Im in Africa!!!

So I officially made it to Africa! And so far it has been amazing. The flight was really long, but really much better than I expected it to be. I slept a little and really was able to hang out and chat with the other volunteers. There are 43 of us altogether in my group, so it is a lot of new people to get to know and a lot of names to remember, but I think I’m getting it.

I know this is short, but my computer is dying and I need to get a power converter before I run through all my battery.

I miss you all! Talk to you soon. And don’t forget to write me ASAP!!!

Pics will go up as soon as I have time. Promise :)

Staging

Hey All,

So I made it to Philly. My flight got delayed, then I spent about an hour waiting for my luggage at baggage claim, then it took forever to get a shuttle to the hotel, and about an hour to get to the hotel on the shuttle while it went from hotel to hotel dropping people off. Not only that, but I have been feeling really ill since Sunday morning, probably nerves and stuff. But I was feeling terrible when I got to Philly and nothing was settling my stomach. But I checked into my room, threw down my stuff, and ran downstairs to meet up with the rest of the group. The next couple of hours I got to meet just about everyone, hear all about safety and Peace Corps policies etc. As soon as we were done for the night, everyone went out, well everyone but me. I went across the street to the store, bought some crackers and ginger ale, went back upstairs, called Justin, threw up, took a shower, and went to sleep.

This morning, I got up, still feeling nauseous, got all dressed and stuff, and went down to start the day. We had training from 8:30 till around noon. Then I went to lunch with some of the other volunteers, it's always nice getting to talk with these guys about fears, worries, etc. So lunch (my first real meal since Sunday night) went well, I had some delicious chicken soup, yeah I figured I should start slow. Then we went back to training. Finished around 6pm, went to my room to change, and then headed downstairs to go out with the girls. Courtney, Ashlee and I went to the mall really quick so they could each pick up something. Funny, we all got kicked out right at 7pm because apparently they were closing and everything in downtown closes at 7pm. So after our shopping spree we came back toward the hotel to look for a place for dinner. We ended up meeting up with Joe, Eric and Hunter from the group at Mad 4 Mex. This Mexican place was delicious. I had Mahi Mahi fajitas (very yummy). It was a blast to get to know each one of these people I am going to be spending so much time with for the next couple of weeks. I will try to post pictures of the group and from tonight next time I have access to the Internet, not sure when exactly that will be. But I am off to go finish packing up my luggage and sleepy time.

I love and miss you all.

Today is already Thursday???

I'm not quite sure where all the time has gone. It's sure seems to disappear. Yesterday, Mom took the day off work to hang out with me, you know spend a little Mother & Daughter time together. We had a really good time. We shopped for some things I need, like my color coordinating towels in Pink and Green. It's always nice getting to spend time with Mom, she has this unique sense of humor that always makes me laugh. Dad brought home my bible from Long's, they printed my name on the cover in pretty script. Dad spend most of the day looking for a laptop for me. I think he found one, but I have to call the stores in the area to see which ones have it. Mom and Dad didn't want me going without a laptop, which is really really nice of them. It will give me the chance to keep a journal, save all my pictures, and update i-tunes with other volunteers music.

Last night I hung out with Justin, he is stressing out over me leaving and ATO stuff. I just hope that everything works out with that. Justin and I went to Ale House at 10 to meet up with Heather, Ben, Bret & Shannon. It's such a bummer having to say goodbye to all my friends. It wasn't this sad saying goodbye when we all went off to college; but then again most of them won't see me until I come home. Oh yeah, Bret if you are reading this, I have some advice for you. My opinion is drop her, drop her now. You are way too great a guy to be with a girl who treats you like crap. Nuff said.

Heather & Ben - I love you both. Ben you better take care of her. Heather, I will miss you tons. And don't beat up the homeless guys by your office, maybe you should try just being nice, you know, killing them with kindness lol. Love you!

Last Week In Orlando

It's early and I'm up because I can't sleep. I wish I was able to enjoy sleeping in my bed, enjoying my last few nights with air conditioning, loving my bed free room, and basically really enjoying just being home. However, I don't know if it's just nerves or if I just have a lot on my mind, but sleeping through the night doesn't seem to be anywhere on my minds list of top priorities. So instead, I have been going through my luggage again and again, making sure I have everything (which I don't), trying to figure out the best way to pack it all, and also trying to decide what items I want to put in my bag for the first 3 month and what goes in the big suitcase. You see, when we get to Botswana, we have to leave one of our bags with the Peace Corps while we live with a host family. There is really only room enough for one of our bags in their homes. So before we all leave, we are suppose to have it all figured out as to what bag we want to take with us for our training time. I already picked my bag, and now it's just a matter of deciding what clothes to pack, and what else I may need. I am also trying to decide what I want to wear in Philly, that way it gets packed at the top of my big suitcase, so I don't waste time in the mornings hunting for things to wear. I am also putting together my bag for the airplane rides, mainly the 17 & 1/2 hour ride to South Africa. Can't really say I am looking forward to that flight.

I know I promised a packing list. I am still working on it. I think I am almost done, so that should go up soon.

I went through all my pictures last night to decide which ones I want to take with me. I can't live without pictures. So it was definitely a tough decision. I also need to go to the store and print out pictures from the last couple of weeks. Today is definitely going to be a day of running errands. Trying to get the last few things I need. Today is a trip to Wally World (aka Wal-mart). I am also going to run to Long's Bookstore to get my name engraved on the bible I just got. I'm taking a new bible with me, along with my old bible. The one I'm taking is "The Message", it is a more modern version, hopefully it will explain anything I have questions about. I have my devotionals I am taking with me too. Maybe while I'm at Long's I'll pick up some new christian music to put on my I-pod. That's another thing I need to do, update my I-pod and go through all the Cd's in my car to decide which ones I want to take with me.

