...8 hours from departure...

Well, I think it's begun to hit me! I've tried to hang out with family & friends the past few days and I can't tell you how much it means to me that I've gotten to see SO many of the people I love :) Thank you all SO much for supporting me in this adventure, I know it's going to be great for me and I can't wait to share it with you.

It is 11:10pm and I'm leaving in just under eight hours!!! My mom is taking me to the airport and we're picking up Alison (the amazing & incredible girl that I am sharing this journey with) at 4:45am!! I suppose I better get to bed here soon...it's a good thing I'm pretty well packed!!

We get into Atlanta around 10am and then we don't leave until 3pm for Johannesburg, so I'm sure I'll update a little on here on how the first (and shorter) leg of the flight went :)

Ahh, off to bed!!! However I highly doubt I'll be able to get much sleep!!

Hello Wheatridge!!!

So this entry is for my dad's eighth grade science students at Wheatridge Middle School in the Gardner-Edgerton school district...

Hello all you young and eager to learn students!!! I hope my dad hasn't given you too much homework already since coming back to school from winter break. I want to let you know that I am going to try and answer ALL of your questions you send my way, and we're really hoping that while I'm in South Africa we can set up a video chat with your class through a website called Skype. I look forward to hearing from all of you...so start thinking of those questions!!!

Love you dad!!!

Stress Overload!!!

Well, this weekend I went to Denver, Colorado (for those of you that don't know, I'm planning to move out there after graduation). A group of us gals looked at different hospitals and began to realize that nursing school is coming to an end soon and that we'll be in the real world soon. I began to feel overwhelmed with the thoughts of graduating, passing boards, finding a job, moving to another state, etc...

So I have been a little stressed after getting home and realizing all the things that need to be done. I had a talk with my mom & dad and realized that I just need to have faith that everything will work out. I have this amazing opportunity that is just TEN DAYS away!!! I hope to get a lot done in these next ten days so that I can truly be 100% present while I'm in South Africa. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I absolutely refuse to let the craziness of my life get in the way it :)

I decided to start packing tonight, and my room is a disaster. But I don't care, because I know starting a little early is going to be what saves me come next Thursday night (the night before I leave)!!!!

Here's a picture of my room...and you can't even see all the stuff on my bed!!!

Anyways, I'll keep everyone updated on my stress level over the next few days. My goal is to have a lot of my course work done before I leave so I'm thinking a day or two in the library will do me some good!!!

Three Weeks Away!!!

It's getting closer!! I think it's starting to become a bit more real...

I bought a little "South Africa for Travelers" book yesterday at Half Price Books, and I'm realizing there is SO much that I want to do!! Here are a couple of pictures of the places I would like to see...

Kimberley's Big Hole
The city of Kimberley is located southwest of Johannesburg and is home to the largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole. It was dug between 1871 and 1914 in an effort to discover diamonds.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park
The eastern part of Free State is filled with sandstone cliffs, streams, and green hills. Although there isn't as much wildlife, the landscape is what visitors truly come to see.

These are just two sites that I hope to see. I've already discovered that there's more that I want to see than I at first thought! Hopefully I'll get to cover at least half of them!!!

Happy 2009!!!

Well, I'm leaving in just 26 days!!! I'm finally beginning to think about all the things I need to go before I leave. It's actually beginning to feel a little bit real. Let's just say I'll be glad to get out of this cold Kansas City weather...

I had a wonderful Christmas and even got a couple of things for my trip. I got a new camera that'll be super handy because it'll tuck in whatever pocket I have!! (For those of you that don't know, I have my "big camera" that the photographer in me LOVES, but I'm not set on whether I'm taking it with me quite yet!) I got everything from sheets to towels, and a super cute pouch too that keeps my passport...oh and some $$$$

I've already begun to compile a list of people I need to thank for all of their support. I'm getting incredibly excited, and I can't wait to share my stories with you!!!