This week we are lucky enough to have Grandma Mir Mir here for a visit! Thumper was so excited to see her that he ran through baggage claim to meet her when he saw her. It warms our hearts, and I'm sure Mir Mir's as well, that Thumper recognized her after only seeing her face on a computer screen for the last 10 months. There is some special power that a grandmother possesses, which allows a grandchild to instantly make them their favorite person in the world. Thumper already screams in panic when Legs or I need to take him away from Grandma Mir Mir for any reason. It's both a little sad, that we're not his only favorite people anymore, and also very moving to see the bond he has with his grandma.
I think there has been a bit of culture shock for Mir Mir coming to the big city, leaving behind a small, rural farm town in the Northwest, but she's adjusting quite well. We've got her riding the Metro, and looking almost like a local :-) Mir Mir isn't exactly the tourist type, so we likely won't be rushing from one monument to the next, or spending hours in the Smithsonian Museums. She is, however, a very proud and attentive grandmother, and she has been helping care for Thumper tremendously. This is great because it is allowing me to get so much more done in preparation for our move to India.
On top of completing the seemingly endless slew of tasks to be finished prior to our departure, I will be taking the NERC certification test in January. This is a very difficult and technical test, which roughly 60% of test-takers pass, that will certify me to work as a system operator in the North American electrical grid. Even if I don't begin working as a system operator immediately following the test, I will be able to maintain my certification with annual "refresher" courses, and this could prove very useful to me when I decide to return to work or if I apply to a master's program at our next post.
It seems that time is really flying by now. For months we were here in Arlington thinking about our move to India as if it were years away, and now here we are leaving next month! We are excited, scared, nervous, proud, and also a bit overwhelmed at the moment. We are truly happy with the choices we've made at this particular point in our lives, but it doesn't completely remove the fear of the unknown. No matter how many Foreign Service Officers we talk to, how much internet research we do, or how many things we bring with us from the U.S. we won't know what it is like to live in India until we are in fact living in India. It will present many unexpected challenges, but also, if we are willing to see them, many unexpected rewards. Overall we are most excited to simply see what life has to offer.
Happy Travels!
Pancho
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