Whirlwind of Week (Pre Departure Orientation)

It has been a jammed pack but super exciting last seven days.  Last Tuesday my two youngest children and I drove to Richmond and boarded a bus bound for DC.  Just as we were getting cozy in our seats my husband boards the bus looking for us (his bus had just pulled in behind ours) and so right before we pulled off we jumped off of our bus and boarded the bus with hubby and my oldest son (whom I hadn’t seen in a week so I was super excited).

The bus was rather crowded and we didn’t get to sit together, but I’m sort of thankful that we did not.  I sat next to a man whose name I soon learned was Mr Lewis.  Have you ever met someone who upon meeting just truly enriches your life?  Well Mr Lewis did this for me.  I won’t go into the details of our conversation but at the end of that bus ride when it was time to part ways I could immediately feel the impact that that conversation had on my life.  So Mr Lewis if you ever stumble upon this blog, Thank You!

We made it safely to our hotel, the Renaissance Hotel on New Hampshire Ave after a long but pretty uneventful trek from the bus stop.  Actually seeing that we made it several blocks on foot and on the metro train with our luggage and three kids I say that trek was pretty darn successful.

The hotel was beautiful and the location great.  We made it just four minutes before registration ended *whew*.  We were able to go shower and change and get ready for the Fulbright reception.

The Fulbright reception was nice.  The kids were able to attend and we all enjoyed getting to mingle (I did more so than the kids).  The food was good… there were a variety of different foods from many different cultures (nice touch Fulbright).  I made the kids at least try everything on their plate which they ultimately appreciated when they learned they actually liked spanakopita, crab cakes and mushroom tart.  We mingled for a while longer and then headed upstairs to our room for the night… we were exhausted.

The next two days were jammed pack with Fulbright sessions.  We had numerous breakout sessions (by country, by discipline, by grand type, for those taking families, etc) which I truly enjoyed. It was enthralling to hear from people that had already been and from those who, like myself, are preparing to depart soon.  It was wonderful to hear how other people’s kids managed and what adjustments they required when they returned. It was exciting to hear from other anthropologists/archaeologists.  It was most exciting to meet with and hear from my cohort who will be in Jamaica during the same time that I am.  They are a fantastic group who I can’t wait to get to know better in Jamaica. 

There are 93 of us Fulbrighters (scholars, independent artists and students) who are traveling to throughout the Western Hemisphere this year and next.  Out of the many that I was able to meet and chat with ALL of them seemed to be amazing people with simple amazing projects and research interests.  It was so thrilling to be able to chat with people about their research and chat about my own research and see how passionate we all are about what we are going to do.

At the end of the orientation I was (and am) “fired up and ready to go”.  This orientation made this whole Fulbright thing a reality.  In just about 6 short months my family and I will be packing up and moving for Jamaica *wow*.

Our return trip was pretty uneventful.  We made it to Williamsburg safely.  The next two days, Friday and Saturday was a whirlwind of sightseeing with the hubby and kids (we so happy to be together again).  Sunday was extremely special as Kenric and I celebrated out 10yr wedding anniversary.  I still can’t believe we have been married for 10 whole years, while I can’t picture life without him it seems like just yesterday we were poor, newly married college students trying to figure out life.  Our anniversary was spent in a bustling day of shopping, gifts, dinner and actual alone time (which is a rarity for us). Here’s to 10yrs into forever!!! 

To finish out this busy week, we woke up early this morning and headed to the beach.  We all had a blast splashing in the ocean and trying to build and protect sand castles.  After the beach we headed downtown Norfolk to see the Battleship USS Wisconsin (please note that I most certainly do not like the tunnel between Hampton and Norfolk VA… I do not feel comfortable travel hundreds if not thousands of feet under the Chesapeake Bay in my vehicle *smile*).  After a fun but exhausted tour of the battleship and through the museum we finally headed back to Williamsburg.

Whew!  I get tired just typing about all that we did this week.  Next week doesn’t seem much different.  My baby’s birthday is in four days (he will be nine) and my baby girls birthday is 10 days after (she will be 6).  We also have to get through the fourth of July.  Check back soon to see how we survived the two birthdays and the holiday!

Getting Used to Things

After 14 days here in Williamsburg I think we are getting the hang of things.  Yesterday was the first day I could get around the city without my navigation and feel completely comfortable.  The kids can recognize places as we drive past and when we get back to our apartment after a LONG day they say “home, sweet home”.  I am so glad the transition was so short and smooth… I can only hope the transition in Jamaica is just as short and sweet.

This past week has been bitter sweet, however.  My oldest baby actually spent the week back at home with his dad so he could attend summer camp.  Now I know my husband is very capable, but after almost 9yrs of being the primary caregiver and my kids going whenever and wherever I go, you can image my anxiety.  I certainly realize, that while I miss my husband I can work and travel while he stays home, but I CAN NOT do it without my children.  I’m so thankful all three are able to travel with me to Jamaica. 

