September

I can't believe it is September. September 1st. By the time this month ends I will be living in another country. Or at least I will be frantically searching for a place to live. I'll be staying somewhere. I hope. This summer has passed so quickly. And slowly for that matter. This summer was unlike any of my more recent ones. I stayed in the country the whole time and did very little traveling otherwise.
I did pick a new location and explore it, but waitressing in Danville, IL somehow lacks the feeling of grandeur and adventure that other summer ventures have awarded me. I don't want to complain though. This has been a time of learning just like any other period of life. And one thing that I have managed to learn is that I am scared!! I am excited beyond belief. I really am. But I am not immune to the feelings of anxiety that perhaps any normal person would feel right now. John is finally getting anxious too. So that makes me feel better. I'm not the only one. :)
The main problem is that I feel like I should be doing a great deal of preparing, but I don't know exactly what to do. I have my visa. I've made copies of everything. I'm looking for a place to live, but there is only so much I can do when I am not there. What to bring? Well...I'm not taking much and it is too soon to pack anyway. Lesson planning? Eh, don't know what to plan for anyway. (Not to mention I detest planning. Doing? Fine. Planning/Preparing/Packing? Gross.)

People here in Danville are often excited to hear about my life, about what I am doing. I get told sometimes that I'm a "brave little thing," while they tell me horror stories ( some legitimate, others completely misguided ) about what happens to people who travel. But I also hear the assurances "you'll be fine," "Now's the time to do it," "You're smart. You'll figure it out," "Once people meet you, and see how small and amicable you are, someone will take you in." That last one was from a fellow that I met in the library this afternoon. Although I do my utmost to keep to myself, it seems I have a knack for attracting interested strangers. It is always funny to me to listen to the way strangers will talk to me about myself. They are so confident in what they perceive you'd think they'd known me for years rather than minutes. Well, at least they believe in me.

So anyway it all drawing closer, feeling both more real and surreal every minute. :)