If all goes well, I will be on a plane in 27 days headed for Ireland. Soon. Very soon.
Am I excited? Of course. I have moments where I “feel” it, and those moments make me pretty excited. I get to live in another country, something I’ve always wanted to do (seriously, I can remember being a child and thinking that’d be “cool”). I get to keep studying history, a field I love. I get to maintain a connection with JBU. And, probably best of all, I’m doing something that God seems to have confirmed in many different ways.
So far I haven’t really panicked. Except for one thing. The visa. I don’t know why; I just get knots in my stomach whenever I think about it. I’ll feel a lot better when I’m holding it in my hand.
I’m curious what life will be like. Who I’ll meet. What I’ll do. How busy I’ll be.
I’m all tricked out with Skype. Online number. Group chat. Unlimited US calling (heck, I even have unlimited calling to Canada!). Voicemail. It’s pretty amazing what we can do and how we can communicate in the modern era.
I have contemplated starting to pack, but have ultimately avoided it in favor of more substantial things, such as writing on this blog, photographing things, and just generally doing nothing. Actually, I don’t really like packing that much. I tend to try to pack for every scenario, which means I have to first ponder every scenario, then pack, then reconsider if I really considered everything, then repack… its a long process, lets just leave it there. Of course, anyone who has traveled much knows that considering and packing for every scenario generally leaves you with too much stuff. Ironically enough, Northern Ireland probably has just about any material needs I might have.
A few “housekeeping” things:
If you have my cell phone number, and contact me with any frequency, be advised that I will not be using it, checking it, or otherwise aware of any attempts to contact me at that number.
If you have used my JBU as a contact email, I won’t be getting that either.
So, instead, let me know and I’ll give you my skype contact info, and updated email. Of course, if you read this blog, are “friends” with me on facebook, or follow me on Twitter, you probably won’t be wanting for updates. I’ll probably have a dedicated category on this blog to make it easier. Stay tuned for details.
If you are not all that keen on the digital communications thing, I can also provide a mailing address. Send me something while I’m over there, and you might get something back (although anyone who has tried corresponding with my in paper, or really just corresponding with me in general, probably knows I can take a while to respond. Don’t take it personally.).
I’ll quit blabbering now and go doing something useful with myself. Like packing. But really, I don’t feel like it. I think I’ll daydream about Ireland instead.
Woohoo!