Updates!
Before the last week or so I pretty much had done nothing towards getting my moving logistics taken care of. I feel like I've been pretty productive though lately!
Checked Off the List:
-One of my bigger concerns was my car. I didn't want to sell it because i'll need transportation when I'm home for Christmas and 3 months in the summer, but my insurance policy ends this month. I didn't want to renew for a whole year like you normally have to, but I still need insurance for the next 2 months before I leave. I called my insurance company and got great news! I can renew my policy to continue coverage for now, then cancel it before I leave with no fee! I found out the state of Maryland also doesn't require you have insurance on cars you aren't driving, but if I wanted basic coverage (for theft, vandalism, etc.) my company would give it to me for $28 a month! And, whenever I'm back in town they said I can call and reinstate my coverage, then cancel it again when I leave! Woohoo!
-I had my first fundraising event today! Thanks to everyone who came or dontated items! And I'm so grateful for some amazing friends who are on my fundraising team and are planning all of my events with me!
-Shipped a Walmart order of bigger items down to Florida to be put on the next boat to Haiti! I realized it was way cheaper to buy things online and have them ship it directly to FL instead of shipping them myself!
-I've started preparing a few things for my classroom. Decorating and organzing my room & brainstorming ideas for the school year are probably my favorite parts of teaching!
-I did a trial run of packing. I know that's weird. I've always been a person that is super excited/a planner and starts packing way too early. Obviously I didn't have all I plan on taking with me yet, but it was helpful to get an idea of how much of what I planned to take can fit in 2 suitcases and a carry-on. I actually think I'll be able to fit all of it!
-My Maryland teaching license will expire while I'm in Haiti. In order to renew it, I will need to take 3 more continuing education credits. Montgomery County Public Schools (where I used to teach) has courses you can take for a lot cheaper than going through an actual college. I called them this week to get info, but apparently most of their summer courses are full already. :( I think I'm still going to send in my application though and hope someone drops out.
-Last week I got to skype with my 3 new housemates before they left Haiti for the summer! It was great to "meet" them and chat a bit. They all seem great! They also gave me a virtual tour of the house, and it's definitely bigger and nicer than I was expecting! I'm so grateful for today's technology that allows me to not feel like I'm going into this completely blind!
Things still to do:
-Call my student loan companies to either deffer some or try to lower the payments for some if I can. Loans are THE WORST!
-Ship one more package of stuff down for the boat.
-Figure out what to do about a phone. I need to get an unlocked phone to take with me that's hopefully not $500 (I'll use a Haitian service company once I'm there). I'll also need a phone for when I'm home. I'm not going to start a new contract with my current company when I'll only be using my phone for a couple months at a time, so I'll probably switch to a prepaid or no contract phone. Anyone got any cheap phone leads?
-Renew my driver's license, which will expire while I'm gone.
-Find a new person to move into my room where I'm currently living.
-Get a physical.
-Be more diligent at learning Creole.
-Box up the rest of my stuff for storage and have a yard sale for the things I'm getting rid of.
-Buy a few more things to take with me.
-Plan a couple more fundraising events.
-Take a trip to Michigan to see my mom's side of the family before I leave.
I appreciate your prayers for the remainder of this preparation time! August 14th is going to be here before I know it!
Checked Off the List:
-One of my bigger concerns was my car. I didn't want to sell it because i'll need transportation when I'm home for Christmas and 3 months in the summer, but my insurance policy ends this month. I didn't want to renew for a whole year like you normally have to, but I still need insurance for the next 2 months before I leave. I called my insurance company and got great news! I can renew my policy to continue coverage for now, then cancel it before I leave with no fee! I found out the state of Maryland also doesn't require you have insurance on cars you aren't driving, but if I wanted basic coverage (for theft, vandalism, etc.) my company would give it to me for $28 a month! And, whenever I'm back in town they said I can call and reinstate my coverage, then cancel it again when I leave! Woohoo!
-I had my first fundraising event today! Thanks to everyone who came or dontated items! And I'm so grateful for some amazing friends who are on my fundraising team and are planning all of my events with me!
-Shipped a Walmart order of bigger items down to Florida to be put on the next boat to Haiti! I realized it was way cheaper to buy things online and have them ship it directly to FL instead of shipping them myself!
-I've started preparing a few things for my classroom. Decorating and organzing my room & brainstorming ideas for the school year are probably my favorite parts of teaching!
-I did a trial run of packing. I know that's weird. I've always been a person that is super excited/a planner and starts packing way too early. Obviously I didn't have all I plan on taking with me yet, but it was helpful to get an idea of how much of what I planned to take can fit in 2 suitcases and a carry-on. I actually think I'll be able to fit all of it!
-My Maryland teaching license will expire while I'm in Haiti. In order to renew it, I will need to take 3 more continuing education credits. Montgomery County Public Schools (where I used to teach) has courses you can take for a lot cheaper than going through an actual college. I called them this week to get info, but apparently most of their summer courses are full already. :( I think I'm still going to send in my application though and hope someone drops out.
-Last week I got to skype with my 3 new housemates before they left Haiti for the summer! It was great to "meet" them and chat a bit. They all seem great! They also gave me a virtual tour of the house, and it's definitely bigger and nicer than I was expecting! I'm so grateful for today's technology that allows me to not feel like I'm going into this completely blind!
Things still to do:
-Call my student loan companies to either deffer some or try to lower the payments for some if I can. Loans are THE WORST!
-Ship one more package of stuff down for the boat.
-Figure out what to do about a phone. I need to get an unlocked phone to take with me that's hopefully not $500 (I'll use a Haitian service company once I'm there). I'll also need a phone for when I'm home. I'm not going to start a new contract with my current company when I'll only be using my phone for a couple months at a time, so I'll probably switch to a prepaid or no contract phone. Anyone got any cheap phone leads?
-Renew my driver's license, which will expire while I'm gone.
-Find a new person to move into my room where I'm currently living.
-Get a physical.
-Be more diligent at learning Creole.
-Box up the rest of my stuff for storage and have a yard sale for the things I'm getting rid of.
-Buy a few more things to take with me.
-Plan a couple more fundraising events.
-Take a trip to Michigan to see my mom's side of the family before I leave.
I appreciate your prayers for the remainder of this preparation time! August 14th is going to be here before I know it!
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