Day 1074: Only 16 Days Until Take Off… And I’m Overwhelmed

Well folks.

It has all come down to this.  My last 16 days.

Amazing.

I’m amazingly overwhelmed.

You know?  Moving is pretty darn stressful… and leaving your job is pretty darn stressful too… especially if you need to make sure you leave everything in perfect order so your successor can arrive and seamlessly pick-up where you left off.

With only 16 days left, I feel like I have a MILLION things to do.  Well, not millions… but it certainly feels like an insurmountable amount of work.  Here is a glimpse of my ToDo list:

1. Organize Work

As I mentioned above, I need to get things organized for my successor.  And when I use the word ‘organized’, I really mean write a book explaining everything I’ve been doing for the last year, the current status of each project I’ve been working on, the initial directives and expectations of those projects, and what should be anticipate for those projects for the next week, two weeks, month…  whatever.  Basically, my job right now is to outline everything that might happen while my successor is recovering from jetlag and adjusting to her new surroundings.

At a one year post like Islamabad, we don’t really have the luxury of easing into our jobs and getting settled.  You pretty much show up and do.   

2. Ship Carpets

Well… I bought twelve carpets.  I know!  But they’re not all for me!  Only four of them are for us… the rest I brokered for friends and family… and now I have to ship them… well… I’ve shipped all of them but two.  I’m left with the two complicated ones; the heavy ones that have to go DHL International or more creative means of travel.  I’m pretty sure one of them will end up going in a buddy of mine’s Household Effect shipment.  His next assignment is in the States, so he’ll at least get it there and then I’ll need to arrange UPS shipping the rest of the way… to its actually final destination.

It has been quite the ordeal, but VERY fun and I have a ton of great carpet stories.  I’ll try remembering to share those with you another time. 

3.  Buy Gifts

Sure, I might make my friends and family pay for their own rugs… but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to bring them something from Pakistan for free!  So yeah… I’ve been running around all over the place looking for just the right items for my nieces, nephews, brother, parents, in-law, out-laws, you name it!  

And due to my limited luggage allowance and my large immediate and extended family I’m pretty sure I’ll be shipping a couple boxes to strategic locations  along our home leave itinerary. 

4.  Get Furniture Delivered

So… yeah… I’ve also had three pieces of furniture made.  And the builder is going to be cutting it pretty close.  A few days ago I checked in with him and he said, “Sir, two more weeks, two, maybe two and a half.”  I said, “The movers come in a week and a half.  Can you get it done in a week and a half?”  

“Sir, we will try our best, but cannot promise.”

Me:  “Well, please try, because if the furniture isn’t delivered in a week and a half, I won’t be buying them.”

I’m confident it will all be finished and delivered on time… but the delay doesn’t make me feel good.

5.  Pack House

Yeah… so my pack out is in a week and a half.  How insane is that???!???!

6.  Finish ‘The Chair’ Story.

Errr… I might have to put that off until Paramaribo.

6.  Spend Quality Time with My Friends

Listen.  I met some really amazing people here.  Folks I hope I get to serve with again… and more accurately, folks I hope to SEE again.  You never know!  Heck, I just want the chance to introduce them to Serena and the boys and be able to say, “See!  They’re real!”

Seriously though.  In the Foreign Service you make friends for life.  And I’ve made some very close friends here… and since I’m not much of a social butterfly, I have to remind myself, “JP, you need to take a time out and just be with your friends.  Just take some time, relax and enjoy their company… because you might not see them again… ever.”  Sad, but true.  

Honestly, this has been such a strange year.  It’s almost been like living in a make-believe world… but now as the year comes to a close; this make-believe world has become my normal; which makes the idea of going back to my REAL life, as a husband and father, all the more strange.  

You kind of lose track of what’s real and what not.

But, I’ll tell you this.  

It’s only going to take a couple hugs and kisses from Serena and the boys to remind me what’s REAL.  

Them.

In 16 days I’ll be home.

Day 1067: Congratulations to Kerry!!!

REF: Day 756

Wow… WOW!!!  I have WONDERFUL news!!!!

Back on ‘Day 756’, during International Friendship Week and smack dab in the middle of ‘The Chair Saga’ I told you all about my good friend Kerry… if you’re a new reader, I included a reference link to the post at the top of this one.

Anyway… about a year and a half ago Kerry contacted me and said it was time for a change.  She wanted to know about the Foreign Service. 

Actually, I get emails like this all the time and it’s a pretty normal occurrence among my Foreign Service friends.  I’m probably contacted three or four times a year by friends or friends of friends who are looking for a change and feel the need to ‘window shop’ a somewhat outrageous career change.

Of course, Kerry’s inquiry was different.  She’s always different… heck, I’ve known her for almost 15 years now and the one thing I know about Kerry is that she’s not going to waste her time with something she’s not genuinely interested in.  You always know what you get with Kerry… and not much BS comes with it.

Well.  We talked about it.  She thought about it.  She went to careers.state.gov and added her name to the waiting list for Specialist application announcement.  And that was that.  Time to wait.

