74+ Pounds Later...

I am packed. Am I ready? That I don't know about. But I know I will be come 5:45 am tomorrow morning. When thoughts and emotions are overwhelming, lists are always helpful, so:

Things I'm Excited About:

- Watching the World Cup in Africa

- Equatorial Stars

- Chapati (A mix between a tortilla and a crepe?? delicious!)

- Becoming proficient in Kiswahili

- The Indian Ocean and its beaches

- Being outside at least 12 hours a day, every day

- For monkeys to replace squirrels

- Seeing first hand or actually doing a lot of things that I've studied in school like conducting a health needs assessment, training HIV/AIDS peer educators, being a part of African politics...

- New friends! (Both Tanzanian and my fellow Peace Corps volunteers)

- Baby goats!

- Observing the strength of African women

- Walking/Biking to work every day

- Journaling

- Warm weather year-round

- Learning how to cook everything from scratch, and getting really creative with ingredients

- Communicating by old- fashioned mail

Things I'll Miss:

- YOU! (awwwwww, but for real!)

- Feeling clean

- Cheese, Ice cream, Chic fil A, Chocolate Cheesecake

- Driving

- Seaside

- Nellie and Chloe

- Facebook

- Long phone conversations

- Davidson

- K-pub

- My roommates

- Rock music

- Hot showers

- Using sarcasm

- Wearing pants

- Smooth, shaven legs (ohh yeah boys!)

- The Blue Ridge Mountains

- Lazy Fridays

My family celebrated Father's Day today and as I was thinking of how influential my father and entire family have been in my life, I was reminded of a quote that a close family friend said over dinner recently, "A parent's job is to give their children roots and wings." Thank you all for the incredibly strong foundation of love and support you have provided me as friends and family! Without that I know I wouldn't be able to 'fly' so far. This is an incredible opportunity for me and I am excited to learn, serve and love in Tanzania.

Please be in touch!

Love,

Katie