Where Do I Go?

"Pack everything you could possibly need in the next nine months into a suitcase and expect the unexpected."

Translation: We KNOW you have that lovely collection of scarves and winter accessories but maybe pick your favorites.

That's great. Just ask me to pick a favorite family member while you're at it.

I've put off not feeling prepared enough to create a Fulbright blog for long enough. With a little over two weeks until I take a leave of absence from America, I'm frankly living in an almost constant state of panic. This is probably the part where I should talk about meditation, counting sheep, pausing and reflecting, or any number of much more mature and dignified responses than blind terror about living in Poland until next July. But as we said before, expect the unexpected.

For those of you who don't know, I can organize this summer into two major chapters. Chapter one is teaching English in Israel for a month and chapter two is spending a month essentially as a parasite in my parents' house in Atlanta, drinking chardonnay, watching Netflix, and ranking Meryl Streep's Oscar nominated roles by preference. Chapter three is this transition and I'm afraid it's already off to a start not unlike the plot to some Bette Davis movie. I can feel myself turning cranky as opposed to the usual beacon of sunshine I am *coughs cigarette smoke*. Don't read into this reaction as some sort of lack of enthusiasm. I could not be more excited about the opportunity I have been presented with. I cannot wait to be settled in Poland and learning more about this fabulous nation. I look forward to spending Rosh Hashana in Warsaw during Fulbright Orientation. I can't wait to pick a sensible duvet for my bed in Poznan. But for the love of God, let me get packed first before asking me if I'm excited.

All that being said, I have narrowed my years of retail therapy down to the core wardrobe I will be toting with me across the ocean. This was a grueling and painful process. I hope everyone appreciates my sacrifice. So many cardigans left at home.... I digress.

A more thoughtful post will come within the next few days where I talk about the more grounded schtuff (why Poland, personal goals, etc.)

Until then....