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Sigh! When I first started this blog in January 2015, I had no idea that “whithersoever” would be such a poignant concept. I have gone beyond my original whithersoever concept, especially with this week.
On Monday, I said goodbye to Anya in Dubai, as we were returning from Tanzania with our church’s mission team (more on this later). She went directly to Sweden. I came back to Bellevue to finish up many tasks, pack a bit more, but primarily to retrieve important things like birth certificates and computer equipment that we didn’t want rattling around Tanzania for 2.5 weeks.
These past two days of frenzy while oriented to a different time zone were crazy! Fortunately, my sister, Elenn, flew out from Michigan to help me. She will drive my former car to Minnesota, as my parents have bought it from me. She has many friends to visit on a wandering road trip back to the Midwest. Her expertise with international moves and travel were strategic to help me fill in some gaps. I now have dental records and medical records secured and ordered.
Marv was again a gift as I needed a place with secure WIFI to do all that last minute online account stuff.
I had a conversation with Marv about how it was humbling to realize how many people rallied around me and some who almost carried me in the most stressful times. I said that perhaps this was one of the silver linings of Eric’s cancer and passing; I had to learn to accept help. However, I am looking forward to the time when I will again be more on the giving side than on the receiving side.
Yet, I realize that it won’t be in the near future. I’ll be dependent upon new colleagues to help me get oriented to a new job, a new culture, and patiently endure my limited Swedish as I learn little by little with my 52-year-old brain.
Elenn took me to the airport. Anya and I hope to welcome her early spring 2017 in Uppsala!
So, why doesn’t my Global Entry work with British Airways!?! I’m still going through TSA security in the USA! Fortunately, the lines weren’t too long, but it is discouraging that my investment isn’t paying off!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be including two sections in my blog posts. The day’s discoveries in Sweden will be juxtaposed with my last 2.5 weeks in Tanzania. We had so little internet connectivity and with my responsibilities facilitating the team, it was not possible to keep my blog going. It was another powerful and transforming experience, so I’m eager to share some of the stories.
Off to whithersoever!
Beth