10 Days in December

Now that most of the Christmas festivities are over I'm just beginning to process (mourn?) the loss of a city I was falling in love with and in. To let you know what we went through I offer an abbreviated day by day account of the last few days we spent there. Or at least as best as I can remember it.

December 8 - Called in by Immigration where we were informed that we had until Christmas to leave the country. Applied for exit visas (basically asking for permission to leave a country we were told we had to leave). Began looking for plane tickets out but could only find tickets to Dubai for the 21st. Began informing friends about our departure. Told the University I would be unable to complete the semester's courses. Started packing. Started organizing an everything must go garage sale. Didn't sleep much and wonder what I may have said on people's blogs during my 3 am surf.

December 9 - Continued packing and organizing the sale. Paid for and picked up our exit visas. Had our resident permits taken from us. Packed up my office at the University. Began to let our local friends know about our departure. Friend found us tickets all the way to the US - only three days earlier than even our 21st tickets. Met with several early shopper friends as we loaded our carport with all our household furnishings. Ate lots of our saved-up treats like bacon and chocolate chip cookie dough - often at the same time.

December 10 - Were nearly overwhelmed at our garage sale with people waiting half an hour before we opened the gates. Most of the puzzles were opened and destroyed. Lots of theft but ended up selling almost everything we put out in the three hours of the sale. Realized how much we hadn't put out for the sale. Turned away people for the rest of the day wanting to know if we had anything left or if we would be willing to give them things we no longer had. Sold a few thousand dollars worth of things. Moved into a furnished place with at least some of our remaining possessions. Were fed a wonderful Indian meal just when we needed to be cared for.

December 11 - Spent our last Sunday at the international church. Began saying goodbyes, often to people we didn't know. Double checked with our landlord's son that he had told his mother we'd be moving out. I began outlining a sermon for that night's service. I had not told Amanda I'd be speaking that night for fear that she might talk some sense into what I was planning to say.
Amanda (noticing that Jonathan has his Bible open while surrounded by unpacked
laundry): What are you doing with your Bible out? Are you preaching tonight or
something? (Snicker, snicker)
Jonathan (having not told Amanda he'd be preaching one last time): Er...yeah. I am.

Spoke on Esther and "For such a time is this..." at the int'l church. Only got in a little trouble for mentioning that we had been thrown out of the country. More goodbyes.

December 12 - 14 - More packing. Dividing things into "must keep," "forgot to sell" and "who would pay money for this?" piles. Think we can get things home in only 11 pieces of luggage. Prepare for sale #2 - this time a couple of tables at a group sale with the international school on Thursday. Begin the more formal visits with friends to say goodbye and accept small gifts. Giving away books and teaching materials. Trying to come to terms with saying goodbye to W., our houseworker who became family. Attempting to keep Atticus' room warm enough to fight off the cold he's suffering through. Spending some time at the university to let the seniors know what will happen with their final projects. Gave my rendition of Roger's "You've wasted four years" speech to my Public Speaking students. Met a former student's fiance and gave my blessing on their marriage. Think I may still know where my Palm Pilot is. Know I can't find my sanity.

December 15 - Was double-parked and still got boxed in while trying to sell a computer monitor. Stuck for 40 minutes. Continued to clear out old house. While doing so I ran into our landlord. It turns out that her son never did tell her we were moving out. I think the empty boxes may have clued her into it but not entirely sure. Ended up having to show her the door after she sat down in the hallway and watched me pile things into Dave's pickup.

Took two carloads of unsold items to the international school's sale. We were the main attraction. Sold everything including a beautiful bench that meant a lot to us (sorry Matt). Now down to junk and the items we'll try and pack.

December 16 - Finally able to see some of the furniture in our temporary dwelling. Have pretty much decided to take an extra bag with us rather than have it shipped later. Handed back the keys to our old house now that everything is cleared out.

Said my final goodbyes at the University. One of which will be the subject of a future blog. Sad to meet with the Dept. head one last time. Finally crashing from a week long adrenaline rush.

Met one last time with Son - godly Indian who prayed with us. Other visitors stopped by to say goodbye.

Went to a Christmas/farewell party at a friend's house. Said goodbye to good people. I hope Emily likes "Thirteen Things About Ed Carpolotti". I hope her parents (Dad is a Presb. Theological prof.) don't disown us for putting "Blue Like Jazz" in her hands. We'll miss AN's 50th anniversary of her arrival in Africa. Wonder how long some of those there will remain. This was really the first time I started processing that some of these people I will never see again.

December 17 - Day of departure. On the way to taking bags to be weighed at the grain market got a flat tire. Layed in the dirt to change it. Got all bags within a pound or more under weight. Found a closet of dress clothes that still needed packing. Went to find zip ties to secure bags. Lots of visitors saying goodbye.

All the power in the city goes out with three hours before we need to leave.

Had to stop off at Department Head's house one last time. Picked up a gift from the department and a letter of rec.

Packing up the last few bits for the carry-ons. Trying not to leave anything important behind (we left Amanda's pregnant wedding ring and a wireless card for the computer). Took a shower in the dark as visitors continued to stop by. Loaded up the trucks with bags. Counted garage sales money.

Thankfully only a couple of friends met us at the airport. Steve helped us move our bags to the terminal. After only some confusion over how to put luggage tags on rubbermaid containers and what to do with the stroller, we get on the plane just before midnight.

December 18 - Arrive at O'Hare only to find that our tickets to Bloomington are for Monday, a day later. Get most of our bags through customs. See Mohammed Ali and realize that he had probably been on our plane from Germany. Rearrange tickets so we can arrive Sunday rather than Monday night. Get Gretchen to make sure someone can meet us.

Crashed out at my parents' new house.

So if we ignored your email that week or didn't send you a Christmas card, that's why.