We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. - T.S. Eliot

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

18 Days and Counting

Bledsoe

Gatlinburg, TN



Charleston, South Carolina


Our house has been turned over to the renters, our possessions dispersed, and our Visas are in hand. Not without problems, I might add. 18 days until we leave and many more goodbyes remain. We spent a week in Charleston with Casey’s mom and had a wonderful time at the beach; we are currently in Indiana spending some time with my parents in the country, and are staying with my sister-in-law between visits while I finish up my last doctoral course. By the time we have sufficiently inconvenienced every member of both our families, it will be time to board the plane.
We feel a bit like vagabonds with our suitcases in tow. As our 15 year wedding anniversary approaches and I assess our belongings, I certainly hope the accumulation of possessions doesn’t signify a prosperous marriage. Our current belongings consist of 5 moving boxes, 5 suitcases, and 5 carry-ons. We did store some bins of memorabilia, books, and clothes in our attic, but for all intensive purposes, our belongings fit into 5 boxes, 5 suitcases, and 5 carry-ons. 1 box is filled with items such as Mac-N-Cheese, tea bags, drink powder, peanut butter, spices, over-the-counter medications, sunscreen, and cosmetics. We left room in 1 box to pack items we cannot purchase in China and others we felt would be comforting to the children while transitioning to a new country.
In between dozens of dentist and doctor’s appointments, we are eating all our favorite foods, watching all our favorite movies, and visiting all our favorite places. I can’t think of a better excuse to spoil ourselves with Americana than moving to China. Fireworks on the beach during the 4th, my dad’s fat, juicy grilled burgers and creek fries, Harry Potter, swimming and fishing in Bledsoe Creek, camping and tons of ice cream have filled our last month with tremendous joy, not to mention 10 extra pounds. (I have come to terms with being the fat, white woman in China.) A statistics class, 1 more dentist appointment, a few more goodbyes and we will be ready to begin our Chinese adventure!!