A Chronicle of my Changing Times.

Busy days

These past few weeks have been more than a bit hectic.  While I know I'm getting a lot done, I also know there's a few key things which remain unfinished.  For those of you who know me can attest, this leads me to much worry, consternation and a bit of frustration.  I tend to focus on the negative too much.

The good news is that I have a wonderful apartment lined up and two seemingly nice roommates.  Everything looks to be a good fit.  The apartment is more than reasonable, good size in a nice area - plus it's a 7 minute walk to the closest metro.  I picked up Andy, my roommate from Korea, last week at the airport and spent the next few days with him helping set him up and get to know him.  Jill, my other roommate is getting packed and ready in Indiana and already supplying more than her fair share of furniture and kitchen supplies.  Frankly, I'm grateful.  Only downside is I can't move in until September 10th.  I have lodging set up, it just makes life more... interesting.

I'm just about as ready as I could be to start the school year - and wow, has it been a long time since I could utter those words!  Financial aid paperwork has been turned in, I've registered for classes, made an appointment to meet with my academic adviser, RSVP'd and signed up for all appropriate orientation functions, even found old pads of paper, etc. to use.  It's starting to dawn on me that I'm actually going back - and it's an exciting prospect. About the only thing I still have yet to do in preparation is to continue studying Spanish, which I'm set to do with a friend this upcoming weekend.

I also managed to spend a lot of time with my family.  Let me tell you - I love being an Uncle.  It seems like I'm just really getting into it, or at least I'm finally getting to know my nieces well enough that I'm truly comfortable with them.  There's a difference between knowing them and really getting them.  Of course, Emily is too young at this point - she's still eating, sleeping and pooping.  But that's important for a 7 week old baby.  Jenna, however, is full of life and vitality.  She's fun, and I enjoy playing with her, spoiling her, and even being the adult and yelling at her now and again when she needs it.

I've spent time with my Grandma, but not as much as I'd like.  I was surprised this evening when she called and wanted to talk to me.  I always assume she's calling to talk to my parents and it was strange when she simply wanted to talk to me.  I really need to get over and show her my pictures from Europe.  She loves traveling almost as much as I do, she just came from a different generation that didn't allow her to pursue it as I have.

Some other things going on...  the Venerable James is coming tomorrow to help me move up to DC.  Well, at least to help me move many of my boxes up to other friends in DC so I will have them there for my move in next month.  We're also going to play tourist in DC and see the monument and possibly even take in a Nationals game.  I've helped set up Rumy's visit for this upcoming December.  I'm very excited about that - more so than about anything else that's going on in my life.  It's difficult being apart.  I miss her terribly.

I've also got back into going to church on a regular basis.  I can't stress how important this is for me.  Especially after being abroad for over 2 years and doing without.  It's one thing to pray and do daily devotions and stop by the local church (which I loved in Haskovo).  But it's quite another to get something from attending a service.  It really is like eating a good meal after fasting for a while (not that I've ever really fasted).

The negatives are that I still don't have a job and I still have more to sort through.  The easier of those two is the latter.  I still have many things in my parents house and I need to decide what I want to keep.  Surprisingly I find myself much less sentimental after being abroad.  I plundered through 7 or 8 boxes the other day whittling them down to 2 boxes of things to keep.  The job search is the must more difficult obstacle  I feel overwhelmed and frustrated by it.  I honestly haven't applied to too many positions - maybe a dozen total.  And that's not for a lack of jobs.  I have a number of outlets to find them between RPCV networking, GW's career center website, other websites I've found specific to my field, recommendations from friends and colleagues, etc.  When push comes to shove, I just am freezing up.  I think I want some sort of guidance and reassurance.  I don't know what I qualify for when it comes to what I'm undertaking.  I feel like I'm above a Admin Assistant yet when you look at most positions I am lacking qualifications many times.  And some positions that I know that I'm qualified for and have posted for (such as this PC job I would love to have) I have not heard back from in months.  That PC job is still unfilled - it's just that the Federal Government is not very efficient in filling positions.

So basically in all the good that is going on, I am letting the gloom of one or two things fill me.  I'd say that my life would be wonderful if I only had a job, but I'm sure something else would pop up to give me anxiety.  I don't know - life is going very well for me right now - I just kind of expect this last piece to fall into place easily, but apparently I'm going to have to roll up my sleeves and get to work on it.  Wish me luck and say a prayer for me if you're so inclined.

Posted by: mjmarble at August 14, 2007 05:41 | link | comments
work, family, contemplation, faith, daily life, grad school

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