T Minus 30 Days!

I can't believe that I will be leaving for SING in only 30 days. This year is going by so fast - it seems like just yesterday I was searching for opportunities, reviewing my resume, writing my cover letter, and spending hours and hours sitting in front of my computer sending out resumes all over Asia. I can't believe how well everything has seemed to work out in preparation for my trip. My federal work study money has been secured, my job is providing me a place to live, my boss is very excited about my arrival, my visa has been approved (to which I give thanks to the Singaporean Ministry of Manpower - wow you guys are fast!), and my apartment is rented out for the summer to a lovely undergrad from MC.

Now that all the "big" things have been taken care of, I find myself asking so many questions: Can I buy the shampoo I like (Pantene) over there? What about deodorant? Makeup (Clinique)? Should I take my hair straightener with me or just buy one over there (voltage/AC adaptor?)? And then of course there are questions about my job, people I'm living with, meeting friends, going out, etc, etc, etc.

But more than all of that, I wonder about the part I will play while I'm there. I wonder about what it will be like day-to-day, how much interaction I will have with migrant workers, and what I will be able to do to help them improve whatever situation they have found themselves to be in. I have been imagining how things will be, dreaming about it even, but until I'm there I don't know what to expect. My boss hasn't told me too much, and I think that has to do with the fact that a new attorney is starting the same week I am. I will be working directly under her, so I suppose I will be doing whatever tasks she delegates to me, but I wonder what exactly it entails. I wonder if it will be like what I experienced when working for James & O'Brien Family Law - will it be the same type of work or different? Will I be drafting documents, sitting in on interviews with clients, what?

To be honest, part of me has anxiety about this new adventure. I am incredibly excited - make no mistake - but at the same time I am fearful that I will not catch on to the duties of my position fast enough, or I won't like it, or that I will not like Singapore as much as I am expecting, or I will be a disappointment to my boss. Obviously, I know that much of this comes from the great desire I have to be good at this, to love Singapore, and to be sure that this is what God is calling me to do. I think I'm afraid that I will get over there and all will be wrong and then I will feel lost and confused.

Of course, the majority of my brain dismisses these fears as hogwash; it tells me, "Ashley, calm the heck down. All will be ok, better than ok, it's going to be great. So chill out and stop worrying. This is what you're suppose to be doing." I sure hope the majority of my brain is right! :)