Many Preparations

Hi there!

Well, a bit over a month has gone by since my last post...and each day I get a bit more excited it seems! I recently found out that I will be leaving September 2nd for Ecuador.  I will head out from National Airport around 8:30am that Sunday morning and arrive in Miami a little after 11am. Then I will meet with the group (!!!) at 2pm for a meeting before we get on the plane for Ecuador around 5:30pm. What a day that will be! I can't believe it is only a month and a half away.

This past week I had to go to the doctor 3 times for various tests and appointments to get everything squared away for the year. I still have to see the travel nurse for some boosters on my vaccinations. There are so many things to think about when leaving for a year! Banking, insurance, phone service, loans...so many phone calls to make. But things are progressing pretty well. I have my last mailing to send WT this week and then I should be all squared away with them.

I am hoping we get a list soon of all the participants. Some people have been posting on our Facebook wall, but not everyone has joined. It looks like there will be around 38 of us, according to the number of people on the email list. I can't wait to meet them all! I still shouldn't find out my placement for another 3 weeks or so, but that will be very exciting to receive.

Things have been great in Arlington. I have loved hanging out with the O'Connell girls, and of course emailing during the weekday. It was sad moving out of the Pineapple Palace last weekend, because I no longer have a home in Charlottesville. But what a wonderful place that was while we had it! I am missing all my Wahoos, but I will be back in Cville for one last hurrah the last weekend in August. And a big congrats to Daniel who got placed in Togo for the Peace Corps...I am so excited for ya!!

Well, now I have to head to work! It's nice to know that all this work will really pay off in Ecuador this coming year (at least I hope it will!). Oh the adventures that await...

Love,
Katie