Exhaling

Wow! It's hard to believe that we are at the tale end of our Fulbright experience.  It doesn't feel like we have been here 3 months already (and at the same time it feels like we have been here forever). I have spent this weekend exhaling as last week was spent stressing out over the culmination of this entire experience.  On Thursday I presented a paper on my research here in Jamaica at the 10th Annual Archaeological Symposium sponsored by the Archaeological Society of Jamaica. The days before this presentation were extremely stressful as I struggled to get this paper together.  I rewrote it numerous times and just didn't feel comfortable with the results.  I finally resolved to just present that I have no conclusive results but could offer some preliminary observations based on what I have.  I didn't know how that was going to go over, but it went surprisingly well.  Once that was over I felt like a huge weight was lifted and I was able to breathe again.

Friday and Saturday were spent in the house just vegging out and now I am up trying to be somewhat productive.  Classes at Winthrop end next week so I am gearing up for that as I want to have everything graded and grades submitted prior to me leaving Jamaica.  When I get home I probably won't be able to move for a couple of days so I want to make sure all of my responsibilities are taken care of.

I won't be down for long though... when I return (and have rested a few days) we are off to Tennessee to see my great Aunt Ann who will have just turned 94 and to celebrate the 4th Birthday of my BFF's son Jaden.  After that we are headed up to Williamsburg to see friends we made last summer and to use our Williamsburg passes before they finally expire in June.  After that we are off on the train for a mini trip to a destination unknown at this time. In addition, Kenric and I will be taking our first solo trip (without all the kids) in June as we celebrate our 11th anniversary.  Then there's camps for the kids (my baby's first sleep away camp... that I am completely freaking out about) and a week long trip to stay with the grandparents (who they miss so much).  All while we finish renovations on a house project we have going on.  

Whew!  That sounds crazy just typing it, but I am excited and ready to go.  More Brooks family adventures ahead!!! :-)