1/11/84

Whew! I thought I'd never finish. Now, it's November. We're back into it and ready to get out of it. Been busy with lots of odds and ends as we wrap up this two years into nice packages to be sent back home (wherever that is). It's really screwy, I'm feeling resistant to leave this place. Those tenuous weak roots have found soil deep enough to take hold. It's actually going to be difficult to say goodbye to this place. To make me a schizophrenic, I'm anxious to be back in the U.S.A. too, to see family and friends for the holiday season. Beyond that, I'm not so sure I want to go back. Too many ambiguities. Too many hidden traps.

Been cranking through the COS process. Medical stuff is completed and just needs to be sent to B-Dos. We have our return itinerary hammered out and only have to weather the uncertainty of being waitlisted out of St Lucia. Oh yes! Our COS conference was scheduled for St Lucia, the last week of November so, instead of flying out of Barbados, we'd spend an extra night in Castries on November 29th and fly down to Vieux Fort on the morning of November 30th at 7:10 a.m. Beats at 6:30 a.m. flight out of St V but I've got my doubts about WINLINK. If they don't show we have only the option of a taxi ride to get us there ($10 van ride, maybe). But after our last encounter I'm a little nervous….

Needless to say, we are busy. Not only with Peace Corps paperwork, winding up our jobs and packing but also with an unexpected bit of social life. Each weekend we have something scheduled (except for our last) and we'll also have the Beinamen’s over for their last night in St Vincent on November 20th. As it turns out, I'll be working right down to the end of the wire but will hopefully complete my work on November 23rd (also my birthday). If all goes well we'll have the house cleaned out, and will be ready to go on November 26th. Until then we're praying for sanity, peace of mind and a lot of patience.