my cell phone and call my friends and family when I want to (of course I'll have Skype, but not for the first few days). Soon I will be surrounded by a language I know not, as well as become immersed in a culture I know almost nothing about and this is causing me to have stomach aches.
"But Jamie", you say, "you've been through this before!"you say. "Twice!", you remind me.
Yes, I have, but it was also different circumstances and for a shorter amount of time. Not to mention that I actually had somewhat of a grasp on the Japanese language and culture before I entered the country. I have only managed to learn how to say "good morning" in Ukrainian which only covers me for one quarter of the day. Also, both those times I did't feel like I was leaving behind as much as I am leaving behind this time around.
But I do not regret my decision because I like to live on the motto of "no regrets" and this is the opportunity of a life time so I am doing my best to swallow all those feels I have been struggling with in an attempt to emotionally prepare myself for this next journey in life. It will be fantastic and all those wonderful, amazing, caring people that I left behind to go on this adventure will still be around and still be amazing and wonderful and caring for the rest of my life so I really shouldn't be so worried. 27 months is nothing compared to the amount of time some people spend in a job they absolutely loath.
I'm excited. Super excited to start this new adventure. But I'm also overwhelmed. Super overwhelmed. At least I am not alone in my overwhelmed state as it is safe to say that all of the other 48 volunteers present at this pre-departure orientation are feeling the same way. It just sucks to have this giant knot in your stomach all the time. Feeling the urge to simultaneously burst into tears while destroying your hotel room with all your belongings because you can't find the one skirt you wanted to wear also sucks. Seriously, it was at the bottom of the very last bag I went through.
Anyway...
I'm a tad disappointed that I was not able to get out and see all those historically significant monuments that I wanted to see while rendezvous-ing in DC. There was just no time which means there are no pictures again. Sorry to disappoint you, my lovely audience. Perhaps when I fly back state-side I'll stop over on the East Coast for a spell and get my fill.
That being said I do not have much to say on DC itself other than the water taste completely awful and I'm glad that I have a water bottle that uses filters. Living in Portland (and really Oregon in general) has really spoiled me for goo tasting tap water. I did have a bagel this morning because I figured that was an East Coast thing to do but then I laughed because I totally went to Star Bucks to get that bagel. Oh well, what can you really expect from a Pac Northwesterner? Star Bucks runs through our veins. It was a good bagel though.
The other volunteers that I had the pleasure of meeting all seem to be very cool people though. We all sat at little round tables around the conference room in the hotel while the orientation leaders lead us through ice breaker activities and preached a little on the Peace Corps Core expectations. We are from all over the the US but mostly there are a lot of Minnesotans and East Coasters. However, I did happen to find one other legit Oregonian who is from Hillsboro! And, to make that even more exciting this particular gentleman knew of the high school I went to in Keizer and confessed to have dated a girl there that I was in jazz band with! Small world indeed. He even graduated from U of O so, go Ducks! There are also three married couples here which I find to be ultra amazing and romantic at the same time (but it also makes me miss a certain person in my life and does not help the overwhelmed feeling I am feeling). But seriously though, what a fantastic idea to do if you're married (also what a way to challenge your marriage at the same time!) I wonder if it's a honey moon thing for any of them...I'll have to find out. There is even a lady here who is a second timer, her first service being in Guatemala years ago. She is also one half of the married couples but this was the first assignment for her husband.
We did not hear much country specific information as we will apparently be told all of that stuff in country at our 2 day pre-pre-service training in Kiev. Regardless, it was a good distraction from all these feels I've been feeling about going and missing the all the important people I'm going to be missing.
Tomorrow we head to the airport at 12 and fly out at around 6pm. We will receive our fancy diplomat passports tomorrow which we will be required to use for any and all out of country travel during our service. However, will we not be able to travel outside our communities until after 6 months have passed, nor can we have any state-side visitors until after that milestone passes *nudge nudge, hint hint* ;)
We have a short lay over in Frankfurt but not long enough to enjoy anything there. It will take us about 8 hours to get to Germany and then another 3 or so to Kiev. It's going to be a long day of flying and sitting and no sleep for Jamie. Wish me luck.
-Jamie
4 comments:
Best wishes, Jamie! It is going to be amazing and all those feelings you are feeling are right on. Just focus on absorbing every experience and enjoying every detail. This is your time.
I'm so excited for you!!!! This was a great post. I love the little details. :)
I love your post darling daughter, reading your every day details helps mommy! I love you. 8)
You're making me realize that life is short and we have to enjoy as much as we can. I often forget about this, especially now working full-time in Japan. So, do I have to wait for 6 months to visit you too??
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