Counting down!

I'm speechless. And terrified. And excited! Last night I had a conference call with my program manager and several of the other volunteers. They gave us pointers and told us a little about what to expect. Something tells me that that still won't be enough to prepare me for the awesome experience that I'm about to have!

Laura, my program manager (stationed in upstate New York), just got back from Kilimanjaro where she was checking out the program before we went. She got to see our new digs...which are apparently really NEW digs. They were just built and we will be the first people staying in them. The pictures here are pictures of our home base -- the building, the gardens, and the inside. You can see Mount Kilimanjaro from our front porch!!! I can't wait to actually see it! I'll send pictures of the rest once I'm there if I can!

As it turns out, the program that I've been placed with is also brand new. I'll be the first volunteer testing it out -- she told me not to expect a lot of structure. That will be good for me, I think, getting something secured and organized. Since I'll be the first, I think I'll also be able to really see changes that I make, even day-to-day. I'm also quite apprehensive about this placement. I know it will be extremely challenging and probably even more rewarding.

Laura told us the weather has been interesting lately. It almost never rains in January, but there have been a few showers. We were advised that we wouldn't need rainboots, but I've been checking the weather and there's supposed to be spots of rain all week long. I'm pretty sure my rainboots are going to be making the trek with me -- even if only needed occasionally!

On the call we were also told that we couldn't bring any gifts. I'm going to have to get some more details around this because if you know me, I'm a gift giving person. I love to share things about myself and give people things that I know they will appreciated. It's going to be so difficult to not give them material items. For those of you that have shared things with me already, I plan on bringing them -- the books as resources for the kids, the toiletries perhaps as gifts for the women learning English, and the sunflower seeds just to share with them as a piece of my home.

I've got so much to do and so little time to do it in...I'm running errands this weekend and buying the last minute essentials...SIX MORE DAYS!!!!

Meeting everyone!

We are starting our first round of introductions via email. Looks like we have 14 or so volunteers from all over the US and some from the UK. Only a few have responded thus far, but it looks like I'll be on the same plane with at least two of the people coming from the US -- Jes from Pennsylvania and Sam from North Carolina. I thought it might be interesting for share my responses to some of the questions as they tell a little bit about why I'm embarking on this adventure and how I'm feeling as the day quickly approaches for my departure.

What is your favorite food?
I like almost any and all foods. I became a lover of sushi in college and haven't looked back since. I am a great cook of Italian food from my study abroad there. I like all sorts of cuisines - ethiopian, greek, thai, mexican, etc. I wish I knew how to cook more ethnic cuisines -- hopefully some day I'll learn. I've heard from multiple people the samosas in Tanzania are to die for, so I'm looking forward to those!

Any other interesting or funny facts about yourself (favorite book/movie/color/sport etc…)
My claim to fame is that I've been to 49 of the 50 states. I think I'm going to have to make a special trip to North Dakota to knock that last one out...My favorite book is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I'm currently enjoying Microtrends which will likely make the journey to Africa with me.

What is your favorite city/country to travel to?
While I have been to most of the states, I haven't done a lot of international travel. Within the states, Alaska is by far the most beautiful place. I've only been to southeast Alaska -- it was gorgeous and I hear the rest of the state is even more spectacular! In the continental US, it's definitely Glacier National Park in Montana. As for international, I recently spent a bit of time in Dublin and really enjoyed the city and the Irish culture. My most favorite place so far, though, has to be Siena, Italy, and Santorini in Greece. I studied in Italy for 3 months learning the language (which I'm terrible at), art and culture. I got to travel a lot around the country and even did a wine-tasting tour through Tuscany. Since then I've been a terrible wine snob. Santorini is simply gorgeous and the people/culture are incredible.

What moved you to volunteer with CCS? What areas are you interested in working in?
I've always wanted to volunteer in Africa and CCS gave me a lot of flexibility in timing, location, and duration, while seeming to have a lot of stability as well. I've been placed at UWAWAYAKI -- a women's group of widows and orphans that are living with HIV/AIDS. I'm really excited to do something that will really impact the life of someone else in whatever capacity they put me to work in!

What are you most looking forward to?
I'm looking forward to everything -- the people, the culture, the food, the extreme change from my everyday life. It will be an experience that I know I will cherish forever and I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity.

What are you least looking forward to?
I don't know if there is anything I'm not looking forward to. I don't even mind the long trip over -- I'll probably be singing a different tune when I'm halfway through, but for now, I'm just excited!

My first twinge of sadness...

I got my first bit of sadness yesterday. Three weeks is pretty long to be gone, but I travel so much for work I am not that nervous about being gone for three weeks.

I coach 11-year-old basketball in Arlington (one of the DC suburbs) and I've been doing it since October of 2007. My team is a great group of girls that have so vastly improved I can't even believe it's the same team I started with four months ago! Coaching these girls has been one of the best things I've done in the city since I got here four years ago. Last night, I had to let the girls know that this weekend would be my last weekend with them. I didn't really think they would think anything of it, but they all seemed a little bummed. I knew I was sad to leave them for their end of season play, but I never realized they might be too!

I still have to pinch myself daily - well, almost hourly - to remind myself about the incredible adventure I'm about to have, but I still am a little saddened leaving my girls. They'll do wonderful in end of season play I know, and I'll certainly keep tabs on them!

Job Change

I can't believe it is only 9 days until I leave. I'm so excited and nervous! Everyone is great at keeping me more excited, less nervous! I've got some wonderful ideas on gifts to bring, from recipes to books to cosmetics. The willingness of my friends and family to share their lives is incredible and just the tip of the iceberg of the generosity of the people in my life.

I got a new job placement today. I think they had enough volunteers at Jipe Moyo, so they've moved me over to UWAWAYAKI. While they don't have an easy blog to reference, I'll share a little about the group. The group has 38 members -- all of whom are widows and orphans with HIV/AIDS. It's very similar to the other group, although with this one, I will have some interaction with the children in the area. I will primarily be responsible for helping the women maintain one of their three business, Batik Project, Piggery Project, Chicken Project, which are their only sources of income; teaching the children English, and/or providing HIV/AIDS education to both the women and the children.

I'm equally as excited about this post, perhaps more so because of the flexibility and wide range of activities I will be assisting in! This is truly going to be an amazing experience -- I have to keep reminding myself it's actually happening!!