I look forward to seeing both of my guys in a couple of days as when we meet up in DC for the Fulbright Orientation.  I’ll certainly keep you posted on how that goes.  Nothing bu excitement here…

Here's some photos from our last couple of days:

Averie making "pink pancakes" (beets, flour, sugar, egg and nutmeg) at the historic Powell House

Hanging out at Buck Roe Beach

His first view of the ocean... he was a bit overwhelmed and I had to coax him to get closer

His first swim in the ocean... he loved it

Williamsburg

We made is safely to Williamsburg yesterday.  My stress level has gone WWWAAAYYY down.  We are here, unpacked and settling into our apartment.  I was able to meet the kids’ childcare provider yesterday too and she really seems great!  Once we unpacked the big kids went to the movies with daddy and I was able to clean and finish setting up while the baby slept.  I was so grateful for the time as I think putting things in their place, making our beds and even putting our toothbrushes in the toothbrush holder made this place feel like home instantly.  After the movies we went for pizza in this great little shopping center.  While we waited for the pizza to cook I spotted a cute little yogurt shop across the street and we decided to have dessert before dinner.  We Enjoyed chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, cookies n cream, mango and ny cheesecake frozen yogurt topped with white chocolate chips, coconut, strawberries, marshmallow cream and whipped cream at what has to be the BEST frozen yogurt place ever!!!

The kids stopping long enough to take this pic as we devoured the best frozen yogurt!

The kids settled down for the nigh pretty easily and our first night was smooth and simple.  This morning was a little different as we were all so sad to see daddy leave.  The bigger kids took it harder than I expected since they are used to going on adventures with mommy.  We have never planned to be away for a whole two months before so maybe that has something to do with it.  It shouldn’t be that bad as we will see daddy in just 5 days when we travel back home for my nephew’s high school graduation.

This morning did give me a glimpse of how it might be when daddy takes us to Jamaica in January and then will have to leave us.  I’m sure it will be much worse than (at least for me).  At least he will get to spend two weeks in Jamaica with us as opposed to the just one night he spent here in Williamsburg.

I will continue to keep you posted on our comings and goings in Williamsburg.  Thanks for reading!

Readings

It’s not very often I get to read a book because I want to.  Usually I am reading for research or preparing for class.  I was lucky enough to have just finished a book I was reading “just because”.  This book is title Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.  This was a very interesting read.  I really appreciated the authors’ argument that we are all where we are in life due to circumstances and happen chances.  He was able to back his argument up with excellent examples.  He used Bill Gates and the Beatles as examples of this argument saying that while they are great, it is opportunities that were presented to them that allowed them to achieve what they did/ have… that no one is that great to accomplish such things on their own.  This book challenges you to look at your own life, which I did.  I realize that were I am today, with a great job and a fantastic career before even having my PhD, just accepted into a PhD program that happens to fit my research interests perfectly (and the only school I applied to), as a Fulbright Scholar and recipient of other grant awards, married to a wonderful man, a homeschooling mother to three health children, etc, because of opportunities and help from others presented to me along the way.  Having a hard working mother who worked her way out of a hard youth to land at a national lab in a small city with a fabulous educational system, having a family who, went through heartache and pain before I arrived and was on to brighter days as I grew up, moving in the third grade and attending a new elementary school where I met my dearest friend that continues to be my dearest friend to this day who has been nothing but encouraging and supportive, attending a high school (while administratively awful) provided an amazing education and opportunities, to meeting teachers in high school that encouraged us, emphasize the importance of a college education and show us beyond the borders of our small city, getting a full ride to both undergrad and grad school (otherwise attending Howard University would have been an impossibility) , to meeting my husband the first day I arrived in DC, etc.  You get the point… opportunities!

It is both humbling and inspiring to recognize that life is nothing more than a series of opportunities that we either take or let pass us by.  It is humbling because it forces us to realize that we are not as great as we thought we were, that anyone with similar opportunities can achieve the same success we have.  It is inspiring because it gives us hope and helps us realize we can be as great as we desire… we can be the next Oprah or Bill Gates as long we are prepared for opportunities as they are presented to us.

Reading this book has certainly put some things in perspective for me and given me another way to view life.  I am excited to move forward with this Fulbright adventure and see what new doors of opportunity will open.

Packing: No Not for Jamaica… for Williamsburg

I am realizing how difficult it is/ will be to pack for myself and three kids for this upcoming trip to Jamaica (and honestly starting to panic a little bit).  I am packing now for our two month stay in Williamsburg (I was awarded a NEH Challenge Grant through the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation). We leave in four days and I still don’t know how I’m going to get everything we need into our luggage bags and a few boxes.

This has me freaking out because if I can’t pack for the four of us to survive in Williamsburg for two months where we will have access to the same basic amenities that we do here in Charlotte, then how in the world am I going to pack for the four of us to stay in Jamaica for 4 to 6 months? We will have to take EVERYTHING to Jamaica (or so I hear) from clothes to linens to kitchen appliances to lamps to extra toiletries and first aid kits… well, you get my point!

Kenric says I just need to take enough for 2 weeks when I go to Jamaica… I laugh at that (and he does to I’m sure) since he is talking to the woman who carries 3 luggage bags (for me AND the kids) just to spend 2 nights away from home.

In the end I will probably have to ship a couple of boxes to Jamaica and stuff Kenric’s extra baggage with our stuff (all he needs is a change of clothes, underwear and a toothbrush anyway, right).

But enough with me worrying about packing for Jamaica… I need to figure out how I’m going to get all this stuff to Williamsburg.