You're Shocked, I Know

I posted something!

I'm certain you've all been distraught over my lack of rambling blog posts, rest assured, I don't intend drop the blog. Once I've left the English speaking world you're probably going to wish I posted less. Especially if I start going back through the last 8 months and finishing off the 36 (yes, 36) drafted blog posts I started and never finished.

Where to begin....

If you have not heard I'm headed to Bamako, Mali in August. I've been buying up books on Africa like crazy. Naturally I arrived in DC certain there was no way I was going to Africa by myself. Perhaps, someday, family in tow I'd be happy to go. But alone, no way. Then the short list of options was handed out.

Before receiving said list I'd outlined my priorities for exactly what I wanted, in the hope that I wouldn't be swayed and pick post that I might not be happy with due to things I'd be giving up for a "name". Turns out Mali was the single option that gave me every one of my priorities (at least in part). I can honestly say I'm headed to my first choice of the options I was given. So what were the requirements that have me heading off to Timbuktu (which currently I will not be able to visit as it's considered too dangerous)?

1. There are several different offices I had the option to work in, this job will put me in the office I wanted to be in.

2. Language training. I wanted language training, and it's even better that I'll be taking three months of French so I can build on what I already know.

3. Church. This is the one I fudged a little. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not actually organized in Mali. There are no meeting houses, no wards - but there are members and they do meet informally on at least a semi-regular basis.

4. D&N's wedding. I'm part of the wedding party for D&N's wedding in August and if possible I wanted to stay long enough to be able to participate. Not only because I adore them and want to be there for them, but because of everyone who will be attending. I won't have the opportunity to see friends frequently in the future so being in attendance seemed especially valuable.

5. Student loans. The State Dept has a program where they provide a supplemental student loan payment to employees serving at hardship posts of more than 20% hardship. Mali meets that requirement.

6. R&R time. Mali has 2 R&Rs. Meaning that once a year I can fly home without having to pay for the plane ticket myself. Or I can apply the amount the ticket would cost to a trip elsewhere.

7. Weather. No snow. At some point it will happen. There are plenty of places I'd be happy to go that reach frigid temperatures. This time I wanted somewhere warm.

Those I've talked to who have been posted or lived there love Bamako, and have had nothing to say but good things about working there. I'm grateful it worked out the way it did.

I'm almost halfway through my training and now that winter has finally relented (how did I live in Provo for four winters?) I'm enjoying DC. Virginia is beautiful. Half my days here have passed and there are many unchecked items on my list of things to see and do. I also have a horrendously long list of things to buy, and tasks to complete before I leave. I'm doubly grateful to have time for everything I need and want to do.

You still have three months to come visit in DC. If not, you'll have to come to Mali. Which you can actually do! Just be sure to get your shots, take malaria medication, and don't drink the water.

It will be an adventure.

The Foreign Circus

Most commonly heard/repeated/groaned at phrase: "It depends"

Training for the foreign circus is a surreal experience. One week you are "learning" how to send emails, the next finds you running through a forest. Seriously...running through a forest, ask me about it sometime! You spend several days in a windowless basement room completing Microsoft trainings. Another day you are giving a presentation on immigration, in French. You want to talk about ANYTHING but work, yet it's the only thing you are capable of talking about.

The result is that your conversation is either fascinating (briefly to those who know nothing about your job or where you are going and your colleagues who are equally interested in talking about work) or you have become a total bore. I am capable of talking for hours about the cafeteria at the training center, the logistics of packing and shipment overseas, household issues in foreign countries, if I do or do not plan to hire a cook, gardener, house cleaner, etc. But the number of people capable, let alone interested in listening to such a discourse is limited.

Thankfully, when you join the foreign circus you suddenly find yourself in a weird carny-esque tribe. Every last one of your colleagues has also signed up for this crazy deal. So despite the fact you almost never receive a direct answer to a question and everyone has disparate experiences following processes that are supposedly the same, it does feel like home. In a strange, you can't wait to get out of here, but are glad to have met everyone sort of way.

The training center is a much nicer place without snow!

Au Revoir Pacifica

Today might be Christmas Eve, but it's also the day I move back home after 3 months living with my father's parents. I don't finish work until January 9th, but there is not a single free weekend left before the movers arrive at my folks to pack all my possessions. Thus, after the family holiday party this evening we'll load up my car, my parent's car, with all I have in the basement. And that will be it. It will likely be the last time I'll see my grandparents before I leave. Strange realization. Goodbye goodbyes.

I have loved living by the ocean these past few months. Before darkness took over the evening it was always the highlight of my day driving down from the top of the hill into Pacifica with the Pacific ocean stretching out infinitely.

No filters here, no Photoshop - it's simply perfect. 

After I received my formal offer and invite to DC, I tried to make a point to stop here in the mornings and afternoons when I got off early. Though I'm sure I'll live by other oceans, in other places, I don't want to have taken this one for granted.

Thankfully I've got one or two more ocean related excursions planned before I depart (one which might give me my fill of oceans for a long time) so today isn't really goodbye. But there is something about the beach you've been acquainted with your entire life (even when your father would yell when you got more than a few inches into the sea foam) and a city that will forever and always be associated with both sets of grandparents who lived there and memories of the brief years you lived there yourself as a child.

I'll remember the eucalyptus trees, the golf course with my Shirley Temples at the bar, the wooden playground down the street, picking flowers in the front yard for crowns, playing dress-up, doll house parts, classic movies, countless holidays. Hopefully today won't be the last one. 

Through The Years

Judy Garland has been absolutely reducing me to tears and small sobs when she comes on the radio.

I don't think this is just me, but I have several favorite Christmas movies which aren't Christmas movies at all. Little Women is one. Meet Me in St. Louis is another. Almost purely for the scene where Esther sings, "...have yourself a merry little Christmas" to Tootie. This year, more than any previous, I'm sympathizing with them and their sadness over leaving so much of what they love.

Someday soon, we all will be together

If the Fates allow

Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

I suppose I've got to make it as merry as possible now, while I can. But maybe I'll be lucky and manage to get home from country X every year for Christmas. I'd take every other year. Or even some years. 10-20 years seems like a long time to miss Christmas. Lots of muddling. 

Note - I am thrilled about the new job, and leaving - but that doesn't mean it isn't tinged with sorrow.