stressing a little less

Well, thanks to those who have been so kind as to donate money for our volunteer trip, people buying our stuff and an extra loan from school, our VietNam portion of the trip is fully funded. I cannot even begin to explain how relieved this makes me. Of course, now we have to come up with money for our flights home, visas to Thailand and China, transportation to both places, plus hotel and food while we travel around for a month or so. At this point, I figure if worse comes to worst, we simply do the volunteer time at the orphanage, then use the remaining funds to get home. There's something reassuring about that. For a while there, I wasn't sure if I all my plans and hard work would just fall apart and I'd be left with an empty house and empty promises. But we are going and I've got almost 3 months to cram in homework, sewing jobs, screenprinting and packing. I might just barely do it, but I'm galvanized into making it happen.

Grades are in

Got it all taken care of and I ended up with an A- and an A for my two classes this summer. Yippee! I was a bit worried. So, now I've got most of my school requirements completed. I've got four classes this term, then finished. I'll be happy to never buy a $75 book again. -sigh- This term, I'm at about $250 for textbooks, frustrating when I'm trying so hard to save money.

We're under 100 days!

Today marked 99 days until departure. 100 has been the big number on the calendar for the past few months and yesterday we passed it. Whoa.

Yesterday also marked the departure of our final exchange student. Shira was only with us for two days of her nine-day study abroad program, short and sweet. On Saturday, she joined me, the kids and my mother on a trip to Tillamook (famous for its cheese) and Seaside (famous for spring break debauchery). She also joined us for a slide show of my father's year in Korea, made Japanese and Korean ramen for us, ate shish kebabs at my bro-in-law's and shared Emma's birthday cake with us. Quick, but action-packed weekend. Did I mention that I took her to dinner and out on the town on Friday night, too? Busy!

Dropping her off was difficult, though. We had things in common (hooray for thirty-somethings!) and had finally gotten a chance to discuss cultural differences when it was time to hug goodbye and bid farewell. She is the last for now; my classes are starting and the serious shedding of worldly possessions is beginning. Life is about to get really hectic, but it's been a really wonderful experience and a summer full of exchange students that we will remember forever.

It's time to get a move on, though. Those last 99 days are going to go quick!

teeter-totter

As the time to depart (aka leave everything we've ever known) approaches, each of us is dealing with the reality of the situation. S. wrote in a school assignment that "I'm awaiting my trip abroad to Veitnam, Thailand, China and more! Now, leaving in only three months the realism and nervousness is finally settling in." I agree. The nervous excitement is a common reaction to any thought of our departure; I think we all alternate between eager and scared. Okay, maybe I'm the only one that is scared, nervous is probably a better description for them. They do understand the gravity of what we are doing though--getting rid of most everything, working and saving like crazy and taking an enormous leap of faith in the hope for a moment of adventurous generosity. I just hope that my gut instinct is right and that I am doing the right thing. With two children's futures in my hands, it is an enormous weight on my psyche. This is actually one of the few times in the last seven years that I wish I had a partner to discuss the details with and agree on the right path, but I am alone and the decision is mine. Regardless of the fact that the kids had to give the initial OK, the big responsibility is mine and the gravity of that isn't lost on me, despite my cocky "I-know-what's-best" attitude. Even when I truly believe it's for the best, it still doesn't make it easy. For me, or for my kids.

Fun stuff!

We received our long-anticipated package from China on Friday--what a wonderful treat from Tommy (our last exchange student) and his family. They sent us a bunch of clothes and, without measurements, they got all the sizes right. The dress was perfect for me and fits like a glove (something that only on rare occassion happens when I'm there to try stuff on!). I love the style and the fabric. Just wonderful. The kids got some shirts, pants, and a jacket for A. It was really wonderful and we are so very grateful. As you might expect, the kids saved all the hangtags because oh my gosh! they are written in Chinese. Very cute. And reaffirms my desire to visit them when we are in SE Asia.

On Saturday, we took Satoe to the races, but not the "normal" races. We took her to watch the Portland Adult Soapbox Derby, which is a lot more fun. Granted, it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but we like it. There were some great entries, as always. There was a fire truck with sirens blaring. A wooden dinosaur puzzle car (my personal favorite). A one-man-band zooming downhill in a plastic swimming pool. The Roman in the chariot. A giant turkey. And the one that ran the slowest but got the most laughs: the cubicle on wheels. We all had a great deal of fun cheering on the varying racers (there were 40-something all together) and snapping as many photos as possible. We ate healthy fruit and water, then snacked on Cheetos and M&Ms, all of us perched on the edge of the incline. It was a pretty good viewing spot, though we couldn't see the corner (always an exciting spot). We did get to see someone go over the edge of the corner at our arrival, but I don't think that the two incidents were related.

And one more: Today is my Grandma C.'s birthday. She is a shining example to me of how one should live life --active, loving and long. Happy Birthday, Grandma!

771 Million

That's how many adults remain unable to read and write throughout the world. Two-thirds of them are women. Today is International Literacy Day, a day to recognize the issue of illiteracy. It is statistics like that that compel me to find a way to help. The lack of access to education for many, especially young girls, saddens me. Children everywhere deserve an education; they should be able to learn to read in their mother tongue, encouraged to learn a second. To have that right dismissed because of gender offends me, not only as a woman, but as a mother to both a boy and a girl. Each are equally deserving in my mind. I think each child on the planet is equally deserving.

It drives something inside me and spurns me on to find a way to do something that will change it. I know I cannot end inequality in education (or the poverty that often accompanies it), but I can help. Numerous organizations are working toward equality, including the Women's Edge Coalition and The Global Campaign for Education. While I am here in the States, I will continue my work at Oregon Literacy, Inc., working in a small way to advocate for literacy, spread the word about the need for tutors, the Scrabble Tournament and the work that is being done throughout the state.

But next year I am devoting myself to the children--the boys and girls (mine included!) who have the right, simply by being, to an education, a kind smile and a ray of hope. There's a lot going on out there to provide that and I want my kids and I to be a part of it.

butterflies

The butterflies have arrived and seem to be residing in my stomach. For some reason, the start of school was all I needed to really feel the pinch of time and now I'm starting to realize all that must be done, all the funds that must be found, all the things that will need to be packed/sold/given away still and I am almost overwhelmed. If it were only preparing for the trip, I'd be fine ( think). But homework has begun for the kids, there's a house to run, 20 lbs. of plums to clean, cut, and freeze, grapes that await their time to be picked, juiced and canned, and a part-time job that is in a state of chaos right now. Just wait until my classes start again in two weeks. I'll be neurotic by mid-October, I'm sure.