The Night Before

Today feels surreal. I'm almost all the way packed and my only goodbyes that are left are to my best friend Erin and to my parents. The goodbyes that were the hardest were my sister Meghan, niece Lilli, and my grandma. It's scary to think about how much can or will change by the time I get back. I know it's only 4-6 months...but Lilli could be walking! However, these goodbyes have made me realize yet again how many loved ones I have and how bless I am. I have a feeling I will finally cry in the airport tomorrow when I say goodbye to my awesome parents and best friend!

The past few weeks I have spent with family and friends and worrying about if I have mono. My best friend was recently diagnosed and I freaked out a little bit. I decided not to get tested because I am showing no signs. I also had to get another flu shot because Peru has a flu outbreak and you CANNOT get the vaccination there. What am I getting myself into?!

I have been successful in packing everything into one suitcase! Many doubted me but I pulled through. Somehow I managed to pack about 25 shirts, 6 pairs of jeans, sweatshirts, 30 pairs of underwear....toys for the kids, hand made sweaters for the kids...ect ect all into one bag with 5 lbs to spare! I am very impressed with myself. It was all about the air tight bags! I love those things! However, all my clothes look like prunes now.

Tomorrow we are leaving our house around 5:45am. We haven't decided yet but we think we're going to take the C&J to Boston. Erin's sleeping over tonight and she will be with us as well tomorrow! I'm the most scared about the airport. My sense of direction and reaction to high stress situations needs some work. I should have also brushed up on my Spanish this summer... My plane leaves from Boston at 9:13 am and I then will catch a connecting flight in Texas at 3:50pm their time.. I will finally arrive in Lima around 10:30pm. I will be greeted there by two men holding my name on a sign. I will also find out then if I'm staying in the volunteer house or in a homestay. My fingers are super crossed for the volunteer house. Another girl from Australia is landing around the same time as me so I'm hoping we can ride back to the house together! On Saturday I don't have anything planned but to hang out with all the other volunteers! Sunday I start my orientation!

My phone will be shutting off right after I call my parents saying I got to the house. Please do not text or call me after about 2:15pm tomorrow!! It will charge us both a large sum of money. I will be using Skype, Facebook, and Email for keeping in touch. I'm buying a Peruvian track phone but that will be solely for emergencies! My skype is: maggie.jones44 and my email is maggie.jones84@yahoo.com

Tonight I will be feasting on tacos with my parents and Erin! Afterwards I think we are going to have a camp fire! We had one last night as well. I'm really hoping I'll be able to sleep tonight. I'M SO EXCITED!! My next post will be from LIMA PERUUUU!

-Mags