I can't believe that in less than two weeks I'll be in Zambia! I especially can't believe this fact since I'm only halfway through my last summer session of my Masters. I'm currently up to my eyebrows in homework, but I did present my Action Research (thesis) on Saturday, so at least one major thing is accomplished. Hopefully. We haven't heard back yet if we passed or if we (the presenters) have to go back for rewrites, etc. So, the waiting is an additional stress added to an already very stressful week full of papers and presentations.
Oh well, I've survived four-and-a-half summer sessions at La Escuela de Idiomas de Guanajuato (where it's sister university, Southern Oregon University, hosts the Summer Language Institute every summer). Hopefully in less than two weeks I can say that I've completed my Masters in Spanish Language Instruction and can board my flight to Zambia as a vetted "Master."
I suppose I should get back to work as I have so much to do (as always with this program).
In Zambia news, I got my work permit (email) yesterday, Ruby's vet permit should be arriving soon, my car (the Wizard) is set to land in Durban today or tomorrow and will hopefully make it to Lusaka in time for my arrival, and I got an email that my shipment is en route and should arrive sometime in early-September. Oh, and Ruby's "stroller" (for the airport, plus the carrier part detaches so she can have her own area on the plane) arrived, so I'm going to see if my folks can start sticking her in it with lots of treats (Greenies) so she has positive associations. I'm actually really nervous about flying with the pooch.
AdÃos for now--keep you posted on my classwork and graduation status.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 04, 2011
Moving Internationally: 500 lbs just doesn't go that far
On the topic of moving, my school provides me with a $3,000 relocation allowance (both to Zambia and back again which is, obviously, very important). Well, since Zambia is a land-locked country with not the best transportation system, it's quite expensive to move there. I priced out many companies and got a fairly reasonable estimate from Mayflower Movers. Their agent came out and did a walk-through of my house and provided me with an estimate. Apparently, the smallest crate (which would weigh approximately 500 lbs.) would cost about $3,000 and fit the majority of the things I wanted to bring.
Per my numerous email exchanges with other teachers at AISL, things in Zambia are surprisingly expensive (approximately 3-5x what you'd expect to pay in the States) and much poorer quality. So, it made sense to take advantage of the shipping allowance and send some of my things. In particular, I was told to bring linens/bedding/pillows, cookware, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, camp gear, clothing, etc. At the last minute, I threw in my boxes of books/teaching supplies I'd planned to send via ground rate at the Post Office; since there was room, I hoped they would be allowed.
So, on Friday, the first, Joey from Mayflower showed up with his big truck and packing supplies. I'd already packed things pretty well (I thought), but Joey had unpacked, wrapped in paper, and repacked all 500+ pounds of stuff in no time flat. It was loaded into a big wooden crate (there was actually room leftover) and taken to the Mayflower office where it was weighed (it was actually 60 pounds overweight, but Sam, the lovely woman in charge of international moves, let it slide), wrapped in saran wrap and, theoretically, sent off via some slow ship to South Africa. After arriving in South Africa, it will, in theory, be loaded onto a big truck and delivered to moi sometime in the beginning of September. Let's just hope it makes it!
Per my numerous email exchanges with other teachers at AISL, things in Zambia are surprisingly expensive (approximately 3-5x what you'd expect to pay in the States) and much poorer quality. So, it made sense to take advantage of the shipping allowance and send some of my things. In particular, I was told to bring linens/bedding/pillows, cookware, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, camp gear, clothing, etc. At the last minute, I threw in my boxes of books/teaching supplies I'd planned to send via ground rate at the Post Office; since there was room, I hoped they would be allowed.
So, on Friday, the first, Joey from Mayflower showed up with his big truck and packing supplies. I'd already packed things pretty well (I thought), but Joey had unpacked, wrapped in paper, and repacked all 500+ pounds of stuff in no time flat. It was loaded into a big wooden crate (there was actually room leftover) and taken to the Mayflower office where it was weighed (it was actually 60 pounds overweight, but Sam, the lovely woman in charge of international moves, let it slide), wrapped in saran wrap and, theoretically, sent off via some slow ship to South Africa. After arriving in South Africa, it will, in theory, be loaded onto a big truck and delivered to moi sometime in the beginning of September. Let's just hope it makes it!
PDX chapter closed. Temporarily.
On Friday, July 1, I felt one major step closer to actually arriving in Zambia: I moved out of my house and turned the keys over to the renters. The last few months have been a whirlwind with so many things to do (as outlined in the previous post). Now, I'm not talking a to do list like "buy shampoo for Zambia," but rather major life events like "finish thesis," "put old dog to sleep," and "move out of my house and find renters to live in it."
Needless to say, the last few months have been a blur of trying to cram in as much fun with my friends as possible before departing Portland and, conversely, trying to ready myself for the upcoming move to Zambia, all while teaching 5th grade full-time. I accomplished some things better than others and this post is dedicated to my friends and family who helped me get some major shit done so that I can begin the next adventure.
The house/packing was such a major undertaking that I avoided it like the plague. In fact, I avoided it almost as much as I've been avoiding my thesis/action research writing. It wasn't until I had actual real renters who actually really wanted to move in on July 1st that I realized this was actually really happening. Good thing I have amazing family support; Mom and Pop Cline came down to help pack/clean/ready the house for renters and my awesome Auntie and Unc Cline-Turner also came down to help for a few days. From cleaning to packing to hauling loads of crap all over Portland for my friends to store, there's no way I would have been able to get it all done.
Regardless, the things I want to keep are scattered around Portland in the basments and living rooms of many of my close friends and I was able to sell a lot of my things (from my couch to my car to my dishes) on Craigslist. It was amazingly cathartic to get rid of so much stuff! I felt as if I was purging years of junk and bad memories (Springwater, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, etc.) from my life. I hope I see some of it again, but if not, it was nice knowing you!
Needless to say, the last few months have been a blur of trying to cram in as much fun with my friends as possible before departing Portland and, conversely, trying to ready myself for the upcoming move to Zambia, all while teaching 5th grade full-time. I accomplished some things better than others and this post is dedicated to my friends and family who helped me get some major shit done so that I can begin the next adventure.
The house/packing was such a major undertaking that I avoided it like the plague. In fact, I avoided it almost as much as I've been avoiding my thesis/action research writing. It wasn't until I had actual real renters who actually really wanted to move in on July 1st that I realized this was actually really happening. Good thing I have amazing family support; Mom and Pop Cline came down to help pack/clean/ready the house for renters and my awesome Auntie and Unc Cline-Turner also came down to help for a few days. From cleaning to packing to hauling loads of crap all over Portland for my friends to store, there's no way I would have been able to get it all done.
Regardless, the things I want to keep are scattered around Portland in the basments and living rooms of many of my close friends and I was able to sell a lot of my things (from my couch to my car to my dishes) on Craigslist. It was amazingly cathartic to get rid of so much stuff! I felt as if I was purging years of junk and bad memories (Springwater, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, etc.) from my life. I hope I see some of it again, but if not, it was nice knowing you!
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