Wednesday, June 13, 2012

In Which My Life Takes A Sharp Turn

Several months ago, sort of on a whim, I applied for a job in a country called Palau. Palau is an island nation in Micronesia, 500 trillion miles away from where I currently live. Why did I apply to work there?

1. It never gets cold there.
2. It never gets cold there.
3. It never gets cold there.

The position is court counsel for the Supreme Court of Palau for one year. Over the next several months after applying I corresponded with the court, believing it was unlikely that I was ever going to actually land the position and haul my little-old-self to the other side of the planet.

And then they rejected me. I got a polite email explaining that I was not selected for an interview, so I spent the remainder of that day with good friends eating ice cream and making the expected rejection as dramatic as possible.

As a part of my coping, I found incredibly cheap tickets to Mexico City and planned the trip. As fate would have it, Palau changed its mind about me shortly thereafter and asked me to be in LA for an interview on [wait for it] the same week I was supposed to be in southern Mexico.


After exploring every option I could think of, I found that flying out of Mexico and into LA on the day of the interview and then rushing back to the airport to fly back down to Mexico to meet back up with my travel group was actually the cheapest and most convenient option for making the interview.

Cue lots and lots of pre-travel-day-from-Hell anxiety.

Krishelle, Will, and Daniel left me in Cancun and began their 20-hour journey back to Mexico City, where they would meet me 24 hours later. And the next morning I set off for the airport in my suit, carrying with me only a small backpack.

The flights fortunately went without drama, and I caught my connection in Houston with a few minutes to spare after running frantically through the airport on my 3rd degree sunburned legs. And then a few hours later I showed up in LA and quickly found a taxi.


I felt EXACTLY like Miley Cyrus in "Party in the U.S.A." 


I hopped off the plane at L.A.X
With a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame excess (whoa), am I gonna fit in?  [Am I the only one that always thought that line said "fame and sex" until just now?]

Jumped in the cab here I am for the first time
Look to my right and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy, everybody seems so famous

My tummy's turning and I'm feeling kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio

And a Jay-Z song was on
And the Jay-Z song was on
And the Jay-Z song was on

So I put my hands up they're playing my song
The butterflies fly away
Nodding my head like yeah
Moving my hips like yeah



Etc.


And guys, I was seriously moving my hips like yeah. Especially when the Britney song came on. When the Britney song came on.


Ok. I'll stop. 


Sometimes I feel like I pollute the Internet.


Anyway, so I pulled up to the federal courthouse where the interview was scheduled to take place, ran my fingers through my greasy plane hair, waddled in through security with pain shooting up my legs, and then I thought: 


"What the HELL am I doing!?"


But seriously. What was I thinking?! Why was I there!? I didn't even really know where Palau was. Let alone what it might be like to uproot my entire good life from Salt Lake City to move there. And how did I all of the sudden end up in LA after waking up on the Yucatan Peninsula. 


Ok, I admit it. I sort of started to freak out. But I was there. And I had gone through a lot to get there, not just that day, but over the course of my whole life that had sort of pointed me in this direction, for better or worse. For stranger or worse. Or is it for better or stranger? Sometimes I really don't know.


I tepidly walked into the courtroom to meet with the chief justice of Palau who gave me a lot of information on the job and the island and the people etc. before asking me a few questions. And then, suddenly, he offered me a job.


Like, a real job. In Palau. Micronesia. Where I would live. Like, actually, really, truly, live.


And that panic that was sitting deep down in my stomach now shot through my throat.


Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. I am NOT moving to a country I can't even point out on a map. I am not moving away from my life that I love so much with my friends and family that I love so much. No way. Uh-uh. Nope.


But I graciously nodded and told him I would think about it after running out of the courthouse, jumping into a taxi, and rushing back to the airport to catch my flight to Mexico City. 


It was just a few days later that I got a phone call with the official offer. They gave me one week to decide. One week. To decide. 


How does one go about making the biggest decision of their life in one week? 


So I started thinking about it. And calling everyone I know to seek as much advice as possible. And I got great advice from everyone. But the same answer came from everyone I knew: I had to decide if this is what I really wanted.


I felt like such a phony. I was so scared to accept the great unknown. But I preach to you all about how important it is to embrace new opportunities, strange and exciting. About how important it is to not limit oneself to the familiar because there is so much to learn from the unfamiliar. But I also felt like I would be just as phony, and irrational, to accept this just because I need to appear willing to accept the great unknown. And I don't believe that moving to Micronesia is the only way to make life fulfilling. There is much to learn from the seemingly familiar as well. 


Nonetheless, I couldn't deny the fact that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had just presented itself to me. Nor could I deny the nagging feeling throughout that one week of decision that there were things I needed to experience in that opportunity, as scary as it may seem from this end right now.


So ultimately, I flipped a coin.


I kid.


But I kid you not when I tell you that I chose to accept. My dear strangers, come October, I will be moving to Micronesia. I'm terrified and excited. Determined and apprehensive. Shocked and calm.


As usual, my emotions are inconsistent. Which is usually how I gauge the correctness of my decisions. For stranger or worse.


