The Old Apartment

This week was crazy and it made me realize that this is really going to happen. On Tuesday, I had my orientation with the other two women who will be going to Taiwan from Ohio. We also met with the representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office. They flew in from Chicago for the day and, of course, the people from the Ohio Department of Education who are involved in the program were there. We also got to meet two teachers who were part of the first group from Ohio and the past president of the N. American Taiwanese Women's Association.

It was a long meeting but so helpful. It was also very nice to put faces with names. I have to admit I've been increasingly worried about my choice as the time to leave approaches but this meeting helped push those fears aside and bring forth my excitement again. It was always there just buried behind some doubts.

They gave us so many resources and materials in that meeting. I've been spending much of my time since then going over them. This is a fascinating and beautiful culture that I'll be living in. I think I will learn so much more than I can possibly teach. I've already begun learning a great deal about myself as this process gears up.

I did have to take time away from my reading to prepare to move. I need to hand over the keys to my apartment on July 31. I decided to make the major move the weekend before so I could find help from friends and thoroughly clean the place before I turn them in to the office. As the time got closer, all the help that was offered disappeared. This was a major stressor for me as I had some large and heavy pieces of furniture to move. It wasn't my friends' faults, though. It's the middle of summer and for the most part vacations got in the way. Luckily, my friend Ann was able to get her husband, Sean, to help. He and I moved the furniture and Ann helped with the boxes and moral support.

I have to admit I've had some tearful moments looking at my empty (mostly) apartment. That apartment was my first step into a more independent life after the breakup with my boyfriend. The end of that relationship was one of the best things to ever happen to me and so many other wonderful things have happened in my life as a result, including this move to Taiwan. I've never really been attached to the apartments I've lived in before but this one is a symbol of my personal renaissance. I know there is something even better in store for me but that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to the old.

Just because it's not easy doesn't mean I won't do it. I've had my moments of insanity thinking I should back out. Fortunately, they've been very brief and I have many wonderful friends who remind me why I'm doing this and how lucky I am. It's not long before my excitement and enthusiasm returns.

I am coming to the end of an era in my life but like Semisonic says in their song Closing Time..."Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." I'm ready for another new beginning. I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me. I can't wait to write all about it and share it with everyone.

P.S. For those of you who are wondering, I leave early in the morning on Aug. 16.