Final Days

It has been almost 18 months since this all began, and now we have less than a week before we leave for Peace Corps service in Botswana.  We have had to demonstrate a lot of patience during that time.  Patience is not required anymore… at this point things are moving very fast.  We are packing, making last minute purchases, tying up financial loose ends, making address changes, trying to fit everything into our suitcases without going over the weight limits, and best of all, visiting with family and friends.

The last financial loose end to take care of was resolved last night when we sold Tish’s Santa Fe.  Our good friends John and Patsy had said they wanted to buy it and were graciously willing to let us keep driving it until last night when we actually turned the car over to them and finalized the sale.  For the next two days, Tish’s mother will be allowing us to use her car.

People have asked how we know what to take with us.  Probably the best source of information is the Peace Corps volunteers currently serving in Botswana.  There is a Facebook group page where our batch of volunteers (Bots 10) compares notes.  The previous two groups that are currently serving in Botswana (Bots 8 and Bots 9) have been posting there as well, answering all of our questions.  This information is invaluable and we really appreciate their input.  It is hard to imagine that in 12 months we will be giving advice to next year’s group.

Deciding what to pack is difficult.  We need to take clothes for work, where we are expected to dress professionally, and clothes for play.  We have to go through our closet and select the few shirts, slacks, sweaters, coats, etc. that we will take and the rest will go into storage or to Goodwill.  We are packing to set up a new household for two years, so in addition to clothes, we are taking cooking supplies, sleeping bags liners and mats, hair clippers, shopping bags, vegetable storage bags, screen for windows, currency converters and adapters, mirrors, sewing kits, stationary, flashlights, batteries, laptops, flash drives, backpacks, water bottles, shoes for work and play, razors, soap, school supplies, nail clippers and files, zip lock bags, personal photos… the list goes on.  We can buy things in Botswana, but we are told the quality is low.  With every item the question is, “Can I get it in Botswana, or do I pack it, and will it make me go over the weight limit?”  You can see my packing list by clicking HERE.

The Storage Unit

The things that we don’t take to Botswana will go into the storage unit.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, these items will be in a clean climate-controlled locked unit with a flush toilet down the hall. It occurred to me that our stored furniture will be living more comfortably than we will!  We just closed the door on the storage unit for the last time and locked it.

We have been saying goodbye to a lot of people lately.  We had two Bon Voyage parties.  It meant so much to us to have family and friends who wanted to host such a party.  It was a wonderful and generous thing to do. The first party was hosted Tish’s brother Bruce and his wife Lauret in their beautiful home.   About 85 people showed up and the party doubled as a family reunion.  Folks came from as far away as Ohio.  Tish’s daughter Betsy came from Charlotte with her boyfriend Mike.  My daughter Kim and her kids came as well.

The second Bon Voyage party was hosted by our good friends Deb and Gary.  We had about 35 people at this party attended by some family, but mostly friends and co-workers.  Some came from as far away as Michigan.  My son David came for this one all the way from Denver.

Both parties were a blast.  The handshakes, the hugs, the tears, the wonderfully supportive words meant the world to us.  We leave the USA knowing that we leave behind MANY friends and family who love us, support what we are doing.  We know we will be in their  thoughts and prayers.

The time spent with our kids was very special.  To spend a few days just hanging out prior to our leaving was so much fun.  In this day with the email, Skype, and cell phones, the world is a smaller place; but it is still hard to leave loved ones behind.

Lately people always ask, “Are you nervous?”   The truth is I am not, but I know I probably should be.  If I think about it, the things I am most nervous about are learning the language and the heat in the summertime.  I hold on to the thought that there are a lot of other over-50 volunteers out there — if they can do it so can I.

Mostly I am excited and anxious to get this underway.  I have been waiting for this for 18 months and ready to begin.  Tish feels exactly the same way.

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One Response to Final Days

  1. Carol Reckamp says:

    My husband, John, and I have enjoyed your web site quite a bit. We recently recieved our Peace Corp assignment, which will send us to Botswana in September! John has a background in technology and I have been asigned to the Life Skills program.

    I just found the Bots 10 group on Facebook and it is already answering a lot of questions we had.

    I’m looking forward to reading your blog as time goes on – and I’m looking even more forward to meeting you down the line!

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