it's july....?

First off, I cannot believe that it is July 4th weekend.

One of my favorite holidays, and even more so since working at Living History Farms.  It is such a fun holiday to work and share the history of the event and how it was celebrated in the 19th Century.  In the 1870s, it was one of the most popular holidays.  I can't wait to try my hand at the tri-colored National Day cake and support the Women's Suffrage movement in the parade. Who can say they've done that? I mean, really??

Over the weekend of the 17-20, I spent some time with family in Texas.  It was nice to see siblings and nieces and nephews.  When we got back to Iowa I was pleasantly surprised to find my Apostille from the U.S. State Department.  They said it would take 15 days and it took a month. The best (read:: most frustrating) part was that I had emailed the day before we left for Texas asking about it.  It was dated the exact day I emailed. Which means it sat on someone's desk until I emailed to complain about how long it was taking.

Leave it to the feds to not care about pleasing the American people.

But, regardless of how long it took, my documents are now in Korean Immigration.  I should have a visa issuance number in 8-10 days, and then my plane ticket should be purchased.  It should take about 4-5 days to get my actual visa from the Korean consulate, if I FedEx all of my documents to them.  It still makes me nervous, but no one else seems to be.  I take solace in that.

I told my job today.  It was not fun. At all.  However, they were all very supportive.  Regardless of how much of a bind my leaving early leaves them in.  I do love the people I work with, and I love my job.  I just have to take this opportunity at this time in my life. 

My two summers at the museum has really hooked me.  I feel like it's in my blood.  To the point that I'm not sure if I'll try and go back to the classroom after Korea.  Museum work and Educational Planning for museums is something that has really started to pull at me.  I think it would be a job that I could love forever. 

That is the future, however, and this is now.  The good Lord knows how fast things change. Especially, it seems, in my life.  That's why I love it.

I'll be leaving Iowa on the 19th to make a stop and spend a week with my parents in Texas.  Not to mention seeing a few friends that I have missed dearly since I left for college.  It will be a bittersweet (and busy) next few weeks. 

"You have to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was." ---Abraham Lincoln