Going Away Parties

Over the last couple of weeks, I have started to say goodbye to people. First, it was my parents who came to see us at the beach. It will probably be Christmas time before I see them again. Thursday night, Brian and I had dinner with our supper club for the last time until December. Last night, he threw me a bit of a going away/ congratulations on getting your dissertation written party. I don't think it had sunk in that I was REALLY leaving until I said goodbye to some people that I knew I would not see again until the end of the year.

This coming week will be my last week of work, which I will spend packing my office because we're getting new furniture while I'm gone. I am going to miss some interesting stuff while I am gone and I am only starting to think about that now... but I realize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience so I have to give up something to do it.

I haven't been able to think about saying goodbye to Brian and the dogs for three months but I know its going to be hard.

Tomorrow, I start shopping....

Preparing for Departure

I am now 18 days from departure and am starting my departure planning. A little late, you say? Well, yes, and not like me but I have been working on my dissertation every waking moment that I have not been at work.

My future CDC Rwanda colleague Wendy was kind enough to share her blog with me, which has been extremely helpful (not to mention interesting), so I have decided to pay it forward by sharing some information on my preparations so that future IETAs can learn from my planning successes and mistakes (which I am sure I will make).

As of this morning, I have done nothing. I'll keep you posted....