Several months ago, I committed to spending three months in the Republic of Georgia to help LCC International University start up the Middle East Scholars Program.  And several months ago, May 9 felt very far away.  Suddenly, though, it’s right around the corner, and I leave in only 17 days.  Eeek!  The leaving part, while it’s always difficult to say goodbye to friends and loved ones for months at a time, isn’t the hardest part.  The hardest part is figuring out all the logistics.  Here’s just part of the list of things I need to do before I get on the plane:

1. finish taxes
2. fill prescription
3. see doctor
4. order vitamins and supplements
5. continue fundraising
6. write and send thank-you notes to donors
7. order/buy/collect toiletries
8. get an estimate on my car that was hit two months ago
9. contact the hitter’s insurance to get my car taken care of
10. contact my insurance to switch to comprehensive coverage only for the time I’m gone
11. get a Skype phone numbers so people in the U.S. can contact me while I’m gone
12. install a VPN on my laptop
13. pack my apartment
14. get help for moving
15. move stuff into storage and into my mom’s house
16. pack clothes and personal stuff for my trip
17. figure out what kinds of household items i need to bring with me
18. pack those items
19. see my chiropractor
20. see my nutritionist
21. download some cool music
22. finish teaching this semester
23. grade a zillion student papers
24. respond to a zillion student e-mail messages
25. finalize grades
26. post grades
27. file a ton of personal paperwork
28. pre-pay bills I can’t pay online
29. figure out what to do for my mom for Mother’s Day
30. collect and pack the books I’m bringing with me
31. make a couple shopping trips for incidentals I’ll need to take with me
32. buy new underwear
33. clean up my office
34. get everything I need off my work computer in case they decide to swap it out while I’m gone this summer
35. have one more dinner with my friend Ludwig
36. see my friend Peter one more time
37. hang out with my bff Michelle
38. try to schedule lunch with my long-time friend Cheryl
39. do something nice with my mom and brother
40. schedule time with my pastor to talk with him before I go
41. buy electric plug adapters
42. confirm my flights
43. start creating training materials for my summer position

So, if I don’t seem thrilled out of my mind when you ask if I’m excited about my upcoming adventure, you can assume it’s not the trip I’m not thrilled about–it’s all the logistics!  I am very excited about my upcoming work, and I look forward to settling in when I get to Tbilisi.  But, until I get on that plane bound for first Istanbul, and then Tbilisi, I’ll probably just feel frantic.  Prayers for smooth sailing very much appreciated.