We Are Here!!

After three long fights we finally arrived at our destination around midnight and were met by an employee at my new job. Almi was very good on the plane and I must say that business class made it so much easier. We were dropped at our new apartment which is a 3 bedroom 3.5 bath, plus maid's quarters (she also has a full bath) in a modern condominium building with a gym and an infinity pool. I am quite happy with the apartment even though I prefer an open floor plan and more light and to not be so high up. We are on the 38th floor and there are floor to ceiling windows in every room. The view is quite spectacular but it is very, very scary!


So, quickly, here are a few highlights of life thus far:


1. I hired a live-in nanny and she is working out alright. She isn't Ms. E or even the neighborhood teen age sitter we loved but she is OK. She seems honest and seems to care about Almi so that's enough for me to keep her around for right now. She also cleans and cooks. Her cleaning skills seem fine but her cooking could use some work. I don't really have the time to show her and my cookbooks are still in transit so for now we are making do with what she can make. I was disappointed because her previous employers said she was a fantastic cook so I was expecting these sumptuous meals every night and that is so not the case. But I can say it is nice to not have to do the dishes or the laundry. I do miss Almi a lot though and want to give her her bath and tuck her in at night when I get home from work so it's quite nice to have the luxury of just getting up from the table to do that and come back to a clean kitchen.


2. My new job is going to be very, very busy. I can tell that already. At least, though, I can feel like it's worth it to work hard because I have a nice home and hired help and money can be saved. It makes me a lot less resentful. Our facilities are fantastic and I am excited to be working here.


3. Almi has been asking to "go home" and to see her friends and it breaks my heart. I know she will be much happier when she starts school. Right now she spends most of her time hanging out with the nanny and she doesn't have many of her toys so I know she's a bit bored and missing her old life. A colleague in my building has a 2.5 year old son who she said is also very high energy and we are going to go in on a swim teacher who can come to our building and give our kids swimming lessons. We are also both interested in a dance/music class for our kiddos as well as gymnastics. There are actually quite a few families in our building with children so I will be setting up playdates for Almi quite frequently.


Well, that's about it. Our new life in Asia has begun and sometimes I feel like I am in a dream and will wake up and return to life in DC. but I am happy I made the leap and am excited for what's to come.

This is My Last Post

We leave Wednesday morning. And you know what? I still doesn't seem real!!! Am I really going to start work on Monday at a new job in a foreign country???!!! It is so odd to think about but I have never been busier in my entire life so I really haven't had the time to think much about it. I am going through the motions of packing and paperwork and running around to the passport office and Embassy and selling stuff and storing stuff but without excitement or trepidation or sadness or curiosity. My focus is purely on the things on my to do list and that has kept me so occupied that my brain is too full to feel emotions. It's the weirdest thing.

This week has been extremely busy. Here's a small taste: calling the moving company, scanning and emailing documents, meeting with a cleaning company,picking up Almi's passport, getting a safety deposit box, buying a book on airports, selling a couch, putting stuff on Freecycle, taking things to the thrift store, purchasing last minute items,washing clothes, backing up my computer, buying teaching gifts, spending time with friends...

I am telling you, it has been no joke and more than once I found myself annoyed that I didn't have a spouse to take on half of the items. Seriously, there was more to do than was humanly possible for one person to do, especially someone who finds it hard to ask for help and to delegate.

As I type I am realizing that as much as I need or maybe want to document this phase, I really better get back to work. I have one day left to do touch up painting, sell my car, back up my hard drive, get documents authenticated, sign the contract with the management company, finish packing, finish emptying my house, charge batteries, etc.. and I'm so sleepy!

So I better go. This is my last post from my desk in Washington, DC. I may post again soon after we arrive or I may wait until my new blog is up and running. Or I may just continue to post here as usual. I don't know but I'll figure that out when I have time to think about it!! For now, I am going to focus on my list and hoping that I get some sleep tonight. It's 12:30am now? I project I will be done by 4. Ugh. Wish me luck!

Our journey ahead is going to be long and taxing. We are taking three flights. If you are the praying kind, please pray that we travel safely to our destination and for us both to have a seamless readjustment. And while you're at it, please pray that she is on her best behavior in the airport and on the airplane! Thanks, I appreciate it.

Until next time,
L&N

FOUND!!

I interrupt this mad packing session to inform you of something fabulous. I am SOOOOOOOOO happy to report that in my cleaning, Almi's original Ethiopian paperwork has been found!! My friend was over here helping me pack and thank God I went over to see what she had placed in the box before she sealed it up! I want to run put it all in the safety deposit box but I need to find out if any of it will be needed in our travels.

