Am I ready for this?

I am sitting here in the JFK airport chatting with Chris when he mentions his plans for the upcoming week and it hits me: I am moving to South Africa for a year - A YEAR! I don't get to hang out with him and Birke and Gary... for a whole year! The thought, "what the heck am I moving to South Africa for?" suddenly hits me with such force that I automatically think, "yes, this is crazy! I want to be home and be with my mom, Jamie, Cole and Chris! Why am I headed off to a country where I don't know anyone when things are going really great at home?"
           Luckily, for my lifetime dream's survival, I am already in New York; even if I wanted to pull a dramatic movie escape and run home I can't... Why is it that when I am sitting in the airport headed to South Africa I finally realize what I am up to? I realize that I have left my job, sold my car, packed my stuff, said good-bye to loved ones, and am now sitting in JFK. Was it self preservation in the form of denial that kept me thinking that moving to South Africa was 'no big deal'?
           During orientation they thanked us a couple times for, "giving up a year of our life," and I just thought, "I'm not giving up a year of my life, I am moving somewhere amazing - I am going to be 'living it up' in Africa for a year having an amazing adventure!" But now.... hmmm, I seem to be leaving a pretty awesome life behind without actaully realizing I was doing it... I guess that's the best way to go about it though, not really understanding it until it's too late to get cold feet.
          I am still getting on the plane - it just would have been nice if I weren't suddenly dreading it.   :)

Orientation in New York was really inspiring! We stayed at a gorgeous retreat center, had guest speakers come in and we also went to Manhattan one day to visit the CMMB headquartes. One of my favourite parts was visiting the UN. I wouldn't have planned the UN as a stop on a NY adventure but was really intrigued by and completely enjoyed the entire tour. At the end all I wanted to do was hang out and pick people's brains (and by this I mean world leaders...because that's who sits in those seats) about the UNAIDS program and about their 'End extreme poverty and Hunger" goals for 2015. Think about it - extreme poverty over by 2015!! Visit the UN website to learn more http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/poverty.shtml it's super interesting and will make you feel like you can make a difference - because we can!
         During orientation we had a couple amazing speakers who have had the exact life that I have always thought about: working for the UN, working for UNICEF, volunteering in disaster torn areas, volunteering in area's of great need and teaching about international matters. I soaked up every word that one of speakers said, hoping for more and then simply wanted to ask, "so how do I get your life?" My fellow volunteers were all amazing people and I can't wait to hear all their stories, some of the places they are going are: Peru, Honduras, Sudan, Kenya and Ghana. It was great going to orientation and being able to sit and chat with the other volunteers about their fears and things that they are nervous about, and also what should be packed...

 More to come in a couple days when I find out more about what I'll be up to!

Here's an awesome website that helps you feed the hungry without having to donate money or leave your computer. Go to http://www.freerice.com/ and answer a couple of the vocab questions. For every answer you get right 10 grains of rice is donated to help feed the hungry. Try it for ten minutes and you just fed someone a meal they probably wouldn't have recived. Do it everyday - it's free and doesn't take anytime at all. :)

Time..... where did it go?

Here is blog #1 in what will hopefully be a highly blogged about year in South Africa with me (Leslee) setting out on an adventure that I've talked about, dreamed about and planned for years. In four days (yes four!) I am hopping on a plane with my mom headed for New York! and after New York I am flying to South Africa! Why am I, a single 27 year old nurse going to South Africa for a year? Glad you asked! I have joined Catholic Medical Missions (CMMB) and am headed to South Africa to test people for HIV and carry out a HIV study in King Williams town. Have I been to Africa? No. Do I speak Afrikaans? Nope. Do I know what to expect once I get there? Not a clue - but I guess not knowing adds to the adventure!

On September 9th my mom and I are headed to New York prior to my Catholic Medical Mission orientation that begins on the 13th. Mom and I are planning on being super tourists which will include riding a red tour bus, taking a ferry around the statue of Liberty and seeing the Lion King - YAH! From September 13-17 I will be taking part in orientation - what will we be learning?! I have no clue but I am sure I will be soaking up everything they teach! Items I assume they will be covering will be: how to not get malaria, how to be culturally sensitive, and that I will be driving on the left hand side of the road. When I get to South Africa I will be living with a women who was also a nurse and is now volunteering with the Doctor that I will be working with (Dr. Malebo)- so I'll have my very own insider to help me adapt!

As of now I am trying to decide what I still need to do in order to prepare. I have received my immunizations. I have my passport with me. I have registered with the Canadian Government telling them I'm off to SA. I have purchased super duty bug spray. Yet, the nagging question still remains: what does a person pack when they are headed to Africa for a year? Do I bring a suitcase full of sandals because it's warm or do I only bring hiking boots because I am afraid of spiders, ants, centipedes and snakes.... or do I bring a collection of the two even though I am trying to only carry one suitcase (a collection of the two equals about 6 pairs of shoes :) hehe). One suitcase for 1 year - oh my!


If you have any hints, tips, or tricks pls fill me in!