Staging

Here I am at staging... yes I am finally here. Today I will really begin down my Peace Corps path. It has been difficult to get here, or should I say difficult to leave. When I think about 2 years I get a little nauseous. A lot can change in two years. I would like to think that all that will change will be for the better but I am realistic and realize that just can't happen.

It was difficult to leave my friends, to walk away knowing that there are some of them I might never see again because two years will prove to much. Others will be with me forever, and knowing that makes leaving a little easier. But there are still some I wish to hold on to, not wanting to let them go because I am not sure if we have bonded sufficiently to hold us through the two years I will be gone. I can't dwell on this because it will make me crazy, what will be will be and those I am meant to keep will be kept.

Now on a lighter note... I am a horrible packer. I thought I was OK that I could meet the weight requirements. Well I have two bags one 29lbs.... grossly under weight and one 84lbs.... grossly over weight. Now I must weigh the options:

A. repack hoping to even then out still knowing that one or both could end up over the 50lbs regulation weight
B. say screw it, take them the way I have them and pay for my packing stupidity.

Two very tricky possibilities.

Where exactly is Turkmenistan?

I have my ticket...

I now have a ticket... it is not exactly a golden ticket but it is a ticket none the less. Having a ticket makes everything so much more final... I really am leaving. I will be gone for 27 month. That is a long time. When I come back one of my sisters will be married, one will be driving, my little brother may not remember my name, my bestfriend will be married and life in California will go one with out me. So much can change in that amount of time.

I am trying to prepare myself for my adventrue but how can I prepare for something so different from what I know?

I am however mentally preparing for the following:
-Pooping in a hole in the ground (glamorious I know)
-Eating unidentifiable substances (hopefully of a vegitarian nature)
-Being sick all the time (Please no parasites)
-Not speaking the language (Please let me be a fast learner)

There is so much that I am not prepared for... things that I can't even imagine till I get there. So I am expectantly waiting to leave, waiting to see what the future will bring and if I can handle it. I think I can and I hope I'm right.