Flight booked

After all the waiting PC puts applicants through, it is amazing the amount of information they bombard you with once you are accepted and preparing for departure. Every email or package I get is filled with pages of MORE info regarding procedures, schedules, insurance, immunizations-- stuff I rarely concern myself with here in the US. If nothing more, it is comforting to know that I will be serving with an organization that clearly has plans to cover all possible scenarios.

I booked my plane ticket this morning for staging. My staging will be held in Philadelphia from November 7-9. Staging will allow us trainees to meet and get to know one another (maybe have a few cocktails to celebrate my birthday on the 8th:), as well as cover as much logistical information as possible before leaving the states. Then on the 9th, we will fly from NY to Senegal to Johannesburg to Windhoek, Namibia, and finally make our way to Omaruru, just north of Windhoek, where we will spend our first 8 weeks in training.

Finally having dates of departure and to-do lists in front of me makes this whole experience come alive. I have 24 days left to spend with my family and friends, and to try and figure out how I could possibly pack appropriately to move to Africa for two years. It seems a near impossible task. Any words of advice would be appreciated.