24 Days

Aloha! I am back from Hawaii and had a fantastic time. I had the opportunity to hike, snorkel, swim with dolphins, deep sea fish (though we didn’t even have a bite), and lay on the beach (my favorite)! It was wonderful to see my childhood friend who lives there. She knew the ins and outs of the island, and I was able to do activities that I would not have done otherwise. Definitely the best way to vacation. I’ll be in a similar position in about a year: knowing the ins and outs of an exotic island while providing a free place to stay, hint hint. 

 









In family news, my brother and sister-in-law moved to Amsterdam yesterday. We were able to get together two times in the last week and a half before they left. It was a coincidence that both my brother and I chose to move to different countries within weeks of each other, and my mom jokingly referred to it as a mass exodus. We went through a somewhat similar process of moving and it was great to compare our situations. I’m very excited for them and can’t wait to visit.

In Peace Corps news, I received flight information as well as an outline of what my life with be like for the next several months.

February 10
Flight to Philadelphia
12:00pm-7:00pm—staging (orientation)

February 11
Check out of hotel at 2:00am and drive to JFK airport
Flight to Johannesburg

February 12
Arrive in Jo’burg (15 hours later…)
Flight to Antananarivo, Madagascar

February 13-14
Two day “survival training” and overview
Meet and move in with host family

February 15-April 22
Training
8:00 – 12:00 Class (Malagasy language, technical sessions)
12:00 – 2:00 Lunch Break
2:00 – 5:00 Class (language, cross-culture, and technical sessions)

April 23
Swearing-in ceremony (officially become a volunteer and service begins)

Ever since day 50 or so in my countdown, the days have flown by! I feel like I have so much left to do and I’m can’t wait for all this preparation to be over with. I’ll breathe a sigh of relief once I board the plane because even if I forgot to do something, it won’t matter anymore. I’m almost done shopping for things to pack except for a few miscellaneous items such as luggage locks or rechargeable batteries. I tend to reorganize my gear at least once a week which may be my version of a nervous twitch. I’ve also become addicted to selling my unnecessary items on Craigslist. It’s so exciting when someone emails you actually interested in your unwanted junk! In two weeks, I will begin packing what's left of my stuff to move back to Minnesota with my parents. Time sure flies!