Until We Meet Again

As I run around attempting to get things in order, I have had a lot of time to reflect on where my life is and where it is going. As nervous and uncertain as I am about my new adventure I am also thankful. Thankful for the support of my friends and family in helping me get to this point.

Thank you for...

*Being my sounding board
*Being my mentor/counselor
*Knowing what foods I do/do not like (this is especially challenging)
*Making me try new things
*Talking me down
*Making me a better person
*Feeding me
*Traveling with me
*Snowsporting with me
*Making me laugh
*Letting me give you silly nicknames
*Being in my life

I head to training on Sunday in Philadelphia. It will be a whirlwind of get-to-know-you games and vaccination fun! You can reach me on my cell until Tuesday when I will let go of my beloved 347 number. After arriving in Johannesburg, my group will take a three hour bus ride to the Limpopo Province, where I will train for two months while living with a host family. I have no idea what my level of phone/computer access will be like during this time. I will send an e-mail as soon as I can.

I have tried to do some background reading on the history of South Africa and learn about the political, social and health climate in the country, but I have been more consumed with packing and other preparations. I have loaded up my Kindle and I guess on my long journey I will finally have plenty of time to catch up on my recommended reading. If you're curious about where I am going, check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpopo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa

Please forgive me in advance if I don't keep up with e-mails and important dates at first. This should only be a temporary blip as I have a wonderful Betty White calendar to help me count down the days of 2011. I would like to end each post with a quote or insight. Today, I will leave you with three. Until we meet again...

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face — You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Traveler, there is no path paths are made by walking."
Antonio Machado