The Things They Sent

As a continuation to the post I wrote about my experiences at the post office I thought I would explain why I (and my family) go through so much trouble to get these packages. Getting real, tangible mail while in the states is fun, getting packages  is a billion times more exciting, and getting packages while abroad is exponentially  more exciting than that. Packages from home include little bits of the place you come from, and it is nice to be reminded of that and to be treated to the things I miss. Over the nearly two years I have spent in foreign countries I have gotten a large variety of things through the mail, and spent a lot of time at post offices picking them up. Some of the things are necessities and boring, some are exciting, some make me nostalgic, and some are just weird, thanks mainly to my mother. Here is a list of some of the more memorable things I have gotten in my time abroad.

• I love getting books! This year I have gotten a lot and though it pains me, I will probably have to leave some behind.
  

• Both my parents sent me Annie's Mac and Cheese in recent packages and I have been working hard to ration it. I made it for my host family, and they didn't seem to really understand why five boxes of it had shown up. My host sister said it was plain, and that I could make something similar to it here. Needless to say I will not be wasting it on them anymore! 
• While in Spain my dad sent a beautiful, hand made cribbage board, and tucked into the little place for the pegs he slipped in $100. 
• My friend Mollie recently sent these beautiful postcard sized pastel drawings she made, on the back of each one she wrote a different note. They are right above my bed here and I love looking at them as I fall asleep. 
• While in Spain, Howard and my grandma sent a paperweight from a town in Germany(I think) and I can't think of anything I needed less, but became attached to throughout the year, and couldn't bring myself to leave it when I left. 
• Shelle sent me the most beautiful paisley PJ pants that she made herself, I wore them all winter! Among other things she also sent Starbursts and M&Ms which I grudgingly shared with my American friends and host family. 
• The silliest thing I ever had sent was probably my snowboarding jacket which I convinced my  mom was necessary even though snow very very rarely hits the ground in Barcelona. The real reason was that I just couldn't stand to see Lizzy wearing it in pictures. I never wore it once and had to have it sent back at the end of the year because I didn't have room for it.
  
•  I had my dad send me makeup me because I lost mine on the plane ride over here, he drew the line at sports bras though.
• He also forwarded me a twin survey the University of Washington sent which included a pamphlet telling me that being a twin is special, 5$ included! 

  My mom has sent by far the most packages and every single one comes with the most bazaar things, though I love getting them. Some of the best include;

• A Michel Jackson video saying that she wanted Dilsad to learn the moves, she was ecstatic.
• Throughout the year in Spain my mom sent various cards from this deck of daily saying cards for life. They are these thick, square, illustrated cards that say things like, take a deep breath, feel the nature outside and try to replicate that calmness inside of yourself..or something along those lines. They were nice to decorate my wall with, but I had no idea what to do with them at the end of the year.
•  Mini-lip glosses
• Trader Joe's bags, which have actually come in really handy, Dilsad uses hers for the gym
• LOTS AND LOTS of family pictures, the ones of Lizzy riding her horse where cherished
• A pink cheetah print Betsy Johnson makeup bag (she actually brought that one to Rome, along with M&Ms and peanut butter)
• Bright orange and blue nail polish 
• Black leggings with jewel decals all over one side:)
• Many copies of the Journal (has the barefoot burglar been caught yet?)

As listed I have received a variety of wonderful things through the international postal system, and sent a few good ones myself, (if you would like a postcard, I would love to send one, all I need is your address!) because there is nothing better than a package. I am sure that I have left out some good ones and I may add to and revise my list. I am looking forward to a birthday package from my mom and there are a few things I hope are included;

• Lizzy. Nothing like a birthday to remind me of my little Bizzy so far far away. You would think I would forget all about it without the countdowns till queen Lizzy can celebrate the day she was born. Thankfully facebook exists, and I am reminded almost daily.
• A cake made by our own Mary Elford
• Anything made my Jane Burton Bell or Shelle Cropper
• All of my other family and friends that I will miss being around this year

If none of those things make it in the package, mom, I will understand and I do look forward to all the other great things I am sure are in there! I will keep you all updated.

 As I side note I also added a few pictures to the past couple of blogs, take a look!

Additions:

• As my sister reminded me I forgot the camera charger! That made it's way back from Rome with Lizzy instead of me, then to Turkey, and due to some malfunction, back to the United States, and then resent to Turkey. I now use it all the time:)