40 Days and 40 Nights

I decided that although I still have a few weeks to go until I depart for the Peace Corps, I might as well get this blog thing set up and running. I really am challenging myself to keep up with this blog so I can document this amazing journey I am about to go on as well as share with everyone back home my new life in Ukraine! I mean, I'm pretty terrible at doing the whole journal thing, but I figured its worth a try!

I'm still having a hard time believing that I am really leaving...maybe because I have been in this spot before...My original invitation was to Guatemala leaving January 3rd 2012. We were called 17 days before departure and told that they were cancelling our program due to how unsafe and unstable the country was. Yeah. That sucked. I know it was for the best and everything happens for a reason and all that jazz, but it still was terrifying to feel like I was suddenly having to start over. Thankfully the Peace Corps reacted like pros and I received a new assignment pretty quickly. So now I am off to Eastern Europe! The entire process that has been my Peace Corps journey has been such a crazy and emotional ride. I get asked all the time if I am nervous or scared, and to be honest, I never have been until this past week. It really hit me that this born and raised Florida girl is moving to weather that has been hanging around -17 degrees for about 5 days. THAT'S what I am scared about! The whole cold weather and layering clothes and proper shoes (aka not flip flops) thing...ah!! Hahaha! But in all honesty, I am not at all nervous. I'm excited. A little overwhelmed. But more anxious than anything. I want to be there and learning new languages and ways of life and meeting people and laughing at how ridiculous I will look in 38472 layers! I am beyond ready to finally DO it. So, 40 days to go before I finally get to begin my dream of Peace Corps service. But who's counting?