The Day Draws Closer

The last few weeks have been crazy.  I accepted my new position, resigned my old one, and have been trying to wrap up both my jobs (as well as my life) in preparation for leaving the country.

My first day of work in Qatar is June 1st.  I fly out of Dulles on May 29th and get into Doha on May 30th.  Leaving over Memorial Day weekend has complicated matters some, not so much for me as for my two pets.

Oliver and Dudley when Oliver was just a wee lad--wee-er, anyway.

Their passage to Doha is costing nearly as much as mine. It's the one expense Georgetown doesn't pick up and while I understand the reasons they don't, I selfishly wish they did.  Factoring pets into the equation adds some complexity to the move, not to mention dollars.  It's turned out the firm responsible for flying them over is going to have to board them for several days because with the holiday, their vet (where they normally board) is going to be closed on Monday.  They'll be one day behind me, leaving Monday and arriving late on Wednesday.

So at this point I've:  passed my Maryland State background screening, been fingerprinted, had the screening notarized and sent with the fingerprints to the Secretary of State so he can authenticate everything (I am who I say I am and I'm not a criminal--I swear!), made appointments with the movers (tomorrow morning at 9:00) and for my medical exam and financial planning session (both next week when I go to DC for orientation), and found out my travel date and time.  There's  all kinds of personal prep I've needed to schedule (both the dog and I need grooming, if nothing else), and I need to sell my car (the logistics on being without a car those last few days is not as painful as it could have been, seeing as I'll be in DC for part of that time).  But all in all, I'm in pretty good shape.

As soon as I finish my grading.  I have nine more term papers to go.

Welcome

Hello.  Welcome to my blog.  I've never actually kept a blog focused on my personal life before, mostly because I wasn't certain I would ever have anything worthwhile to blog about. 

I like my life, but it's not exactly riveting reading.  Like most people, I work (two jobs currently).  I have friends and family that I love and see when I can.  I enjoy going to the movies or out to dinner.  Getting a massage or facial is a huge treat for me, and most evenings I go home to my dog and cat, walk said dog, eat a little dinner, then watch some TV or read before going to bed and doing it all over again.

I know.  Try and stay awake.

But that will all soon change, at least as far as locale.

Tomorrow morning I intend to formally accept a position with Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar.  I worked for Georgetown before at their main campus in DC, and have nothing but positive memories of the experience.  I left there a little over two years ago for a wonderful opportunity at Loyola University Maryland.  I've been very happy at Loyola.  But a position became available at GU-Q and I knew I had to throw my hat in the ring.  I've always wanted to work overseas and experience what it would be like to live and work in a truly multicultural environment.  Now it looks as if I'll have my chance.

I'll have more to say about this as the time draws near.  My first day in Doha (Qatar's capital and the location of GU-Q) is scheduled for June 1st.  I have less than a month to pack up and get my animals and myself ready to live in the Middle East. 

That's not daunting.  Not one little bit.

What the hell am I blogging for?  I've got things to do.

Later, y'all.