Now, I’m pretty sure Kerry isn’t the only person I’ve talked to about joining the Foreign Service who has actually put their name on the mailing list.  However, I’m pretty certain Kerry is the only one who has actually applied when she received the application announcement… last September… almost a year after putting her name on the list. 

This isn’t a fast process… it’s a commitment.

In April she was asked to go to Washington, DC for an interview… her airfare paid for by her current boss.

Two weeks later she received her security clearance.

Three weeks later she received her medical clearance.

One week later she was officially offered a spot in the September orientation class.

Now… there is something Serena and I have been telling Kerry privately throughout the process… this long stressful nerve racking process.  A process that makes you second guess who you are and why you’re going through it.  Who in the world subjects themselves to a multiyear application process?

That said, the one thing we kept reiterating throughout the process was how proud we are of her.  Win or lose, we’re very proud.

Simply applying to be part of the Foreign Service is a very tough personal step to take; especially if you’ve spend most of your life living in the same place (like both me and Kerry).  Win or lose, the significance of the attempt… the willingness and strength to willingly walk away from everything you know shouldn’t be ignored. 

And frankly, feeling proud for a friend of 15 years… who you met in college… is a very special feeling.

So now… publically.  Serena and I would like to shout it from the roof tops of Belgrade and Islamabad… (although I will probably ‘shout’ with my inside voice… so I don’t draw too much attention to myself):

Kerry, you have been an incredible friend to us for the last fifteen years and we are incredibly excited for you, and most importantly, we are incredibly proud of you.

PS: Readers, if you will be staying at the Foreign Service Ghetto in Falls Church in middle to late September, let me know.  It’s never too early for someone to have a sponsor… and I’m sure Kerry would love a friendly face when she arrives.  If so, email me!

Day 1066: SchutzHappens, May 2011 - Sand In My Shoes

Day 1065: SchutzHappens, April 2011 - Ragged Wood

Happy Belated Father’s Day to me… and all the other fathers out there… especially those who weren’t about to be home with their kids yesterday… for important reasons… not simple because you’re a deadbeat.  ;)

Well… I actually had a pretty good day.  I Skyped with my boys twice and I spent the rest of the day catching up on the family videos I make each month.  I was actually two months behind!  It took all day, but it feels good to be caught up.

Day 1064: Eat an Oreo Day

Day 1060: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema = Greatest Place on Earth

Have you guys seen the news coverage on the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema?

It’s pretty intriguing.

Apparently, the theater chain was founded by a husband and wife who loved going to the movies, but had grown more and more frustrated with their overall movie-going experience.  

From the CNN Online Article:

“What drew us to open a theater in the first place is that we were finding a trip to the multiplex to be, more often than not, a disappointing experience.  Poor projection, bad sound and, worst of all, disrespectful patrons in the cinema were slowly eroding our fun, so we conceived of the idea of opening a cinema ourselves on our own terms.”

Thus, Alamo Drafthouse was born… as well as the Alamo Drafthouse rules:

1. We do not play ads before the film: “If I spend $9 or more to see a movie, I equate that to paying for premium cable. Paying for the movie means you get to skip the ads.”

2. We do not allow children under 6 (except for special children’s and “baby day” screenings): “If you want to take your 4-year-old to see "The Hangover 2" at 10 p.m., however, you'll have to go somewhere else.”

3. We do not allow unaccompanied minors: “There are of lots of great, well-behaved 12-year-old individual kids, but assemble them in pods of four or more and drop them unaccompanied in a darkened theater, and they will pave a swath of destruction akin to feral hogs.”

4. If you persist in talking or texting, we will throw you out: And that’s not just an idol threat.  They really kick people out.  Read on to find out more.

Personally, I LOTH going to the movies… for myself.  Taking Grayson is a blast… but went it comes to seeing a movie for myself I hate it.  However, I used to love going!

In high school I worked at movie theaters… as a young adult I would go to the movies at least once a week (to fill my addiction)… but now that I’ve gotten older, I can stand it… for the exact same reasons mapped out in the above rules.   And texting during movies has become my biggest pet peeve… because it’s always some teenager in the first few rows directly in my line of sight… annoying!

Anyway, although I have never been to the Alamo Drafthouse… I am in love with them and I wish them all the best.

Now, you might be asking yourself.  “Why in the world has the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema received national news coverage?”

Well… they recently posted an advertisement on YouTube.  And the advertisement is merely a voice mail recording from an angry (foul mouthed) customer who had been kicked out for texting during a movie. 

Seriously, the video says it all… and it’s gone viral.  In just a week it’s racked up over 2 million hits.

 In addition, the Alama Drafthouse Cinema started posting other No Talking ‘Public Service Announcements’ that they show before their movies instead of advertizing.  Like this one starting Texas Governor Ann Richards:

However, it’s not just their rules setting them apart from their competitors.  It’s also their cuisine and their commitment to their customers overall movie-going experience.  Just check out this video profiling the Alamo’s “Lord of the Ring Trilogy 7-Course Feast”… and just try to tell me this place isn’t awesome!  I dare you! 

