2001
June 6th - Countdown 11 days
Well, I'm slowly but surely getting my web page how I want it to be...i just think it will be that much easier to update when I'm in Bulgaria. I've spent the past few days packing and such. I bought new hiking boots and now I have to try and break them in - ouch!! I have also been rearranging stuff in my carry-on, and trying to decide how big of a purse I can take on in addition to my bag. I know it's sneaky, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If I'm under the correct assumption I have to pack for almost a week or so in my carry-on because my other bags will be sent straight to my host family. (if I'm wrong---please tell me!!!!) I also have to fit my laptop and printer in there somewhere. Yes, I decided to bring the printer, and only because Erics' parents bought me a portable printer for graduation! Thanks so much guys - you are the greatest!!! I also received my confirmation thingy for the flight to D.C. (finally-I was getting worried because I booked it a month ago). Things are slowly wrapping themselves up. My biggest problem is that I can't fall asleep anymore. There are so many thoughts running through my head that I can't concentrate on one, or ignore them all. My mom says that it will get worse the closer d-day comes! I'm sure she's right. I've never slept the night before I leave for a trip overseas. Well, I should get back to work now.
June 1st - Countdown 16 days:
AAAHHHH!!! I'm not ready. There is so much to do. I emailed David at the country desk yesterday to find out about my passport and plane tickets. No answer. Am I surprised? No. Anyway, I'm trying to decide if I'm going to take my printer or not...one of the TEFL volunteers over there said he brought his and it was a good idea. I would like to bring it but the only problem is that it takes up almost all of my second check-in bag, and I'm not really sure if I want to check it. We'll see about that.
May 31st:
Hmm, like I said before, I found someone else from AZ who is leaving at the same time, and yesterday she emailed me something along the lines of how glad she was to be done packing. DONE??? I've bearly started! So yesterday after work I got cracking. I bought a sleeping bag, and then attempted to figure out how to attach it to my backpack. It was quite an experience. I'm sure my mom would have loved to see it but unfortunately she was at work. She was joking that she was going to drop me off about 5 miles away from home with all of my luggage and make me walk back - she claims this is for my own good. We'll see about that. I got the backpacking pack full and it is so incredibly heavy. I hope I'm not over my weight limit already. I have to go to storage to get my other check-in bag...I'm still trying to figure out what goes in there. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to get away with only having my pack...which is how I wanted it. Thanks to one of the letters in the welcome book I'm now trying to decide if I want to bring my printer. Maybe I'll just have my dad bring it with him - he's planning on coming out for the swearing in ceremony - and I plan on having him bring lots of books and stuff!!! Probably anything I can't fit in my bags, and things I don't think about ahead of time but decide I want when I get there. But he doesn't know all of this yet! :) Well, I should get going now...who knows, maybe I'll add more later tonight!
May 30th:
Well, I finally got my dental clearance. 2 down, one more to go. This has got to be the most frustrating part of PC. Not ever having my calls returned so I know what's going on!!! Oh well, at least the dental and medical is done. I also found out today that there is another girl from Arizona going to Bulgaria at the same time. Check out her web page here
May 29th:
I sat down today to try and get this site up and running before I leave. There just seems to be so much to do, and somehow I find solace in coding HTML - how strange is that? Well, I've been going through all my emails from volunteers leaving the same time as myself, as well as those who are currently serving. I must admit that I am overwhelmed. I don't know how I'm going to be ready. I'm beginning to regret taking the early flight to D.C. for staging. I have a sinking feeling that those extra few hours are precious. I'm starting to become sad about leaving my family and my boyfriend. I have been okay with all of this during the entire application/invitation process, but now, as my departure date is a daily countdown I'm beginning to realize just how much I love these people. Not that I'm changing my mind, but they do mean a lot. Packing in itself is enough to keep my mind off of that! How in the world did I ever think I would be able to fit everything I needed/wanted for 2 years into my backpacking pack??? As much as I don't want to, I may have to utilize my full "check-in" amount of 102lbs. and 107". I don't want to check 2 bags but I don't see how I can fit it all in one! Oh well, trying to do it has been a blast - I've never laughed so much in my life. Well, I guess I should go now, but check back later for new additions to the journal as the days quickly pass.
Countdown: 18 days