Please come with me on this next journey. If not physically, I would love to have you there with me electronically. We'll get in our Snuggies and laugh and cry together. Just like we always do.


I hope they have the Internets down there.


~It Just Gets Stranger

57 comments:

  1. What does Cathie think? I'm on her side either way. :)

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    1. Kim, there aren't enough books in all the world to contain what Cathie thinks about the flight alone. That said, she's pretty excited for me.

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    2. Cathie (me) thinks it will be an exciting experience but she (me) will miss him a lot! We plan on going to see him (Eli) and make sure he isn't diving, swimming, drinking the water, riding in boats, riding motorcycles, eating clams, snorkeling (just a few little things mothers worry about) and IS locking his doors at night, going to church, making new friends, doing a good job for Palau and IS smiling. Isn't he still just 4!?!? Seriously. xo

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    3. do they have church in Micronesia?

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    4. Yes, they have churches in Palau. They've had a lot of missionaries go there & most Palauans are very Christian. (the other religion there is Modoknei, which believes rocks & trees have spirits...)

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  2. I found your blog through a friend. I just wanted to say that my cousin took that exact job in Micronesia a few years ago. He and his wife were there for a year and really loved their experience. Congratulations and good luck!

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    1. Thanks Becky! Would love to get in touch with your cousin if possible. Shoot me an email.

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  3. Congrats Eli - they are lucky to have you .... and you know that! We will miss you, but expect that you will come back to speak to the students in a year or so!

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  4. Whew, what an adventure!!! Good luck - can't wait to read about your Palauian adventures!

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  5. Are you sure this isn't just a very, very elaborate scam to rape or otherwise pillage you or your bank accounts? If not, best of luck! If so, best of luck!

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    1. I think it's legit. All I have to do to get the job is cash a money order they sent and then wire back most of the money.

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  6. I am so excited for you! And slightly alarmed that you know the lyrics to Miley Cyrus songs.

    After I "found" you, I went back and read your archives (much easier to stalk you with all the available information) and very much enjoyed your stories from your travels. I have no idea what this type of job will involved, but hopefully you'll have time to explore and meet people and find wonderful things to write about and bring us along on your journey.

    I knew that flight to LA in the middle of the vacation seemed strange.

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  7. Good decision, Eli! Andrea and I will be visiting you!

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  8. You know this means that you also come back to Salt Lake in October, when it's starting to turn cold and miserable, just in time for the entire winter.

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  9. Exciting! Congrats on your new job! Well, and your new life altogether!

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  10. Yeah, I'm with kjax up there; shocked that you quoted Miley at us (mostly because I loathe her voice and music? So I think everyone else should too?). But I guess the lyrics seemed appropriate to your situation...

    Anyway, I totally googled Micronesia, because I figured you might be making the whole thing up. (Note: I suck at geography, always have. But in my defense, I'm pretty sure we never discussed Micronesia in my 9th grade geography class.)

    What I meant to say is CONGRATULATIONS! I'm just going to have to keep on reading your blog. Teach us lots about Micronesia, yes?

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  11. Totes excited to hear about your adventures there.
    30 seconds previous to reading your blog today, I heard another grand story from LAX.

    Upon checking in at security at lax with my New Mexico drivers license:
    TSA Security: sir I need your passport
    Me: passport? I'm American
    TSA: your dl says you are from Mexico
    Me: that's New Mexico
    TSA: I'm not familiar with this country
    Me: really?

    Probably choose a different airport next time.

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  12. Don't know you, but once again, I'm proud of you and want to thank you for inspiring me to try new things.

    Josh

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  13. You're awesome. That's it, that's all I got. But seriously, it will be legendary my friend.

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  14. You need to learn how to scuba dive before October. Palau has some of the best diving in the world and it would probably make for some strange adventures since you don't really swim.

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  15. I LOVE IT! I have no clue where that is what that means, but I vociferously endorse this!

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  16. eli, you are my hero. yes, please keep us all updated on how being a mommy in micronesia pans out-i wonder if you are going to have to go cloth diaper...? and how the rape and pillage goes. maybe they have some good immigration attys that can give you human trafficking status if you decide to stay. have fun!

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  17. Holy Cow!! That is awesome! We're supposed to do these kinds of things when we are young and single. Luckily, the year is going to fly bye for you. Good Luck and I can't wait to see what adventures they have you.

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  18. So we have a good friend who is a native from Palau. He and his family talk like it is the paradise of the earth.

    They filmed Survivor one season there AND everyone came back alive. Albeit they were living skeletons and stunk like nothing else but they did it. And it was TV. And everything you see on TV is real. :)

    I hope it is an amazing experience for you!

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  19. Good luck Eli! I so look forward to your posts about your new adventures. I am sure they will be exciting and as hysterically funny as all of your posts! Congratulations!!

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  20. That's so exciting! I bet your new adventures will make for great posts.

    Also, I'm flying into LA tomorrow and I now have that song stuck in my head. Apropos or torture? Still deciding...

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  21. Alii! Palau is gorgeous--named one of the 10 underwater wonders of the world. Just sent a detailed message of weird cultural things to expect (I was a Peace Corps volunteer there for 2 years), but shoot me an email if you have any questions.

