Countdown.

In less than two weeks I will be on my way to a week of orientation with my fellow SALTers, all preparing for a year long life changing experience somewhere in the world. I guess I'm finally starting to feel a little nervous...but I know the reality of living in Chad for a year will not hit me until about three months in. That's just how it goes I guess.

I've been spending my summer soaking up time with friends and family and of course preparing for this trip. What have I done so far?

* unsuccessfully looked for ANY job that was willing to hire me for only 2
months. I even took a literacy test. I didn't get the job.

* Visited the Eye Doctor, Dentist, and Family Doctor all to attest to the fact
that I am in good health and able to spend a year in Africa.

* Visited the travel clinic for my yellow fever, typhoid fever, and meningitis vaccines. Yay!

* Picked up my 370 Doxycycline from the pharmacy...at which point, after looking at my overloaded bag of pills, the pharmacist asked, "where are you going and for how long!?!?" BRING IT MALARIA.

* Cut 12 inches off of my hair and donated it to locks of love...it's too hot in Chad for long hair.

* Submitted my visa application...only to have it returned a week later reading "undeliverable as addressed." Apparently the Chadian embassy moved back in 2009 and decided not to tell anybody. They didn't even update their address on the bottom of their CURRENT visa application form.

* Re-mailed my visa application form.

* Fundraised $2,310 of the $4,450 I need.

What do I still need to do?

* Receive a Chadian visa before I leave for Akron on August 12th.

* Fill out the rest of my stacks of paperwork for MCC...including forms concerning what to do in the event of my death. Comforting.

* Fundraise at least $1000 more. After that I can make up the rest. It's not too late to donate! ;)

* Call Brigid Hogue to get some tips on living in Africa :)

* Say goodbye to friends

* Pack

Naturally (and not surprisingly)I haven't started packing yet. Actually I have a lot of years-supply-of shopping to do beforehand for things that can't be purchased in Chad. I hope my bottles of contact lense solution and DEET don't take up too much weight in my ONE 50lbs suitcase I am allowed :)

Thanks so much to everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging during this process. To those of you who donated financially, I am so incredibly grateful and blessed by your support. And to everyone who I know is praying for this transition and this coming year, THANK YOU!

Peace.