Staging

So, despite having only slept for 1 hour last night, I only forgot two things (I HOPE!). Luckily I have awesome parents who stopped by a gas station on the way to the airport at 5 in the morning so that I could bring a jar of peanut butter with me. This was the first thing on the list people!!! How on earth did I forget!? The other thing was just a form I had to print out, which I was able to do once I reached the hotel. I had no issues with my flights at all, even though I had to check one of my carry-on bags for both flights. I am going to blame this on the fact that I was taking tiny little planes, and not on the fact that my bag is actually too big. I am really hoping that I will not run into any issues tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

After checking into the hotel, we had staging for the next 5ish hours. We basically went over the Peace Corps core expectations in detail, in addition to safety and what the next couple of weeks will look like. I am excited to get to know the cohort better, everyone seems really nice so far!

We board a bus at 2am tonight to drive to JFK where we will catch our flight to South Africa (14 hours!). I have to say I am actually ready for the flight, because once we are boarded I feel like I will be able to breathe a little and maybe, just maybe get some sleep. After this post I probably won’t be able to update the blog for a while. I will be sure to keep writing so that I have lots to update you on when I finally have access to the internet. Again, thank you to everyone who is reading and following me on this journey. I promise to try my best to keep you up-to-date. Now to count down the hours until I am enjoying some 70 degree weather J

Some last minute thank-yous

I have to say thank you so much to so many people who have been there for me recently and for my whole life. First, I have been working at a local restaurant for the past 5 months. I got this job thinking it would be a good way to earn some extra money, and I could leave after a couple months and feel fine about it. During this short time I have developed some amazing relationships with some crazy people. You all are amazing, and will be missed so much. I can’t even begin to describe how much love I felt at my going away party. Particularly Tami, I know you were the instigator to many of the things that happened that night, and I don’t know how to express my thanks in a way that feels worthy. You are a wonderful human, mother and co-worker. THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to Liz and Val. You both have been there for me regardless of what crazy adventure I decide to come up with next. Your endless hours of support, advice, and laughter have gotten me through more than you know. I know I can always turn to you whenever I need, and with all the changes, moves and crazy relationships I have gone through over the past six years, you have always been there. I love you both more than you know, and I am so looking forward to seeing where your lives take you.

To my family. Kelsey was the first goodbye I had to endure in January. It was short and sweet (as all of them will be if I have my say), but it was harder than I thought it was going to be. Thank you for being my number one cheerleader, always positive and encouraging me to take those first scary steps towards something new. (p.s. you promised to not get married while I’m gone… don’t forget!!!). Coop- I am so glad we were able to spend some time together when we were both living in Tennessee. You surprise me every time I see you not only because I swear you are always an inch taller, but because you have grown up into an awesome person. Even though you are all grown up and married now, you will still be the annoying little brother that I adore, even though I will never actually say that to you. Thanks for making me laugh.

Mom and Dad. There are no words good enough to give you the thanks you deserve. When I told you I was majoring in Leisure Services, you didn’t laugh. When I told you I was going to move to Seattle in a couple weeks, you helped get me ready, and did the same thing when I told you I was moving to Tennessee a year later. I feel like I can throw anything at you and you will always be supportive. I am extremely grateful knowing that not everyone is as lucky as I am to have parents like you.

There are so many other people I am grateful for in my life. Those who have taken the time to grab a meal and listen to my hopes worries and concerns over the past couple of days, those who have been a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, those who have provided me with hours of music and movies for me while I am away. It all means so much to me, thank you.

Somehow this post sounds like I am leaving and never coming back… but it turns out it’s a good excuse to say things that I never say to your face, but want you to know. Really, its simple. I love you all.

My first letter

So, my mom apparently emailed a lot of my friends/family a couple weeks ago asking for letters that I can open throughout my Peace Corps service. I have a HUGE pile sitting in front of me right now, and I am overwhelmed with excitement and love for all of you who took the time to write something. I have no idea who sent the letters yet (since I am not allowed to open most of them for quite some time- yes mom, I do listen sometimes). BUT, I got excited about several and have pulled them out to open on the plane and for when I first get there. I did cheat (only a little bit) when I saw one letter from Beki and Mary, it said I could open it "at the start of my journey," which I feel started weeks ago :) Thought I would share part of it.

In beauty may I walk.
All day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.

Beautifully will i possess again.
Beautifully birds...
Beautifully joyful birds.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.
With dew about my feet may I walk.
With beauty may I walk.

With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.

-Navajo Prayer

Thank you for that Beki and Mary!!! I miss you both horribly! 

Final Packing List

Final Packing List:

Food:
-Jar of peanut butter (yes, I had to list this first. As it is probably my favorite thing I have packed. Completely unnecessary, but will make me happy)
-Luna Bars
-Seasonings
-Almonds

Electronics:
-Tablet (w/keyboard)
-External hard drive
-Kindle
-Extra flash drives
-Digital Camera SLR
-Small camera (have had it for 8 years, good to put in my pocket/won't be upset if it breaks)
-Extra memory cards
-Solar Charger
-USB adaptors

Clothes:
-Rain Coat
-Pants (hiking, professional, jean)
-Shirts (t-shirts, professional, casual)
-Tank tops
-Skirts
-Leggings
-Swimsuit
-Bandannas
-Work gloves
-Shorts
-Belt
-Sweater
-Socks/underwear

Shoes:
-Chacos
-Merrells
-2 casual shoes
-My running five fingers
-Flip flops (because I had extra space)

Camping Gear:
-Solo Tent
-Sleeping pad
-Sleeping bag
-REI Dinner set (pot, 4 bowls)
-ENO Hammock w/straps
-Pocket Knife
-Multi-use tool
-P-cord
-Lighters
-Headlamps (2)

Others:
-French Press
-Coffee
-Ziplock Baggies
-Nalgene
-Watch
-Travel Pillow
-Locks
-Duct Tape
-Full-sized bed sheets
-Sewing kit
-Playing Cards
-Lots of photos from home
-Journals
-Pens
-Colored pencils
-Notebooks/Paper/envelopes/stamps
-Seed packets

I really wanted to get it all to fit in my one large suit case, but could not get it to be under 50 lbs and fit everything I wanted to take. So, I am taking another smaller suit case that I will also check to hold the extra weight. Besides those, I am bringing my (new!) Osprey Kyte pack as a carry on along with my Mountain Smith day pack.

Special thank you to my mom, who has helped me in this week long process that I refused to do quickly, efficiently, or without complaint... the things mothers put up with...

The Basics

In one week I leave for Malawi, nicknamed the “Warm Heart of Africa.” I will be working in the environmental sector of Peace Corps, which, from what I can gather from various emails includes resource management, sustainable agriculture, reforestation projects, and anything in between. I will spend three months training in Kasungu which is two hours north of the capital, Lilongwe.  After training and (hopefully) officially swearing into the Peace Corps program, I will be assigned to a site which will most likely be very rural and isolated to work with locals on various projects and programs.

My hopes:

-To learn a new language

-To push myself outside my comfort zone

-To make a difference in someone’s life

-To explore Africa as much as possible

-To have my eyes opened to a completely different way of living

-To not get malaria

-To learn how to do my laundry by hand

I really hope that I will be able to use my previous experience working with nonprofit youth education for programs in Malawi. I would love to be a part some sort of youth outdoor environmental education program, as that is where I see myself going professionally in the future. It’s so funny thinking about what I want to do, knowing very little about what their actual needs are. Here in the United States there an increasing demand for these types of programs, but there may be completely different. Who knows? Just going with the flow is what Peace Corps is all about right?