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  22. So much for running for PTA president. Maybe they'll let you do it long distance?

    I really hope they have the Internets. I'm not sure I could survive a whole year without reading your strange/awesome stories. Also, I'd really miss your cats.

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  23. you are SO awesome. I look forward to hearing about your adventures!

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  25. You must read "Sex Lives of Cannibals" by Maarten Troost before you go. http://www.amazon.com/The-Sex-Lives-Cannibals-Equatorial/dp/0767915305

    Also, it will never be too soon to start thinking how you will get Miley Cyrus to play your going away party after your year in Palau. Think of it. You would get to introduce Micronesia to Miley and with you as her guide, show her your favorite diving spots.

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  26. I love how the "wait...what on earth am I DOING?!" bit always kicks in when it's far too late to change your mind. :P

    I was landing in Spain after two days of planning when I realized "oh wait...I don't speak ANY Spanish, my cell phone works in the UK right now, not Europe, and I have no idea how I will find my friend or my hostel. Why was I thinking?!"

    But all was well. And even when I got a last-minute acceptance into grad school and had to uproot my life (albeit only across the country, not halfway around the world!) I made it through. So embrace this new passage of your life; because for every hardship you will face, there will be endless life lessons and opportunities waiting for you.

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  27. yes, I always thought that song said "land of fame and sex" too!

    oh and congrats on the job!

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  28. I'm completely jealous and excited for you! Which is strange, since I don't actually know you. But it's been fun to follow your adventures, and I'm 1,000% positive that your stories will only get stranger as you adjust to life in a new country. ;) Bring them the snuggie!

    OH and if you've seen the movie "Journey 2" with my man Dwayne Johnson, they feature Palau in it. Watch it, you'll learn tons. ;) Then you can impress your new neighbors with your amazing knowledge.

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  30. Eli, you don't have to go all the way to Micronesia to get away from The First Eye.

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  31. "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." I read that this morning and it made me think of your post. Congrats on your new job and your new adventure! Looking forward to reading about all the strange things you experience while you're away!

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  32. So glad you're going for it. Opportunities like this are a lot more difficult to take advantage of as you get older and have more to consider (wife, kids, etc). This is why I've been enjoying my time post-grad pre-family and have on a whim moved to HI and CO as a result. Also, a year is going to fly by so make sure you are intentional about enjoying it while you're there.

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  33. Like the other commenters, I'm excited for you to get out there and experience something new. It is inspiring to see someone make changes and strive to live life to its fullest so I thank you for that.

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  34. Can't wait to read about your adventures down there! Hopefully you won't listen to too much Miley while you're gone . . .

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  35. Don't leaveeeeeeee our friendship just started! =(((( Congrats by the way

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  36. I really enjoy how much you dislike glee...... Glad I'm not the only one.

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  37. I really enjoy how much you dislike glee...... Glad I'm not the only one.

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  38. I really enjoy how much you dislike glee...... Glad I'm not the only one.

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  39. I really enjoy how much you dislike glee...... Glad I'm not the only one.

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  40. I don't think I've ever been in such high suspense whilst reading a blog as when I read this one. May your travels ever get stranger, and make sure you stop by to tell your stories at the Porch one more time before you leave these shores!

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  41. I think Josh is happy you don't like Glee. It's a hunch.

    Congratulations on the job! Living abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life! I hope yours is just as challenging, rewarding, fulfilling, exciting, scary, humbling, and strange as mine was!

    I may or may not have to visit you in Micronesia for 3 reasons:
    1. I don't like cold either
    2. I don't like cold any day
    3. I don't like cold when I'm hot

    ENJOY THE SUNSHINE!

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  42. Any chance you have room for a few thousand fans to join you? We won't be too much trouble.

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  43. Eli, you are about to become my Micronesian neighbor! Our family moved to Saipan last year (an island about 100 miles north of Guam). There are several members in our ward who are from Palau, all very nice. Moving to the islands out here is a big change, but I think you will have the sense of humor to enjoy it. Just be prepared for some serious culture shock. You are more than welcome to contact me. I also recommend two books (if you haven't already read them): Sex Lives of Cannibals, and the sequel, Getting Stoned With the Savages. By Maarten Troost. They're about the author and how wife living on a few different Pacific islands. They are hilarious, and I believe they are right up your alley. Good luck getting ready for your move! You are going to enjoy being stuck in endless summer! I haven't missed the snow at all.

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    1. Nadia, I would LOVE to get your advice on island living. Thanks!

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    2. I will shoot you an email.

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  44. Eli- could I come visit in exchange for a haircut? -Alex

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  45. Eli- could I come visit in exchange for a haircut? -Alex

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  46. Eli- could I come visit in exchange for a haircut? -Alex

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    1. Are you kidding? You come down and give me a haircut and you guys can stay in my place for as long as you want. I have at least one spare bedroom available for you.

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  47. Another good book to try: Edge of Paradise by Kluge. (about a guy who lived in Palau who comes back after the president there is murdered.)

    -Rebecca (who lived there & is looking forward to hearing your impressions when you get there!)

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