Saturday, May 30, 2009

Me too Me too!

So a couple weeks ago when Sarah first posted she laid down the law...we have to alternate posts so I can't take credit for all the quality blogging that she is waiting to unleash on the world and my family and friends will not be wondering what happened to me and why they never see me write on our blog. This is unfortunate for me cause well it means I have to actually contribute something useful and double unfortunate for you cause it will probably result in less frequent updates. If you are missing your fix from us - blame me.

So go me here is my first post...now Sarah can post again!

More importantly, a lot has changed in the past week. I left my job at CARE, which has been an absolutely amazing experience and I really can't think of somethign else I would rather have been doing the past year. Also, five years after I first moved down to Atlanta, I left. I definitely will not miss the heat and humidity of Atlanta or the pollen, but I will 100% miss all our friends - so to everyone in Atlanta - don't be a stranger! Finally, going on two years after I first started working on my thesis - I think we are about ready to submit it for a second time. If you ever wanted to know more about the relationship between juvenile crime and the laws transferring juveniles to the adult criminal system - I am your man.

Anyways, now I am in Milwaukee for the midwestern good bye tour - wedding this weekend in Madison and then friends in Chicago and friends and family in Milwaukee and then back to DC for the last few days before we make our way to Africa.

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Countdown

Now that this blog has been in existence for over a month now, I figured it was high time I wrote a real post. I apologize in advance for any blogging faux pas I may make - I'm very new to this. So here goes...

As most of you know, Jacob and I started the Peace Corps application process a year and a half ago, so I guess the countdown really started then in a way. But it was only in the last couple months that it became real, and only in the last couple weeks that it actually sunk in that we are going to move to the Sahara for 2 years. We both occasionally have twinges of nervousness (I think that's more me than Jacob), but most of the time we are just really excited to start this new chapter in our lives and cannot wait for June 16th.

Our last few weeks in the US are looking to be action-packed as we race to complete our daunting lists (yes plural) of things we need to take care of before we leave. The Cliff notes of our schedule for the next few weeks look something like this:

May 11-21 - Sarah and Jacob both in Atlanta, wrapping things up at work, going to last minute doctor's appointments, attending a first aid class, stocking up on cheap spices at the farmer's market, selling/giving away half our belongings, packing up what's left, loading up the car and moving "cube", etc, etc. Jacob's last day of work is the 21st.
May 22 - Sarah and Jacob drive the car up to DC
May 23-25 - Sarah and Jacob in DC
May 25 - Sarah flies back to Atlanta, Jacob stays in DC
May 26-29 - Sarah works one more week in Atlanta (last day the 29th), Jacob in DC seeing friends/family and acquiring Target's entire supply of sunscreen and insect repellent (and maybe a few other things)
May 29 - Jacob and Sarah both fly to WI
May 30-June 8 - Sarah and Jacob in WI attending a wedding, seeing friends/family, spending a day and a half in Chicago (June 1-2), Jacob retakes LSAT (on the 8th)
June 9 - Jacob and Sarah fly back to DC, where they hang out and pack/unpack/repack their bags until it's time to report "staging" (2-day orientation in Philly before flying to Africa) on June 15.

We will be trying hard to say our goodbyes in person to as many family members and friends as possible, so please get in touch if you haven't already!

Sarah