New Year Updates

First of all, we are still planning to join the Peace Corps. There have been many, many things that have piqued our interest for next year, including jobs, starting a family, etc. In the end, we decided that for now, our draw toward international teaching and living experience was stronger than the desire to pursue better jobs, start a PhD, have a child, and all that.

That being said, Nick has requested some letters of reference and started writing his personal statement. When that gets faxed in, we should be receiving our medical packets promptly! My guess is that will arrive sometime in the 1st or 2nd week of February. I will try to update this blog as we get medically cleared, so that others can use this as a reference for their own medical clearance.

Alison (me) is still working diligently at the lab, but now with an eye toward which projects should be closed down completely, and which I should pass on to others. It's a new feeling. I've been working here for 3.5 years now, and the workspace feels like an extension of me, or at least my hands and eyes. It will be hard to leave.

Nick is teaching away, and the FCAT is soon, so he is busy. He has grown to like some of his kids, but he is also considering pursuing a job at Ambleside Ocala at some point. Hopefully Todd will set up a dinner with the founders, and it will be easy when we come back ;)

Also, while looking around the other day, I came across this "furnishing," the DutchTub. Nick and I were talking about whether it embodies the concept of Bobos in Paradise, or whether it is a legitimate product (though expensive) that urges people to enjoy nature and friends more naturally, i.e. without consuming electricity or using chlorine like standard hot tubs.

Anyway, wish us luck!