After successfully packing both of my suitcases I realized that one of them was an inch over the 62 linear inches size allowed without paying the oversize package fee. So…I repacked in a little bit smaller suitcase, leaving out a few of the items I had purchased to bring as gifts for various people I will be working with.
I had picked up some local MN products, like maple syrup and wild rice. I also asked the woman in charge of the team that’s helping me find an apartment and get my visas if there were any specific items that I could bring for each of them as a thank you. It turns out that two of them have studied in the US before, hence their excellent English. One asked for a bottle of hot sauce and the other wanted a bag of Chile Lime Doritos.
So, I’ve learned that they don’t really have spicy food there. I was warned by my friend, Jordan, who is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant living in Tashkent, that the food there is bland and that I should bring my own spice blends if I want them. Being from Minnesota, I told Jordan that I am just fine with bland food. The joke in my house is that Minnesotans think ketchup is spicy.
So with only one week left before we leave, I’m feeling pretty good about where I’m at with preparations. I even forced my son to pack one of his two bags yesterday. I’ve got all the important documents printed out and ready to be put in my carry on bag. I went into the college and got VPN installed on my laptop and had them update any software that needed it.
In fact, I’m feeling restless and ready to leave now. With this government shutdown and talk of the TSA workers not being able to work (because they aren’t getting paid), the air traffic controllers suing over being forced to work without pay, and the pilot’s union saying they have safety concerns about continuing to fly given the shutdown (FAA inspectors are part of the shutdown) I’m not feeling great about our upcoming air travel. Will it be better or worse in a week?
Experience Fulbright 