I’m leaving in two days. Two days! Can you believe it?
I started packing yesterday, and it was way more stressful than I had anticipated. I want to pack everything, because if I forget or run out of something I can’t just run to the store to get some more. On the other hand, I don’t want to be weighed down by a lot of crap I don’t need, plus I plan on bringing a lot of new things back. Also, I had way more appropriate clothing than I was aware, and all those things they tell you to bring for a first aid kit – heavy!
I’m pretty uncomfortable about the money situation.. We were told to bring $1,500-1,800, and that the only reliable form of money there is cash. So that’s right folks, in the coming days I’ll be walking around wearing a money belt bursting with cold hard cash. Yikes!
We did a secret santa exchange at my office last week, and I got a wonderful gift. My co-worker Cynthia is an expert sew-ist, and made me the most excellent scrapbook I have ever seen. She embroidered “Madeline’s Journeys” under the red material, sewed the elephant (my favorite!) and attached the African beads. I love it!
And for any of you who may be interested in doing a similar trip someday, here is a list of all the documents I packed: 6 passport/visa photos, pictures of my family and friends with my address on the back (I’ve been told that if you leave them people will write to you), my proof of Yellow Fever immunization, a summary of education and experience, official transcript, and resume (for my Permit once I arrive), several photocopies of my passport and visa, a copy of my original prescriptions for Malaria and the like, my confirmation of enrollment in the program, travel contact information (provided by CCS), and my flight itinerary. I am also bringing some maps I copied from a travel book, and a typed copy of the notes I took from the book, plus some useful Swahili phrases I looked up.
2 days!!!
I started packing yesterday, and it was way more stressful than I had anticipated. I want to pack everything, because if I forget or run out of something I can’t just run to the store to get some more. On the other hand, I don’t want to be weighed down by a lot of crap I don’t need, plus I plan on bringing a lot of new things back. Also, I had way more appropriate clothing than I was aware, and all those things they tell you to bring for a first aid kit – heavy!
I’m pretty uncomfortable about the money situation.. We were told to bring $1,500-1,800, and that the only reliable form of money there is cash. So that’s right folks, in the coming days I’ll be walking around wearing a money belt bursting with cold hard cash. Yikes!
We did a secret santa exchange at my office last week, and I got a wonderful gift. My co-worker Cynthia is an expert sew-ist, and made me the most excellent scrapbook I have ever seen. She embroidered “Madeline’s Journeys” under the red material, sewed the elephant (my favorite!) and attached the African beads. I love it!
And for any of you who may be interested in doing a similar trip someday, here is a list of all the documents I packed: 6 passport/visa photos, pictures of my family and friends with my address on the back (I’ve been told that if you leave them people will write to you), my proof of Yellow Fever immunization, a summary of education and experience, official transcript, and resume (for my Permit once I arrive), several photocopies of my passport and visa, a copy of my original prescriptions for Malaria and the like, my confirmation of enrollment in the program, travel contact information (provided by CCS), and my flight itinerary. I am also bringing some maps I copied from a travel book, and a typed copy of the notes I took from the book, plus some useful Swahili phrases I looked up.
2 days!!!
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