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Well the stress of all this finally hit me over the weekend.
I woke up and realized I had little more than TWO weeks until I am supposed to board an aeroplane, and I had yet to start packing. It seems like this visa process consumes all days and partial nights! I have no time to exercise, for instance. Yesterday I didn't get to eat breakfast until 11:30 because I had to get the car detailed for the potential buyers coming that morning. The breakfast turned into breakfast/lunch, and then I was never able to get dinner because I was dealing with more car buyers and had to run out to another appointment as soon as the last person left. As much as I need to do and in the small amount of time, I am determined to self-care at least a little and prevent anxiety, which I differentiate from stress... so I went to AFS last night to watch the new David Byrne doc and thank goddess for their egg salad toasts and hot choco! I have been unsuccessful in finding a shipping company or even a method to get my belongings over to China! I'm hearing horror stories about Chinese customs charging 30% import tariffs on your own belongings, obviously worn clothing and such! Aaagh! It's already going to cost me tons to get my belongings over there, and I certainly don't want to pay imports on personal items I am NOT importing, that will "repatriate" with me if I depart China! I know they want very precise wording on customs forms...just like with everything having to do with the visa---PRC is very OCD!!! (I love China!) OMG! It does not seem like there is enough time to do everything that needs doing and for me to remain anxiety-free and still take care of my self physically and emotionally! I was hoping to be able to work out MORE not LESS once I stopped teaching, but my to-do list grows longer with each call I make, with each informational piece I receive, with each message of advice I receive from the expats in China... aaargh! I can manage the stress to a degree, but when I get to a certain point, I recognize something has to give, and I don't want it to be my sanity and health. I am approaching that line: I am going to bed exhausted and waking up feeling stressed. I want to work out, but it seems if I make time for that, something else is given up--or I just run out of time and then it's noon and I am immersed in a day of tasks! I am going to re-center myself and prioritize my yoga practice once again (a week off, ugh!). I can feel a direct correlation to rising stress levels and decreasing asana and pranayama practice--and being still and calm! Rather, this is directly proportional and possibly cause-and-effect! I have to reduce the social time I'm spending with friends; I just can't afford those few hours right now! I'm pretty sure I've already spent double what is allotted to me by my new school in reimbursement for the visa procedures. I KNOW I will be spending double what I am to receive for relocation expenses. Today, I have to go back to the Capitol to get the second copy of my degree authenticated. I will also get my car appraised at Carmax to see if I can get a higher price for it (thanks for the suggestion, DW!). I was supposed to travel to HTX tomorrow to get my visa, but I think it is wiser to wait until next week because of Lunar New Year; they will close Thursday and Friday and I can only imagine the work load they will have tomorrow. I do NOT want to rent a car and drive to HTX more than this one last time!! It's supposed to rain the night of my Bon Voyage party :-(( which is outdoors on a lovely patio... I'm considering whether I should postpone that as well. I'm due to drive to FTW to visit fam on Thursday or Friday, might postpone that 'til next week as well. If I can get my stuff packed, figure out how to clear customs, find a good flight over... much of this stress will be relieved. Part of my 50+ item To Do List:
Much to do, but as usual... wo nang sheen!!! I can do it! 我能行
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Gina......is thrilled to be moving to Chengdu, Sichuan, China to teach and learn! Archives
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