I think the fact that I have so much on my mind really does have something to do with me not sleeping.

Havelock, North Carolina

I left Jax around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning to drive to Havelock, NC. The 8 hour drive went by pretty quickly. I got to Havelock around 11 a.m. and met up with my Grandma at a local restaurant. It was so nice getting to see her, I haven't seen her in at least 4 years, so we had a ton to catch up on. Grandma and I went to her house and talked until we went to wake up my cousin Ginny. It's been close to 10 years since I have seen any of my family on my Dad's side, so getting to see Ginny, and my Uncle Paul and Aunt Sissy was great. We went to my Aunt and Uncles for dinner, Paul made a pot roast (delicious, I didn't know he could cook). After dinner I fell asleep watching Pirates of the Caribbean.

Grandma and I went back to her place, and before we made it in the house, she fell and fractured her ankle in two places and we spent most of the night in the ER. (Yes, Diana I am trying to spend a little quality time in the ER in every city I visit. lol)

Grandma and I spend most of Monday sleeping, we were both tired from the day before. But we did get to go to Uncle Paul & Aunt Sissy's for dinner. Yummy fried chicken (Uncle Paul's famous Fried Chicken).

Tuesday ended up being my last day in Havelock. Grandma and I hung out talking most of the day, and for dinner went back to Uncle Paul & Aunt Sissy's. Larry M. from SSCC is apparently living there, so he brought over his almost 1 year old twins who are just starting to walk. OMG so cute. Anne Marie & Rose Marie. I still can't believe they are so big. Beautiful girls though.

After Larry left, we had dinner. Ginny was there with her son Jacob (so cute and incredibly well mannered). Dinner of course was delicious, I have to say Uncle Paul is a very good cook. We took a bunch of pictures, although non with Uncle Paul in them, and Grandma and I headed home. I sat up talking with her until around 10 p.m. when I got back in the car to start my 10 hour drive back to Orlando.

Grandma - Thank you so much for everything. It was so great getting to see you. I hope all is well with your ankle, and I hope you are having a good time at Uncle Paul & Aunt Sissy's for the next little while. I love you.

Uncle Paul & Aunt Sissy - I can't thank you enough for your hospitality. Uncle Paul, thank you for my Liberty coin, that was beyond cool. Aunt Sissy, I'm sorry I didn't get to stay longer. I would have loved to hear all your stories about Dad when he was little. I love you both. Thank you.

Ginny - Thank you tons. I don't know if I would have come up to visit if it weren't for you. I'm sorry I got off myspace so abruptly before, but it was really nice getting to spend some time with you and finally getting to meet Jacob; you are very blessed to have him. I hope you get some time to relax soon. I would love for you to come visit me while I'm in Africa. And I think we are going to have to go to Europe together when I'm all done. I love and miss you.

Saturday Night in Jax

First and foremost, Thank you Jeff for the wonderful time everyone had at Melting Pot. You absolutely made the evening better than I could have expected.

Javonne, Diana, Myself, Jass & Peter went to Friends and Family weekend at the new Melting Pot that just opened up this week in Jax. We had the pleasure of enjoying a night there before opening weekend. We had the most amazing time. By the end of the night, we had laughed so hard and eaten so much that it literally hurt to move. It was honestly the best way to end my weekend in Jax before I drove to NC.

All the way on the right, is our server Rob. He did a great job, and he had a very demanding table of people that kept wanting more of this or another drink, or another bottle of wine. Next to Rob is Amber, Diana's little sis. It was nice having her there. Oh yeah we also ran into Kelly B during the night. She's as cute as ever. I have so many amazing memories and I can't thank you guys enough for making that night wonderful.

Javonne, I will see you when I get home. I love you tons and I am going to miss you terribly.

Peter, you and I will always have our ups and downs. I hope things go well for you the next couple of years, and don't worry about finding that girl for you, I promise she will find you when you least expect it. Jass, I love the fact that you gave me a shout out on the radio on my way to NC. You are the best!!! I am going to miss you and your goofy personality. Keith, I know you couldn't be with us tonight because you were at the Lion King. But I forgive you, and I thank you for hanging out with me afterwards while I tried to get some sleep before I left. You also will find someone soon. You are too amazing a guy not to have an amazing girl to match. Diana, I am not saying goodbye to you yet. You get that the day before I leave.

Friday Night in Jax

Last Friday night I had my last weekend in Jax with the college friends. The night started at Maggianos for drinks & dinner with Jessica, Diana, Keith, Peter and I. We started off the night right by getting yelled at by some angry man and his date in the bar, he obviously didn't like the fact that we were having too much fun. OMG dinner was delicious, and there was so much food. After dinner, we all headed back to Peter & Keith's place to hang out.

We all piled into a couple cars and went to LIP. It was great, I got to see Ashley, Jass, Robby, Ben, Dan, and so many others. OMG Randall Robinson was there too. He looks amazing, I haven't seen him in the last 2 years. Randall was there with Ben and I can always count on Ben to put a smile on my face. Toward the end of the night JJ showed up :) he ended up hanging out with us till the early morning hours. By the time we got home, everyone was falling asleep anyplace they could find.

Of course, every night in Jax has its drama. My party was no exception. LIP ended with relationship drama, cops, and nipples being tweaked (lol). Altogether a great night in Jax.

PS, Twigg & AJ - shame on you for not coming, you missed out on a really great night. See you both in a couple years.