What to expect?

- Definitely not looking forward to leaving all my friends and family behind...and since we all know I’m the biggest cry baby in the world...waterworks are inevitable

+ I get to LIVE in Africa...for 27 months. I’d say that’s pretty BA

- I’m going to miss the plethora of delicious American cuisine (i.e Bento, Applebees, Cheesecake Factory, Broadway Pizza, CHIC FIL A, Publix subs, Kilwins..the list goes on and on).

+ Eating new food and experiencing a new culture :)

- I’ll miss my dog.

+I’ll be fluent in French by the time I get back...hopefully.

- BIG BUGS...and I mean BIG

+ Hopefully I will make a difference in someone’s life.

- I will be missing running water, a hot shower, reliable & working electricity, my comfy bed, and
driving! I’ll survive...but I’ll miss it.

+ I get to climb Mt. Cameroon...it’s an active volcano. I love hiking..and I don’t get to do it much so I’m really looking forward to it.

- I’ll miss the beach...and laying out by the pool. However, Cameroon does have beaches...but depending where I am located I won't be able to go as often as I can here.

+ I get to meet new people, some who will become my support system and family during the next 27 months.

- I’m missing birthdays and my favorite holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas!!)

+ I’ll be killing animals with my bear hands for dinner. To some that might be a minus...but I’m actually really excited about it. If people in the country can do it...so can I!

- It’s going to be HOT...like over 100 degrees hot. And you think Florida is bad?

+ Limited technology. I think I’m really going to enjoy the simple life.

+ The zoo is in my backyard.

- The zoo is in my backyard.

+ No fashion foe-pas. It’s not a fashion show out in the bush. I don’t have to care if I match or not :)


- I'll miss the next 3 football seasons :(

+ SOCCER! Cameroonians LOVE their futbol!

- No sweat tea

+Facing the many challenges of living in a foreign country...on my own. Hope I’m not a deer in headlights!

That’s really all I can think of for now. Like everything else in my life, I’m pretty optimistic about my experience in the Peace Corps. My mind is open to all things new and I can’t wait to get started!

One Month (Un Mois)

Today marks the one month countdown for departure to Cameroon. My anxiety is slowly building as my time here in the States is dwindling. The only thing on my mind is packing, packing, packing, brush up on my french (which is much needed)...and more packing. What to pack? What to buy? Do I have enough of this? What if I forget something that I can't live without? TOO MUCH! I have SO much to do in this short amount of time...and all I have to say about that is..it's crunch time baby!!

Time to start printing pictures, loading as much music/movies on my external hard drive as possible, sorting through and organizing that past 8 years of my life (so my parents aren't stuck with a bunch of junk), and finishing off my checklist--which I've been able to accomplish about 80% of!

My fellow PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) and I have describe how we are feeling at this very moment: excited, nervous, scared, exhilarated, anxious, ecstatic, jittery, antsy, unpacked, & home sick already!

And that pretty much sums it up :) Until next time...