i took a walk yesterday. it was at a toddler's pace, which was 2 1/2 blocks in 25 minutes. for most of it i held the sweaty hand of the 2 1/2 year old that i was babysitting. i also carried a doll stroller for about a block when the gravel road didn't allow for pushing it. i decided that i really enjoyed the pace. no, we didn't go far. and we didn't really see very much. but several rocks attracted her attention. and when a neighbors dog came out i carried her and the stroller. and it was beautiful weather. and she really enjoyed it. i decided to take lots of walks with my kids. and although this summer of nannying and living in a house with a 2 1/2 year old have taught me that i am nowhere close to being ready to have kids, the walk with her made me excited to one day be responsible for planning days for my own kids. i hope that when i do have kids i'll remember to go slow; to walk at the pace that kids do; to let them dawdle.
in other news, a week from today i will by flying out of atlanta to wien. my bags are almost completely packed, i have bought almost everything that i need, and i am almost ready to leave. lots of almosts. :)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
backpack and stuff
i bought my travel device today. it is an REI backpack that holds 75Liters. Without anything in it it weighs 5 lbs and 11 oz. It has 5 compartments. It fits comfortably, but i haven't had to walk very far with a lot of weight in it. also i've become the owner of Teva sandals that have traveled to Israel already. the gear makes me feel a little more prepared, but only a little. considering i still have to pack everything, visit 4 different countries and travel on at least 7 different airplanes before i'm on the ship, it will be a while before i'm actually settled.
walking through a store today i couldn't help glancing around at housey items and wondering when i'll finally have a house that i can make into a home. not that i really know where i would settle down, but it's also unsettling wondering if i ever will. if i have a house, where will be? not just what state, but what country? meh. i know i've got a while before i have to worry about all that.
walking through a store today i couldn't help glancing around at housey items and wondering when i'll finally have a house that i can make into a home. not that i really know where i would settle down, but it's also unsettling wondering if i ever will. if i have a house, where will be? not just what state, but what country? meh. i know i've got a while before i have to worry about all that.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
weekend
two weeks from today i will have left the states for the last time in two years. i will have landed in vienna, austria for a two week vacation with my family.
hopefully by then all of the things i have to get done will be. i continue to add to and cross off from my to do list. on the agenda tomorrow is buying the backpack that will serve as the only suitcase i take with me on my 2 year adventure. i've been getting a lot of little things done. mailing letters, buying different items that i'll need, emailing different people, and making lots of mental check lists about packing. it's hard trying to decide what to bring when i only get a backpack that holds 75 Liters.
this past weekend was probably the most fun one of the summer. saturday i got up early and went shopping at two different thrift stores; then i met up with christy and we spent a couple hours walking around an ann arbor art fair. it was absolutely beautiful. especially the photography booths. it really made me want to travel and take pictures. good thing i get to travel. now all i need is for my photography skills to be stunning. it was also great to share a lot of similar concerns with a friend who is also going to be living abroad. then sunday i drove down to northern indiana to visit sarah. i spent less than 20 hrs there, but it was good, and worth it. we talked a lot, but also got to do fun things like play football and go to applebees. and i got to meet a lot of her friends. it was great closure. a mixture of fun and good conversations. so all in all the weekends was exactly what i needed.
hopefully by then all of the things i have to get done will be. i continue to add to and cross off from my to do list. on the agenda tomorrow is buying the backpack that will serve as the only suitcase i take with me on my 2 year adventure. i've been getting a lot of little things done. mailing letters, buying different items that i'll need, emailing different people, and making lots of mental check lists about packing. it's hard trying to decide what to bring when i only get a backpack that holds 75 Liters.
this past weekend was probably the most fun one of the summer. saturday i got up early and went shopping at two different thrift stores; then i met up with christy and we spent a couple hours walking around an ann arbor art fair. it was absolutely beautiful. especially the photography booths. it really made me want to travel and take pictures. good thing i get to travel. now all i need is for my photography skills to be stunning. it was also great to share a lot of similar concerns with a friend who is also going to be living abroad. then sunday i drove down to northern indiana to visit sarah. i spent less than 20 hrs there, but it was good, and worth it. we talked a lot, but also got to do fun things like play football and go to applebees. and i got to meet a lot of her friends. it was great closure. a mixture of fun and good conversations. so all in all the weekends was exactly what i needed.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
2 yrs
some days i feel the urgency of the fact that one month from today i will have left the United States for 2 years. on those days i realize how much i still have to do in those short 31 days. i am painfully aware that i won't get to see any of my friends for a long time. i consider the fact that once again i will be at a very new beginning with very little familiar to orient myself by.
on other days all of those things seem very distant. the only thing i think about is whether i'm actually making enough money working this summer to be able to stand up on my own feet after the 2 years with OM. and why i have to take my eyebrow ring out to work at a Blockbuster. and when or if my friends will call today. and whether i really need a new pair of shorts just because the whole in the back of mine is now showing underwear.
but really, all those things, that might normally seem so distant from my other worries, aren't really that unrelated. because i'm worried about money after 2 yrs and i have to take my eyebrow piercing out for 2 yrs anyways and my friends won't be calling for 2 yrs and i do need a new pair of shorts because i won't be buying any for 2 yrs.
so it seems like no matter what i think about it's related to 2 yrs. the next 2 yrs.
after that, well i don't think about that at all. no really. not at all.
on other days all of those things seem very distant. the only thing i think about is whether i'm actually making enough money working this summer to be able to stand up on my own feet after the 2 years with OM. and why i have to take my eyebrow ring out to work at a Blockbuster. and when or if my friends will call today. and whether i really need a new pair of shorts just because the whole in the back of mine is now showing underwear.
but really, all those things, that might normally seem so distant from my other worries, aren't really that unrelated. because i'm worried about money after 2 yrs and i have to take my eyebrow piercing out for 2 yrs anyways and my friends won't be calling for 2 yrs and i do need a new pair of shorts because i won't be buying any for 2 yrs.
so it seems like no matter what i think about it's related to 2 yrs. the next 2 yrs.
after that, well i don't think about that at all. no really. not at all.
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