Another few steps closer

We're getting another step closer to moving to Казахстан (Kazakhstan).  I filled out our visa applications and sent them to the Embassy in Washington, DC today.  It's the first time I've needed a "letter of invitation" to apply for a visa -- a remnant from Soviet times.

Aside from that, I was up in the attic today pulling down our boxes so that we can start packing things up.  Brooke has already started.  We're lucky that the new renters of our cottage have bought most of our furniture so that we won't have to move it.  One of Brooke's colleagues bought our TV cabinet today so the TV is sitting on some boxes.  There is a lot of stuff in here and we're going to have to figure out what exactly we want to take with us to Kazakhstan and what will be put into storage for later.  We'll have a fully-furnished apartment provided as part of our contract in Almaty.  Our school has advised us to bring anything we want as luggage rather than shipping it due to issues with customs in Kazakhstan; the school is providing us an allowance for excess baggage.

Emotionally, it's a tough time.  My uncle passed away last month and my Grandma just last week.  Our family is having memorials for them in a couple of weeks and it has been a tough time for all of them.  We're also coming off the high of postsession, a time of year where we teach a group of students an all-day, three-week long art or PE class.  Brooke was teaching a food and culture class.  My class is bicycling and boating (kayaking, crew, and dragonboating).  I've taught that class for three years now and this year was the best: great co-teachers, students, and activities. It was good to end on a high like that, but it's really hard to say goodbye.  We love our schools in Oakland, colleagues, students, and where we live in Berkeley.  We're excited though for the opportunities that we'll have overseas and the chance to learn a new culture, language, and to teach new subjects.  I hope our friends and family will take us up on the offer to visit us at our new home in Central Asia.