Here in the Mother Land

So everyone, I'm safe, don't worry. It is so awesome here I couldn't even describe it!

Send me letters, send me pictures--please-- and send me footballs, baseballs, mits, whatever!!
I love you all and I miss you tons. It is great I promise. Lots of funny stories and great people to share with you. Ohh and I'm going to be speaking Bemba and I will most likely be in the Central, Northern, or Luapula Provinces.

Can't talk much, I'm in a rush.

Its all coming down to the last minute

I am currently right on track to be behind in everything. I have roughly 10 hours to go--8pm to 6am when I have to be at the airport. I am packed, kinda. Really its more like things are near the bags but not quite in them.
I have a sneaking suspicion that I will not be sleeping tonight, and not because I'm nervous--far from it--but just because I need 45 minute mental breaks after I put each item into a place in the bags. Apparently I'm a head trauma patient. I was actually just standing looking at my bed covered in stuff for a solid couple of minutes, just looking, like I was brain dead and nothing that I was seeing computed. I wonder if you can pay someone to pack for you? I would definitely have paid for that. Other than repeating what I'm doing leaving the country and where Zambia is actually (thank you to Monica, Alison and Molly for the fabuloso' demonstrations with your hands) packing is the most annoying part of all of this. Seriously, 80 lbs, two bags, 107 total inches of L-W-H, for two years, divided and separated accordingly to needs during training and things for my actual site, plus the carry on that has to everything you need for a few days in the event that my luggage gets lost and the fact that we are over nighting in Johannesburg. Like I have some clue what needs to go where.
Once that's out of the way the frantic calling and talking and goodbyes that I didn't get in last night are on the docket. Did I mention that any weight I lost over the past four months of compulsive working out have reappeared to my horror. I guess that's what happens when you eat everything that you see. Put it on to take it off. But on the upside my fortune cookie tonight told me that " An admirer finds you charming." Well that's wonderful, first off someone finally finds me and on top of that thinks I'm charming?! And I'm leaving! Why now? I should have waited to open it until I got to Zambia.
Well that wraps up the 45 minute mental break. Back the to rail road for me. The rail road is obviously a euphemism for my life the train wreck.

A really big step for me

Today marked a really big day for me. It was the day that I let my friends come and take clothes from me. I don't mean like a couple things either. I mean everything. They had pretty much free rein on anything that they had been coveting. Things like my Enzo shoes, super sweet jean jacket, most of my sweaters, and four pairs of jeans--two of which were Lucky's.

This was all under the auspice that it was on a long loan but I have a feeling that I won't be seeing at least half of it again. Many of you are aware of my extensive collection of clothes and what that means. But for me it makes me feel legit, like I'm serious about this, so serious that I'm giving away some of my most favorite things. And I feel good. I'm really ok about it. I see it as less stuff that I have to pack and clean. A major attitude improvement.

I have officially streamlined my life, well at least I'm closer to being streamlined. Gold Star for me.

My new address in Zambia

My address for the next few months while I'm in training is as follows

(Name of Trainee)/PCT - Thats pretty self-explanatory I think
PEACE CORPS - The cap's are for dramatic effect
P.O. BOX 21527 - I'm sure its a very large box, in case you were thinking of sending me a solar powered air conditioning unit
Kitwe, Zambia - That's the city I'll be in for training and it is about 125 miles north of the capitol city Lusaka.

So there you have it folks, no excuses now. I expect to hear from at least a quarter of you-- I'll settle for two, parents not included.

Ohh and someone actually said, "Yeah, I heard you were doing the Peace Corps or whatever. Your going to Zambodia right?" Not kidding at all. Zambodia. A little known country right off the coast of Neverland. Idiots.

Two weeks

This is getting really serious. I have two weeks. Guess how much stuff I still need to get? If you guessed all of it, your the closest. I ordered my super sweet sleeping bag on Friday so that got me a little closer. When I pick that up I'll grab my sleeping pad and some other misc. stuff making me feel somewhat better. Moose Jaw is 10 percent off which helps me out since I am infact "balling on a budget."

The only reason I am freaking out at all right now is because everything I own is in utter disarray. My space is one mess after another. It doesn't help that I'm constantly not at home because I am working or visiting people. I can't leave a complete mess for my family. A small mess maybe, but this is outside that realm. I'm still looking for pictures to take with me a family and friends and then I actually have to have them printed.

Ahh whoo...

20 more days

I have less than three weeks to completely put everything together. A bit intimidating but I think that I have a handle on it. I'm starting today. First, I guess I should clean my room and then maybe I can work. It's just all very exciting!

I had an awesome New Year and week before with plenty of festivities. Pictures sure to come.

Back to the grind....