A Week?

I'm going to Africa in a week. A WEEK. I'm going to keep repeating this information to myself until it starts to feel real. Because it still doesn't feel like it's actually going to happen.

I got my final information packet in the mail last week, which I thought would prepare me. I have a visa and plane tickets now. I have a list of all of the other students going on the program. I have an address and a cell phone number for when I get there. I have the proper suitcases and I'm building my packing list. In 8 days I'll be on a plane to a place I've only imagined as a part of a large group of strangers (other students from across the U.S.).

While I'm on the subject of the other students from the U.S., I went over the list when I got it to see the names and home colleges of the other students on the trip. There are lots of people going to the university I'll be attending, which is reassuring. On the other hand, the other students are mostly from really good east coast schools, like Yale and Middlebury. Most of them also have several from their schools, whereas I'm the only student from my lovely midwestern college that will even be studying in the country while I'm there, much less at my school. But that's part of the excitement of the trip, getting to face the unknown and meet new people. I just hope I have the guts to do that when the time comes.

Now, off to say goodbyes, pack, and, oh yeah, fit in my last 2 road trips of the summer, bringing my last minute domestic travels up to five. Oh, the rushed, terrified, excitement.

She's making a list, checking it twice...

With just under a month before I leave, my list of things to do to should be very long and detailed, but I don't even know where to begin to make it. There are the things I need to shop for, the details I need to arrange, the people I need to contact, and the actual packing I need to do.

On shopping: It seems like I would need to make a lot of purchases, but I keep thinking I'll just need things there that I already have because I need them here. I know I need to get more shirts with no words on them so my appearance doesn't scream tourist. I also need to buy an electric converter/adaptor and either buy or find a money belt. Other than that and a sleeping bag, though, I think I should have everything.

On arranging details and contacting people: It would be really nice to have my passport and visa in hand but, since I have to wait on that, I suppose I'll have to be patient. In the meantime, I need to mail a number of forms to Mizzou, register for my capstone, and set up a mass e-mail list to tell people about things that happen. Again, I feel like there should be more for me to be doing here, but since I don't have any information about where I'll be when I get there or anything, there isn't a whole lot I can do.

Most importantly, on the actual packing: I have no idea how I'm going to fit all the things I need for 5 months into one duffle bag. I need to take a camping backpack and sleeping bag, all my clothes and linens for 5 months, toiletries, paperwork, school stuff, and entertainment stuff. And, to make matters worse, I'm still waiting for my bag to arrive so I can start loading it.

One month and many million complications and little tasks to go.