In preparation...
on New Adventures in Ethiopia (Ethiopia), 14/Dec/2008 09:58, 34 days ago
Well, for the last couple of months, since I attended the 'Preparing for Change' training course in Ottawa, my move to Ethiopia has gone from a notion that I want to be in Africa to a reality that I am actually going.It's been a strange mental transition of being aware of everything around me knowing that most comforts will be gone and although I will not be living a totally blessing-free life, I will experience change to say the least. Lets just say I have been in no position to take anything for granted and I'm sure I still have.On a practical note, I had a long laundry list of things to get done of the paperwork variety from getting documents authorized all over the place to acquiring a visa, to traveling to Canada twice so far and another impending trip on New Year's day. I have made doctor's visits and ensured I'm in good shape...so far so good. Thank God.I am expecting the unexpected and deciding how to be intelligently selective with what I can take with me. How do you pack for a whole year? AND with a 50lb total limit. It's a difficult toss up between more clothes or more toiletries...hmmm...The person atWalMartmust have thought I was insane spending $150 on everything from cold medicine todiarrheamedicine to cough drops to alcohol wipes to hair pins. I must have seemed like a total hypochondriac.In general, I am very excited. I had some sad news recently that one of my friends in the UK was actually diagnosed as HIV positive which entirely threw me for a petrified loop and gave new meaning to what I am about to do. The picture went from an exotic, red sand,wistful, bohemian scene in my head to a very grave reality of mass ill health and rapid undiscriminating exposure to this epidemic. My role suddenly overwhelmed me but I am trying to digest it and take it all that more seriously and urgently.I am also somewhat apprehensive about leaving routine behind, leaving the 'normal' comfortable life of convenience behind with friends who I can see with no obstacle, drive on smoothly paved roads and have constantInternet. And of course, I will miss you the most. You know who you are :)That said, I will leave it at that and see how my last month in LA will go...another month or so of corporatefakenessand inflated hierarchies of nothingness. Then I will have the joy of telling my bossI'mmoving to Ethiopia. I will enjoy her reaction ever so much.Love. Arin.