All the culture of summertime in DC and only two weeks to do it in

I have a smidge over two weeks left here in the States and my schedule feels pretty packed.  This coming week I finish the final of three weeks of the Political/Economic Tradecraft course at the training institute, which comes replete with PowerPoint presentations, practical exercises, report-writing, consultations with other State Department (and other agency/business/NGO) officials, and homework.  I also have a fair number of goodbyes to start saying.

And of course, life with the State Department is never complete without the requisite number of forms to be filled out - to make sure my email account follows me to post, to make sure I returned all my library books, to make sure Embassy Buenos Aires knows when I am arriving, to make sure my paycheck continues to be deposited, to make sure my household effects don't get mistakenly delivered to Abu Dhabi (where all the cute kittens are - sorry, couldn't resist a Garfield reference)...the list goes on, and on, and on.  Even I am no longer sure if there is some form I have forgotten or failed to fax properly or whatnot.

The good news is that I have taken care of everything that can be conceivably taken care of at this point.  I packed out of my apartment weeks ago.  Maggie has a reservation on my flight (and there is a back-up plan in place in the unlikely event that the airline won't let her on the plane the day I leave).  I have my passport and visa all ready to go.  My office is aware of my arrival time and I have already been assigned housing in Buenos Aires.  All the paperwork that can be completed at this point has been completed.

The bad news is that I am a naturally anxious persion (thanks da' Momma!) and I am feeling the stress of departing in two weeks.  Of course, my natural reaction is that there is something I am missing - if only I could slow down long enough to think, I would figure out exactly what that is...

However, all told, I am managing pretty well.  And I am doing as much as I can to enjoy these last few summer days here in Washington.  Granted, I hate humidity and DC is nothing if not humid these days, but I've managed to find quite a few air-conditioned things to do - okay, well, my a/c events generally revolve around eating, but I am happy as a clam when I am eating, so it works for me.  This past week alone, I had a rooftop BBQ by the pool with Marilyn, Stephanie, Akoua and Jackie (I made chili burgers on portabello buns and a nice salad flavored with tabasco); Italian food at Posto with Delvis; Nepalese food at Himalayan Heritage with my sister (rock!); Lebanese food with the Spousé family; Salvadorian food with Morgan and Erin; pizza with Jah; and I just finished eating some Mexi-Cali brunch with Marilyn (I make a mean chorizo scramble - thank you to Ali to introducing me to such a wonderful delight!).  Next week might not include so much diversity in my meal choice, but I do have plans for a lovely Italian-style picnic for Jazz at the Sculpture Garden, and filling, yummy awesomeness at brunch at Tabard Inn on the 4th of July.  I may also have more BBQ in my future, as Independence Day and burgers and hot dogs seem to go hand-in-hand.  I might also get in some seafood, if I can convince Chasity to be my harbor date next weekend...Wow, just thinking about all this food makes me a happy girl...

Regardless, my time here in DC in winding down and I am beginning to set my sights on Argentina.  It is going to be such a huge change in my life, but it is difficult for me to really develop solid expectations.  I am a little nervous that I am behind the curve ball in terms of knowing enough about Argentine history, regional politics and relationships, and about economics in general, but I know that it won't take long for me to get caught up once I am at post and living the life.  Having lived overseas before, I am also anticipating the ups and downs that generally mark the transition to post - spending too much money at the outset; not knowing anyone; learning to live in a new culture in a foreign language; etc. - but I am also looking forward to the challenge, the adventure of it all. 

The most radical change for me, actually, will be that I am doing this all by myself.  When I lived overseas before, I always had someone with me.  When I studied abroad in London for a summer semester, I did so through a program at Penn and participated with my friend, Michelle.  When I lived in Peru and Mexico, I did so with Anthony, who took on the majority of the logistics and stress himself (out of necessity, as I had no authority to work with the State Department to make any of the arrangements anyway).  This time around, it's just me - well, Maggie will be with me, too, but without opposable thumbs, she's kind of useless. 

So this experience will be unlike any that has come before, just like the last four months in DC proved to be unlike any that came before.  Let the adventure begin!