I had told myself that everything had to be packed up by 4pm today or it was all going to Goodwill or in the trash. It is 5:30 and I still have about 10% of my house to pack up. I didn't make that deadline but it will all be done tonight or thrown out. Seriously.

Why because tomorrow I need to tackle the FORTY FIVE ITEMS that are still on my to do list. Yes, there are still 45. And ideally they will all be done tomorrow so Tuesday I can relax!!!

Ok, gotta get back to work!

Ethiopian Friends

When I was offered my position to teach overseas I inquired if there were any other Ethiopian children at the school. I was told, no but that there were South African and Caribbean and Namibian and adopted children and single moms but no, no Ethiopians. He reassured me that although there are no Ethiopians there are so many people from so many different places that no one feels like an outsider. I'm sure that's true but we will both really, really miss the Ethiopian community here in DC and our Ethiopian friends.

Almi spent one more night with her teacher. I got these photos of them going to church. Ms. E said she was very well behaved in church and loved wearing the green dress. She also told me she started speaking to her in Amharic and that Almi was starting to understand. "In one year she would've be fluent," Ms. E shared with me. Yeah, I cried on the drive home thinking about that one.


Another sad thing is Almi won't get to grow up with all the Ethiopian children adopted by friends of mine. It would have been such a great thing for Almi to be included in this group, not to mention so many of these kids are also children of single moms. Dinknesh, Asfaw, Isley, Maddie, Rebekah, baby Dawson, Daniel, Jewel, Amara and others would have become very special friends. We did at least luck out and get to meet A in the knick of time. D just brought A home from Ethiopia a few weeks ago and we got in one playdate at the local park.

Our new home doesn't even have any Ethiopian restaurants but I did pack some berbere powder and I will be teaching the cook how to make doro wat, tikil gomen and other Ethiopian dishes. If I can find the right ingredients and pan, I will even ask her to try her hand at injera (or "ah-JEW-ah" as Almi calls it). Almi loves herself some ahjewah. I also downloaded some Ethiopian music onto my computer and packed some Ethiopian clothing, jewelry and art to decorate our new home that I picked up in Addis. And who knows? Maybe after this contract I will be offered a job to teach in Ethiopia? But for now we will make do with what we have and I will do my part to keep our connection to and love of Ethiopia alive in our home and in our hearts. We may even have enough money to visit one day soon. In the interim, we are off to become citizens of the world. We leave in three days for our Asian adventure.

Five Hours

That is how long I was at the hair salon. Yes, FIVE HOURS! Far too long. But at least my hair looks good and I can pass for being ten years younger (my #1 goal no matter the price)!

Five hours is also how long I hung out at my going away party. I am going to miss everyone so much!!! We had a great, great time.

Down to the Wire

I don't get Almi's passport until Monday, two days before we travel. Can we say "down to the wire?" Come on, everyone say it with me: DOWN TO THE WIRE!

I couldn't apply for it until her readoption was completed and since that just happened on June 30th I couldn't apply through the mail because that takes 6-8 weeks. I needed to get it expedited but you can't do that until you are within 14 days of travel. And they assign your appointment time. So today was our appointment time, this morning at 11:30 and I had to bring Naomi. You know bringing her anywhere is a crap shoot in terms of her behavior but thankfully this morning she was pretty well-behaved.

Do you want to know what I brought with me to apply for the passport? Take a look at this list:

* her final adoption decree, certified
* a copy of her final adoption decree
* her Ethiopian passport
* her resident alien card
* her social security card
* a copy of her social security card
* copies of her original Ethiopian paperwork
* my passport
* my original birth certificate
* a copy of my original birth certificate, certified
* the DS-11 passport application filled out in black pen only (picture me tearing through my house this morning searching high and low for a black pen and how annoyed I was when I kept finding blue ones)
* 2 passport photos
* my travel itinerary
* my confirmation number
* my checkbook
* Almi

Yeah, all. of. that. But I did what they asked, of course, and look forward to being able to check securing Almi's US passport off the list!

Went down to Vital Records to pick up Almi's birth certificate. Back and forth in lines. Had to pay cash for it since my driver's license had just expired. I was about to leave when a man came up to me and said, "Ma'am, no disrespect but you can see right through your dress. You should have worn a slip."

