A transitional time

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So, there has already been so much to take care of before I leave.  I have a date: August 10th.  Purchasing the ticket seemed more real than any of the e-mails and letters from Fulbright and FACEE (Franco American Commission for Educational Exchange). Now that the school year is done, I have more time to think about how soon this amazing experience will occur. 

The only drawback seems to be that this is such a transitional period of time.  Am I just waiting for France to begin, am I in a holding pattern, am I only still here for the D.C. orientation and settling all accounts before I leave?  It is playing with my mind to see how many weeks are left: so many/so few, all at the same time.  Most of my objectives have been decided, but now a timeline to get everything done is needed.

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Gee, I am a bit nervous.  I feel that the classroom is neat, organized more than I have had it for me, post-it notes dot the binders for each class so Veronique will know what to do with all of the resources, colleagues are aware of her and what her needs might be, banking is almost settled (just how to bring the dough to France and which bank will I use while in France), maps, menus, and cultural guides for NYC have been picked up for Veronique, music is being transferred to my laptop and my ZEN, the scary visa has been obtained (I am a sticker!), and the most dreaded part is the apartment.  There is always work to do in anyone's abode, however preparing for someone else to live comfortably in your own residence for as year is a bit unsettling.  It also makes it more real.  Clearing out more from the attic so she has space for her luggage, cleaning all of the blinds and curtains, the new shower curtain and liners...all things that seem to usually be last on my list are tops.  A new set of plates, mugs, and bowls so that any broken ones will not cause tears, deciding which wine bottles from the collection are most important to preserve (since anything that is out is for consumption), the Venetian glass needs to be packed up and brought over to my mother's house - just because accidents DO happen, and it would be a shame for it to happen to anyone else but me - everything down to the details of minutia must be considered. 

On that note, there is a wedding today, more events during this summer, so I should shake it on over to the church before I am late!