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.