Starting to Pack

Holding Pattern...

My documents were received by my school on March 21st.  I received an email on March 23rd with my Brazilian contract attached.  My Brazilian contract is similar to the contract I had previously signed, but this was in Portuguese and going directly to the Brazilian government for my visa to be approved.

I printed out the form and sent it via FedEx that night.  EAB received it 4 days later.  I am now all set and begin the holding pattern while government bureaucracy is set in action. ...

Waiting for my visa approval!!

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While I waited to hear about my visa, I began sorting through all the stuff in my life (and apartment) I want to take to Brazil, keep but don't need in South America, and want to donate.

Organizing everything into piles

April 1st I started spring break from school and instead of traveling anywhere I took those days to pack up all the books and random things in my room I would not need for the remaining 3 months.

This does NOT seem clean and organized!

I packed up all the books in my room, all the sheets - I had waaaaay too many sheet sets for my bed, all my winter clothes - won't need those for quite a while, most of my picture frames and any furniture I could do without - my bookshelves and dresser now that everything in them was gone.

Old St Pat's

At the end of the week, my parents and younger brother came to visit and stayed for Easter.  We celebrated Easter Vigil at Old St Pat's and were able to welcome our new members to the Catholic Church and celebrate their amazing experience with them.

Quartino's

After mass at OSP, I took the family to Quartino's - can you believe I had never taken them there before!!  We were not able to sit with Aldo (or Ben) but our server was good and I was able to have my mom try some wine.  It was cool and they enjoyed it.  As we were ordering dessert, who do I see walking out of the kitchen - Aldo.   I stopped him and told him they told me he wasn't working tonight.  he said, "I was upstairs."  I introduced him to my family and he talked to us for a few minutes and then had to leave because he was heading out.

Aldo!!

  We finished up at Quartino's and then headed back to my apartment.  It was too late to pack anything in the car and the next day - on Easter Sunday - we were picking up my friend Yoojung and joining the Lindo's for an Easter brunch at their place, so we decided to wait until Sunday afternoon to pack everything up.

Steve and Rachelle  (The Lindo's)

We got up on Easter and hung out for a little bit and then drove up to the Lindo's house.  I should clarify the Lindo's.  Steve and Rachelle have been friends of mine for over 4 years now. I knew them when they were Steve, Rachelle separately and not Steve & Rachelle and then now  The Lindo's.  Having known them for such a long time, I had only ONCE before been to the house they purchased over 2 years again - ridiculous. They invited me and had gatherings often, but somehow I had only recently made it over to their house.  They have a GREAT house. They also make addictive doughnuts.

Mom, Marty, Me, and Dad

Marty, Yoojung, Rachelle, Jonathan, Me, Steve, Patrick (Dad)

 Ok I got sidetracked,  so the second time I am going to the Lindo's I am bringing my family with me.  We went up to the northside and joined the brunch with fantastic friends.  Yoojung was with us and she unfortunately got to experience my family and all the joys which take place when a child is giving their parent directions and the parent isn't always receptive.

Brunch was great.  We truly celebrated the Lord having risen.  We enjoyed each other, all the stories, and amazing food with each other in family and fun which to me is what celebration is about - joining and celebrating with others.

Yoojung

Ok, I ended up dragging my family back, as we did need to pack up all of my stuff and they get on the road since I needed to get work done and then go to bed as I had school the next day.

We dropped Yoojung off at her place and then headed back to my apartment.

We spent the next 2 hours carting furniture to Salvation Army, packing additional boxes, and loading the car with everything I had deemed unnecessary to the next 3 months.

All done and they got in the stuffed car and drove back to Sandusky.  I walked up to my apartment and emptier room and called Kathy (current Meghan in Brazil) and asked what I was doing.

Kathy has been a fabulous part of this as she guides me through each part of the visa process, what items to bring and leave behind, and the emotional roller coaster I will be on as I continue this journey.