The clock is running out on my time in America so I'm trying to see everyone and anyone I can before I leave for Eastern Europe for two years. Not being exactly sure on what type of communication I will have with people back in the states makes me realize the importance of seeing everyone before I leave. It really sinks in that I'm going to be gone when people are talking about planning beach trips this summer or what they're going to do on their birthdays in a few months. I haven't even began to pack yet, although I have been on a few shoppi
ng trips to try and knock out one of 100's of to-do-lists. I'm just going to get what I think is essential and hopefully will be able to get most of my necessities over there.I'm being aloud 2 checked suitcases that equal 80 lbs. With a sleeping bag, winter boots, a winter coat, the kitchen sink, my two cats, and all of my friends and family, I can imagine this being like a jig-saw puzzle trying to fit everything in. I haven't gotten my official staging papers yet, but an email confirmed we're still on for March 14th as of right now. We just got paperwork asking us questions about our host-families while we're in staging and if we opposed to any "types of family." "Young active family" "single woman home" "elderly couple" "smoking family" were some of the types, I didn't check any expect "no english in the home" but I'm sure I could adapt if need be. When I stayed with my Japan host family, there was very little English on their part and almost zero Japanese on my part and we communicated better than I do with some people that speak English. The closer the date comes the more and more real it becomes.. My going away party that my aunt is so generously throwing me should be a good closure point for me to say my final goodbyes.