Hmmm, I was very embarrassed of course, but I was already downtown and I had more errands to run. Did I want to be embarrassed all day about the world seeing my legs or go all the way home to change (since I don't own a slip and haven't worn one in about 30 years)? Being embarrassed won out and I forged on to do the rest of my downtown errands.

Headed to the Office of Tax and Revenue and to the Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to apply for a business license (necessary to rent out my house) and to get the Certificate of Occupancy. More lines. More fees. And my license was still expired. Can't charge anything with an expired license I discovered (even though it's still me) so I was forced to walk back and forth and up and down the street in the bright sunlight showing my gams to the world in search of an ATM. I couldn't find one but there was a drugstore so I went in and bought a bottle of iced tea and inquired about the maximum amount of cash back allowed. "$35.00," I was told. "OK," I responded. "And after I buy this I would like to do another transaction so I can get another $35.00." But the cashier wouldn't let me. "I don't have enough cash in my register for that." Defeated, I trudged down to the grocery in the 98 degree heat and purchased some stuffed chicken to eat and relax a bit before heading home. I could try again tomorrow, I figured. Before I took a bite of food though, I placed a phone call to my friend who does real estate stuff to ask him some questions about the application. He was able to answer them so I decided I should go ahead and knock this item off my to do list while I was already downtown. So, I put my chicken in the car and headed back into the grocery store to find something else to buy so I could get some cash back from there. I needed $190 for the business license and I now had $120 in my wallet. I grabbed a fruit roll up and got into the express line. When I got to the front of the line I asked what the cash back maximum that was allowed. "$65.00" I was told. Darn! I was going to be $5 short. "OK," I told the cashier,"I am going to do one more transaction after this one to get some more cash back." "No, I won't let you do that. I am at an express register. I can't give you any more cash back." "I only need five more dollars," I informed her. "No." "Five dollars?" "No."

Seriously? It was going on noon. I hadn't eaten a thing all day and I had been running around in the heat for hours trying to get this thing checked off my to do list. Frustrated, and knowing bacteria in my lunch was quickly multiplying, I decided to just forget it and go home. On the way out of the grocery store though I spied an ATM in the corner so I paid my $3 fee and got out the remainder of the money needed.

The next two hours were spent in more lines and filling out more paperwork and in the end all I was given was a pile of papers and a number to call to schedule an inspection. If I pass, the certificate will be mailed to me and I will be approved to rent my property for two years. Five hours and $341.43 later ($190 for Cert. of Occ., $58 for birth certificates, $1.99 for tea, $72.49 for groceries, $3.95 ATM fee,$15.00 parking) I headed home.

Can we say tiring and time-consuming and inefficient? I can! By the way, I called and the next available appointment for an inspector is July 25th. Five days after I leave. Thankfully the management company agreed to be there for it. Oh and my chicken was good. And best part? No food poisoning cause I really don't have time for that!

One More Week

We leave one week from today. I have more thoughts but I am too tired to think or to type anything else.

Moving Day

They're here as I type this. I can hear the man in the room next door to me ripping tape and wrapping and stuffing boxes. I am actually doing this! I am really moving to Asia in 9 days.

I sure hope I didn't go over my weight allowance of 1800 pounds. When they came to do the estimate they said it was about 1300 pounds so I added a few things. I hope I didn't add 500 pounds of items (well, I am sure I didn't) but the final weight is done at the dock and I won't be there to supervise so I won't know what they determine the final weight to be for another week or so.
People keep asking me if I'm nervous, and almost as often, if I'm excited. Strangely, I am not nervous. I love new adventures, I love traveling, I love trying new foods, etc. so knowing that this is ahead is more exciting than nerve-wracking but I'm not all that excited either. I guess I am too busy to be excited. I am sure when I am on the plane and can finally breathe a sigh of relief that my moving checklist is complete and am perusing my RoughGuide I may begin to get excited. And probably nervous as well. I am most nervous around things that surround Naomi. Will she be confused/sad/scared/depressed? Will she like her new nanny and school? Will she make new friends? Will she like her new room and new city? Will she have separation anxiety, nightmares or any other emotional or physical changes? And if so, how long will they last?

More than anything I am just tired. This has been overwhelming and unbelievably taxing and
I start my new job in two weeks. So much for a relaxing vacation! I am beat down (though I imagine waking up at 4:30 this morning could have something to do with that!) I hope my new building has a pool and I can lay out every day and soak up some sun and chill.

Well, he's done up here so I guess I better go downstairs and supervise the final stretch and deal with the paperwork.

*** edited ***

Well, that's a wrap. There's no turning back now!!

