Less than 2 weeks

With less than 2 weeks to go until I leave Cambodia and 3 until I arrive home, I am out of ideas for this blog. I may consider continue it next year during my Americorps adventures in Seattle, but I'm not sure. I'm looking forward to living my life a little more offline, when I can see more people face to face.

In case you didn't know, starting in September I will be living in Seattle and working for Americorps at an organization called ACRS. Americorps in the home-version of peace corps. Basically, I get a stipend (enough to live on, but not save much), health insurance, and a grant at the end to put toward my students loans (a very sweet deal, and I get to defer them for the service term). At ACRS, I will be helping Asian immigrants and refugees find jobs and prepare to take the citizenship test. The job will be a lot of teaching, which will be something totally new to me. I'm looking forward to having more face time with an organization's beneficiaries. I think I'm at my best when I'm working with people, not when I'm sitting behind a desk. And I will still get to work with Cambodians! I think its a great opportunity for continuity between this year with SALT and the year to come. All in all, this job is making for a more stress free transition. I am so grateful to have found something before I even get back. Now, I get the month of August to relax, adjust, and see people.

In my last entry, I made a list of random things I am looking forward to and all those still stand. I have to admit I am nearly constantly imagining that moment I come down the escalator to baggage claim in Seattle and the moment the plane leaves the ground here in Phnom Penh. Mostly, I just feel incredibly grateful for this experience. I feel like the most confident version of myself I have ever been. And I feel peace about coming home and enjoying being where my roots are for the time being.

And now, for whirlwind gift buying, goodbye parties, and packing. See you in Tacoma!