Training

This weekend went so fast and now we're on to training. I have no clue how we got to be so lucky to get the weekend to explore and enjoy St. Lucia, but enjoy it I have! I'm already sun burnt, but it doesn't hurt. I stayed out of the sun today because we had training. I got the schedule for the next several weeks. We actually don't swear in as volunteers until April 8th. So training from now to then. I get to move in with my homestay family on Saturday! I'm really looking forward to that. I feel like I should change the name of my blog to Lovin' St. Lucia! I'm loving that it's becoming home already.

Here!

I made it to St. Lucia! I love it here. The people are all super nice. We have a great group of volunteers here. We did medical stuff today and start training bright and early Monday morning! I look out at the view and just feel like I am home.
Lesson #1: I thought I bought a converter/transfomer. I found out last night when I killed my alarm clock that I just bought a converter! Thankfully my laptop has a transformer built in or it would be dead right now! Just means I need to buy a new alarm clock at some point but my watch is working for now! I miss everyone back home but am having a great time!

One day

Packing and cleaning. That's what I've been doing today. Along with wrapping things up at work, saying goodbye, and (of course) going to my last hockey game. Right now my room is knee deep in all my stuff. Tomorrow my older sister is going to come up and help (she thinks she's coming to hang out). The good news is I weighed my suitecases and they were at 44 lbs total! (I can have 80 lbs.) I need to pack them better for more space, but I was just getting a general idea of how much. So much to do! I need to get sleep. I'm going to try and post when I get to Miami Thursday and St. Lucia Friday just to let my mom know I got there safe, but no promises on that. We'll see about the wi-fi :)

1 week!

I can't believe it. This time next week I'm going to be in Miami for staging! My to do list is coming down. Everything is coming together. My last major things to do are my move to my parent's house and packing! I do just want to take this opportunity to say how much I have been blessed living in Cincinnati these past two years. I have had two amazing churches that I've been able to be apart of. They continue to bless me even as I am leaving. I've made some great friends here over the last two years that I am sad to be leaving and am going to miss very much (This includes people at my churches and people I work with and other friends I've made as well).
And then there's my kids. Last night they all made me cards that included a memory that they have with me. Some of these girls I've lived with for the whole 2 1/2 years that I've been here. At times they've made me laugh until my stomach hurt, and other times they've frusterated me to no end. But looking back on it, I wouldn't give it up for the world. They've taught me so much (one of those things is that I'm more like my parents than I would have thought), and they've given me memories and experiences that I wouldn't give up. With the card they gave me a picture of all of us with the Cyclones players that came over to our house! I truely have taught them about hockey! But hopefully I've taught them about the Ultimate Love as well.

St. Lucia

So I found out earlier this week that I am spending the two years on St. Lucia! I talked with one of the ladies in St. Lucia this morning. We talked about learning the language, different things I like to do and how I might be able to use them, and how I've worked with kids in the past. I also got to ask her some questions that I've had. This makes me even more excited!
I'm taking more of my stuff to mom and dad's tomorrow. Getting all of that cleaning out finished! I'm spending the day up there and Amy and I are going to two hockey games this weekend (one in Columbus and one in Detroit)! Go Wings!

2 weeks and 1 day!

2 weeks and 1 day. That is how much longer I have at work, and how much longer I have until my last hockey game for a couple of years. Looking at it and thinking about it in those terms is exciting and scary. I have a little over two weeks left with these girls that I've devoted 2 1/2 years of my life to. In some ways I am totally ready, and in others I'm really going to miss them. Either way, I'm really excited about this new journey I'm going on. I'm scared because I'm not going to be able to call up my mom when I'm sick and ask her what I should do or call her when I'm home sick just to talk. And while at some points I still feel I have a lot to do before I leave, I'm down to just a couple of things! I think I have everything under control. My real issue right now is just being patient, something the whole Peace Corps process has taught me!

Need vs. want

As I get ready to pack and look at what I want to take with me (and what I want to have mom store for 2 years), I am overwhelmed by the amount of "stuff" I have. Where did all of this come from? Most of it is stuff that I haven't used or used a while ago and just "can't" part with. Now is the time! I'm going through my stuff to pack it up and then going through it again with mom. I've gotten rid of a lot of it by either trips to Goodwill, half price bookstore, or giving things away.
I've been reading packing lists to see what is essential and the best way to pack. Everything I read gets me more excited about this new adventure! 25 days and 3 hockey games until I fly out!