2 Hours

Two hours until my self-imposed deadline of 9pm. It's not going to be done. I have set aside one room upstairs and one room downstairs as holding stations for the stuff to be shipped. Here is what I see:

(the crib isn't going but what you can't see in the photo that is going is her play kitchen)

When I see it all there (minus the stuff I still want/need to add: my bike, the car seat, the box of scrapbooking supplies, box of Xmas ornaments, box of dry spices and cooking supplies) I realize I need to pair down. All of this stuff needs to fit in a 7x7x4 container (7'high x 7'long x 4'wide). I'm not sure it's going to fit. What needs to stay behind are the bulky items like the plastic storage containers, the tricycle, the chairs and Neigh. The Learning Tower and the wine rack cart that you see in the upper left corner of the first picture fold flat (not that I would consider for one moment leaving my wine rack behind!!) but the reality is the shipment isn't arriving until mid-October and she will have outgrown or forgotten about most of her items. If she hasn't and is sad without them I can look into replacing them when we arrive. I also need to keep in mind to not ship things that I will need before 3 months like her potty chair and stepstool for example so no sense in packing those.

Ok, off to do the paperwork! Must get a large coffee.

Checking Things Off/Travel Tips

The movers are coming in less than 24 hours. Gulp.

Thankfully, my friend is watching Almi and having her spend the night tonight and two other friends offered to come down and help out this afternoon. I have done a ton in the past few days but dang there is STILL SO MUCH!

I hired someone to:

move all my furniture I want to keep down to the basement
caulk the tub
hang three fire extinguishers
buy and hang new blinds in the window where one was missing
fix the two cosmetic issues with my car that would have impacted resale value
put locks on doors
change my A/C filter
fix the faucets
fix the toilet
tighten the doorknobs
hang an additional smoke detector
fix an electrical outlet
and fix the skylight

Next week he is coming in to touch up paint and then I need to hire someone to clean the place from top to bottom.

Meanwhile, I have been diligently checking things off my list but today all I am going to do is pack. (Ok, we did go have breakfast and swim this morning but it was quick and Almi had to say good-bye to her Godmother!Besides, I convinced myself that a relaxing morning would motivate me to be productive this afternoon.) So now she is off with another friend and I am going to spend the next 7 hours packing. I am almost at the point of throwing out/donating everything that's left (or throwing it all in a box and sorting it in two years like my neighbor suggested). It has just about come to that. I do have some time left so I am going to pack until 9:00 pm and then what's left goes to Goodwill or in the trash!! (And I can reward my hard work with an episode of House Hunters International!)

Come Monday afternoon the only things I want to see around me are things that will fit into our suitcases because when the movers leave I need to head out and buy a flight harness, toddler headphones for the portable DVD player and a book or DVD on flying on a plane. I am also flirting with purchasing one of those toddler leash thingys. Before I became a parent I used to frown upon people using them, but the anxiety I am feeling when I think of traveling alone with my energetic, curious, stubborn child is making me very, very nervous! I have the assorted new toys that I will wrap individually like crayons&paper, stickers, dolls, manipulatives and books. I will pack snacks and the DVD player. And the longest leg of our flight will be in business class (thank you future employer for that perk!) so the flight shouldn't be too, too awful (praying) but the airport experience is freaking me out!!! She is just so darn curious!! All tips appreciated!

I will contemplate it while I pack. Meanwhile, feel free to weigh in...

Mama and Almi

Chicken!

That's me I'm referring to -- as in chicken with her head cut off. I am running around like crazy!!! Frantic - stressed - overwhelmed - anxious - exhausted - confused - nervous - spent!!!

I can not believe all the details. And yes, I should be doing them instead of blogging but I have to record all the drama so it's all there for my future book/movie deal. I swear, all of the details and stress, albeit self-imposed, are a sight to see. If my life pans out the way I'm planning it could be interesting reading.

So what kinds of things am I doing and why don't I have someone helping me? Trust me when I tell you I WOULD IF I COULD but, well, most of it isn't the type of stuff I can delegate. I have to be the one filling out forms and notarizing and sorting through stuff to pack. If I had a husband he could split packing or paperwork but friends and family really cannot.

