One Month to Go!

When I applied for the NEH Summer Institute in South Africa grant back in February, I never thought I'd be on my way to South Africa just 4 months later.  Applying was a long shot; I couldn't decide between applying for a Steinbeck institute in Salinas, CA and the institute in South Africa.  As much as I love Steinbeck, I figured I might as well go for broke and apply for South Africa.  

On a Monday at the end of March I was home sick from school with a cold/sinus thing.  I had a kermit the frog voice and I had just returned home from the doctor when my phone rang and said "Unavailable."  I contemplated not answering it, but I am sure glad that I did.  Upon picking up the call, I was greeted by Rich Corby's voice and was told I was chosen as one of the 25 applicants to attend the Seminar.  I immediately started dancing around my kitchen and instantly felt better!  Rich probably thinks I have some deep manly voice due to my cold at the time!  After hanging up and contininuing my happy dance, I immediately called my mom and told her the news.  She was beyond excited as well and I think more in shock than I was!  When I called my dad, his first response was "so I guess that means I have to cut your grass this summer!"  Haha, he knows how much I HATE cutting the grass, and now he has to do it for 6 weeks!  Yes!  I received the confirmation paperwork a few days later and sent it back.  Lo and behold, I was South Africa bound!  

Over the past 2 months I have been dilligently researching and preparing for my trip.  I've been toiling on what to pack/bring with my on my trip.  With only one suitcase and a recommended packing list of just 3 pairs of pants and 5 shirts, I am having a packing crisis!!  I guess I really have to narrow down my 3 closets worth of clothes (ah the perks of living alone!) to decide what to bring.  Shopping was necessary, of course!  I'm still playing with the idea of getting a HP netbook to take on my trip to make blogging and communicating easier(not to mention to curb my facebook addiction!)!  I bought the required books....too bad I've been too busy with school (darn research papers!) to truly put in the time to read them.  Good thing I have a 19 hr flight... I've been to the doctor and been turned into the human pin cushion to get all my required shots so I don't catch any heinous diseases while out in the bush.  Lets just say that getting three shots on the same day is NOT fun.  I felt like I was punched in both arms, and it lasted for 3 days.  OH well, it will be worth it.  I've also received all my prescriptions (no malaria for me!), and I'm pretty much ready to go.  

So with that, I have a month left, and I know it's just going to fly by and keep me crazy busy with all of the lovely end of the year finals and classroom close-out.  Before I know it, I'll be boarding my flight to Amsterdam and I'll be off on my adventure of a lifetime.  I can't wait.