Hello from Latvia

It's official, we made it!  The Richardsons are missing 5 pieces of luggage (apparently left in Frankfurt), but those are to be delivered today.  Just trying to figure things out and get acclimated.  Pictures included in the next post!

How do you pack for a 6 month trip?

The answer is...I'll let you know in a couple of days.  We leave from DFW tomorrow and arrive in Riga Thursday afternoon.  It sounds like several friends from the JVLMA will be at the airport, as well as some very helpful folks from the U.S. Embassy, complete with a large vehicle for our baggage (boy, do we have baggage!).

We hope to have some pictures in a couple of days.  Until then, Uz redzēšanos!

Details, details, details...

So I just received the "official" Fulbright Grant Packet which looks like a contract (I guess it IS, actually). Once copies of this material travel to the head-honchos at the Administration Building of Northwest Missouri State University we've cleared another hurdle.

Now we gather all the paperwork like birth certificates, marriage license, Grant Packet, etc. for notarization followed by sending to Jefferson City, MO, for apostille. After that we've got to: 1) continue to learn Latvian, 2) find an apartment, 3) look into overseas insurance, 4) figure out what & how much/little we should take, 5) work on travel arrangements, 6) practice trumpet for a February trumpet recital, and much, much more.

Anyway, we're happy for the opportunity and I know that this will be an experience that "the ladies" and I will remember for the rest of our lives...kind of like those canoe trips down the Missouri River with my old man, except MUCH safer!