Just in the last two days I have had to run to FedXKinkoz to get some paperwork printed and scanned. My printer at home ran out of ink and it doesn't have a scanner so it's in the Goodwill box. I printed paperwork from the movers and scanned my tax form from the IRS. I reviewed documents required, made phone calls, sent numerous emails, applied for an EIN number, hired a management company and got our passport photos done. Most of the time Almi is at school but she had to go with me to get her picture taken. We had to wait for them to be processed and trimmed so of course my curious bambino wanted to climb and touch. She was better behaved than she has been in the past - at least she didn't run off ! - but it was naughty enough for three people to comment on it including the especially rude and cranky elderly woman standing next to me at the self check-out. How did she put it? Oh yes, I remember: "Someone needs some home training." Being equally cranky and rude I responded with, "Someone needs to mind her own business." Ok, not my best moment but come on, really? She's three. She wasn't throwing a tantrum or screaming or running around wild. She was being curious and ignoring my requests to stop touching. The nicer comment came from a kind woman about my age. She said, "She is just like my daughter. It's the age." Thank you sweet woman. You made my day.

What else? I went down to vital records to pick up her DC birth certificate but the person in charge of adoptions wasn't there. Come back tomorrow I was told. I tried to make an appointment to get her expedited passport but you have to be traveling within 14 days. "I am," I implored but was informed they don't count the day of travel and to call back the next day. I went to the post office to pick up the passport application and discuss my PO Box. While talking to the clerk about my options, someone rudely shouted out, "THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN LINE HERE!!" Must be the heat.

What else? I went to the thrift store to find a white t-shirt for Almi to tie dye at school on Friday. Found a pair of Capris for me and two pairs of cute shorts there for her as well. I made a list of what needs fixing and scheduled the handyman to come on Saturday. I ordered some metal straws and a book on Unschooling online. And I figured out my 6-year plan. Most people do a 5-year plan but since international teaching contracts typically have 2 year commitments I did a 6-year plan (more on that later). I baked some chicken in my Crock and did laundry. I watched a couple of episodes of House Hunters International (I know, I know! I don't have time but I am addicted!! But no more until after the movers come)... and the movers. Oh the movers... That is what is taking up an inordinate amount of time as well as you can imagine. They are packing me but I need to remove from each room what I don't want them to pack. I was told since they get paid by weight they may not be terribly careful to leave behind the things that are supposed to stay in DC. I was told by some international travel types to put everything I want to remain in one room. That sh!t takes time!!!

The movers had originally told me they were coming today and then they said they'd let me know. Thing is, they didn't-- that is until they called late Wednesday afternoon that they would in fact be here Thursday at 8am. Um, no, please! I begged them for one extra day but that day was booked but Monday it is so I must get back to packing!!!!!!

This moving overseas thing as a disorganized, single mom with a house full of stuff and an adopted child is a sure test of wills! Oh, speaking of wills I need to do one of those, too. And fill out my insurance forms, authenticate our birth certificates, and set up online bill pay, and change Almi's name on her social security card and buy some probiotics and toiletries and purchase travel insurance and sell my car and, and, and....

Breathe. Two weeks is a really long time, right?
Tell me it is.

Summer Fun

Amidst all the packing and prepping there is still time for sidewalk chalk, bubbles and Popsicles. Doesn't get more summery than that!

Drawing on your legs apparently is fun, too!

Kisses!

Someone looooves her Grandpa!

Hangin' with Aunt Sue.

Bubbles!!!!


And Popsicles! Mmmmmm.. Yummy!!


Hope you are having fun and making memories this summer!

Happy 4th of July

I was supposed to be home packing on July 4th, and I was, but that evening I ended up down at the Washington Monument for fireworks. I had a couple of friends over when the idea that we all hop in the car and drive down to see the fireworks was presented. Considering I am two weeks from moving out of the country, it seemed like the perfect DC patriotic activity, especially when I realized that I have never been to the Mall to see the fireworks in the eleven years I have lived here. How on Earth is that possible? It was fantastic! I am so glad we went!


We lucked out and found a very close parking space right downtown, Almi was on her best behavior and the display was spectacular! We got terrific seats right front and center. It felt like the fireworks were exploding right above us the entire time and towards the end we even got rained on with fireworks debris! The weather was perfect (again!) and it was really nice to spend time with old friends. We put down our blanket and Almi got right to dancing. It drizzled for a few minutes, just enough to bring the humidity down a bit, and stopped in time for the show. Almi was prepped about what she was going to see but she was certainly taken off guard at first.


She wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first but when I pulled her on my lap to reassure her she said to me, "It not scary, Mama." She ended up loving it and when it ended asked me, "Where the light go?" I told her they were all done and she asked, "Why?" :-D We all had a great time!!

Look my foot, Mama!