There is so much to think about and do as one prepares to move to another country. Since coming home from language school, while relaxing and full of restful periods, my days have not lacked for projects.
After countless hours spent combing the Internet for the best priced airline tickets available, I was ecstatic to find an international ticket for nearly HALF the going rate that all other websites and travel agencies were offering. Truly, God's provision is faithful! However, as that ticket is for a flight departing from Miami, I still had yet another search on my hands for domestic tickets to complete the round trip itinerary. Yesterday, at long last, I was finally able to check off from my To-Do List, "Buy Airline Tickets." Progress!
Another item on the to-be-done-as-far-in-advance-as-possible list was the obtaining of the dreaded yellow fever vaccine. I have not received any immunizations since I was a baby, having grown up in a family that prefers all things natural. However, a yellow fever vaccine is an absolute must for the issuance of a tourist visa in Bolivia...and without this visa, I would not be permitted to stay in the country. So, there was nothing for it but to march into Passport Health offices and get the shot. I have no recollection of ever having gotten a shot in my life (even though I am told it happened when I was little) so I'll admit, I was a tiny bit nervous. How badly was this going to hurt?
Thankfully, I was blessed with a wonderfully kind nurse who did a fabulous job. I hardly felt a prick! (Although when she squeezed the vaccine into my arm I did feel about 5 seconds of pain.) Amazingly, I have not had any side effects except for a slightly swollen and bruised feeling spot on my arm. And I'm alive to tell the story!
Other preparations have included researching all the natural supplements and essential oils I will be taking with me, figuring out what I'm going to do about contact lenses, catching up on correspondence, mailing off prayer cards, organizing and cleaning out junk, reading up on the country of Bolivia, and enjoying all the social catch-ups that come with this season of life.
Oh yes! And I've also been trying to incorporate Spanish into each day in some way so as not to lose the language during this break period before heading off to South America. I try to read in the language, watch a movie in Spanish, listen to sermon, or have a conversation with someone in Spanish day every day....or better yet - a combination thereof! I even dusted off one of my grammar books yesterday and did a few exercises in it to keep things fresh.
It's not always an easy discipline to maintain, but it is very important to me not to lose what I just poured 9 months of effort into learning. Thankfully, it seems these little connections with the language on a daily basis are paying off.
God is so good and I am so grateful to Him for this quiet period of life in which to prepare for the next adventure while also catching up on much needed sleep and home time.
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