 Link to the CNN Article: http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/10/alamo.drafthouse.league/index.html?iref=allsearch

Day 1059: Pig Callers Day

I weep for America. 

Day 1058: Kitchen Klutzes of America Day

Day 1053: Raising a Wanderer

Hey folks!  I thought I would pass this on for the good of the group. 

As many of you might recall, last November I held an ‘unofficial’ Toys for Tots drive, and no one was more enthusiastic and supportive than Bethany, over at the blog Raising a Wanderer.

So, when I received and email from Bethany, two days ago, regarding a service trip to Guatemala she is raising money for I thought it would be nice to repost her message for all the SchutzHappeners.

She’s only looking to raise $1150.00 (which seems VERY low) and according to her blog, the last time I checked, she has already raised 72% of her goal… so she only has like $322.00 left to raise. 

Awesome job Bethany!

SO, will the readers of SchutzHappens be the folks who put her over the top?  Who knows… Who cares...  That’s between you and your pocket book.

All I can say is Bethany is legit… and I’ll leave the rest of the details to her:

**********

Dear Friends,

Many of you know that Guatemala has always held a very special place in my heart.  I backpacked solo through Guatemala 7 years ago for almost 3 months, and met the most amazing people and saw the most amazing places.  I also met some of the poorest people in the world with homes most of us would never consider living in...people that still smiled and were grateful for what little they had.

Today I was given the opportunity to join a very special organization Nuestros Niños on a service trip to Guatemala...leaving July 9th...as in next month July...as in just over a month away....for 8 days.  With my love for Guatemala and for being of service to others...I just couldn't pass up this opportunity to give more. 

During this trip we will be hosting field days for preschoolers, building playgrounds, handing out school supplies, shoes, clothing...giving away chickens and fruit baskets, and building safe stoves in homes that are currently unsafe...and that's not even the half of what we'll be doing!

I am so so so excited about this opportunity and my husband and son are in full support of me going....so it's full speed ahead!

So what are you missing, you might be thinking?  Well...that's an easy one.  M.O.N.E.Y.  aka "Sponsors" to help me send me on this service project.  The total cost for the trip is $1150.  Any donations above and beyond that amount will be used to buy more chickens and food baskets for families.  All donations are fully tax-deductible and I will you ensure you will receive a letter stating such.

Please consider donating $5, $10, $15, $25, $50...whatever you can.  Seeing as this is happening so quickly, I don't have the luxury of fundraising all year...so I'm praying that my friends and family can help out if possible.

I will be keeping my blog Raising a Wanderer updated while in Guatemala and will also be providing the link to Nuestros Niños  blog within my posts.

If you're interested in donating, please visit my blog Raising a Wanderer and click on the Donate button on the top right of the page.  You do not need to have a paypal account to donate.  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me be of service.

xoxo Bethany

Day 1052: My Departure is Becoming Real… VERY REAL

Deep breath.

Can it be true?  I really have less than 40 days left in Pakistan?  Less than 40 days separated from my family?  Less than 40 hug-less nights!  Less than 40 days of food that may, or may not, make me sick!  Less than 40!?!?!?!      

Honestly… that just seems crazy.  Unreal!  Simply amazing!

It has certainly been a very long, stressful, and lonely year.  But it’s almost over and I can’t wait! 

You know?  Everyone measures the end of a tour in different ways.  Some people checkout immediately after they receive their next assignment (even if they still have a year at their current post). 

For other folks, their move becomes real when their travel arrangements have been finalized and their pack-out scheduled.

However, I have to say… my departure from Islamabad did not really become real until my next post (Paramaribo, Suriname) assigned us our sponsor, the family who will help us with our adjustment and settle into our new home. 

That’s right!  The Paramaribo welcome wagon is starting to gear up for our arrival and I am super excited.

Leaving a post is always hard.  Even a crazy place like Islamabad… you know how it is, I’ve lived here for a year and in a lot of ways it’s become my normal and I have a lot of friends here.  So yeah, it’s going to be hard to say ‘good-bye’.   And honestly, this transition is doubly hard, because five days after I say ‘good-bye’ to Pakistan, I’ll have to say ‘good-bye’ to Serbia.

I guess with all this saying ‘good-bye’ it just feels good to know that there’s a place ready to say ‘hello’.  And that makes the transition SO much easier!

Plus, our sponsors in Paramaribo are another crazy blogging family of four: http://fergusonfamily2002.blogspot.com/

And that’s just plain cool.

Day 1051: Be-Bop-A-Lula Day

Day 1048: National Repeat Day

National leave the Office Early Day?  Seriously… no one needs to ask me twice.

Day 1047: National Leave the Office Early Day

National leave the Office Early Day?  Seriously… no one needs to ask me twice.

Day 1046: National Go Barefoot Day

But seriously: http://www.soles4souls.org/