23 Days!

It's been awhile since I posted about my trip. It has been a flurry of calendar markings and check writing and appointment making, and snow. I thought that maybe this year I would appreciate the snow more since I won't be here to witness all of it, but I find myself thinking that maybe the snow would be a lot nicer to me if it knew I was planning on leaving it for better weather soon. Maybe send me some flowers or something.

My leave date has been cemented and couldn't come soon enough- January 13th at 5:54pm, from Charlotte International Airport. I have one stop in Washington, D.C. before flying into Doha International Airport in Qatar for the night, and leave the next morning for Dar Es Salaam. Upon arriving I will be issued a volunteer visa and be picked up by John Mashaka's fiance, Perpetua, and a few days later I will be visiting the school I will be working at, and perhaps moving to a temporary residence there.

I love talking about the details of my trip, but the closer it gets the more I feel overwhelmed and anxious, not unlike the feelings I had before leaving for college (college being albeit much colder and less malaria-infested). My family are starting to show signs of being stressed as well, and I know it's out of concern for my safety. I'm not nervous about being safe. I'm more nervous about getting there and not knowing what to do, and being unsure of what steps come next. The fear of being idle, not the fear of failing, drives me to keep my enthusiasm about the trip and avoid the condemnations of the naysayers.

After Christmas I will start packing my suitcase and carry-on bag (Pun time!! What do vultures take while traveling? Carrion!!); I am taking 3 books with me, only because ] any more than that will just be unruly. Also will be taking a few deflated soccer balls and some frisbees to give the kids there. Packing is one of my favorite things to do in preparation for a trip; when I went to Hawaii it took me two weeks to pack.

I didn't end up wearing half of the clothes I packed then, but this time I will be packing more iodine tablets and batteries than clothes. A few white t-shirts and jeans will be my wardrobe for most of my trip, aside from what clothes I might get at the markets that everyone tells me are so eccentric.

To wrap this up since now I'm just babbling in excitement, I will probably post more after Christmas, when I get to start packing and also go get my shots.

Kwa Heri, everyone!