here it is

I received this fortune cookie a few weeks ago. I thought it was perfect.

Well. It's here. I'm actually in Pearl River, NY at the moment for a couple of days of orientation before heading to Uganda. I intended to blog a little bit before I left about the preparations and my thoughts before the trip, but it just didn't really happen. That's life.

But I made it, all packed up, with everything in one bag and one carry-on! Aren't you so proud of me? And I even had plenty of room for 8, yes 8, cans of mousse! haha. It's the one essential for me, and I don't think they have white girl hair products in Africa. Imagine that.

Goodbyes were hard this morning, but I'll be ok. Saying goodbye to Talley was hard. I've been putting this trip in the works for well over a year, so I can't just cancel it because of my boyfriend. It sucks though. After many years of being friends and having feelings for each other, we're finally together, and now we're going to be apart for almost a year and a half. He'll be deploying to Iraq over the summer, and he found out recently that they'll pretty much be the last ones there, so they'll be shutting off all forms of communication in about October. So we'll have a good 8 months or so without any communication! It's going to be so hard, but I know we'll be fine. If we can get through a year and a half with a long distance relationship between America and Uganda and Iraq, I think we can get through anything.

Well someone asked me a few weeks ago if I had any idea what I was getting into, and the answer is not really. I've actually received very little information about what to expect and what I'll be doing. More information has come in as I've been in touch with people working with Dwelling Places (where I'll be working in Kampala), but that's really only been over the last 2 weeks or so. Right now, it sounds like I will be working more in the office, which isn't really what I had expected. I was picturing working a little more hands on with the kids, but I will be happy doing whatever they need me to do.

It sounds like I will be in a pretty decent apartment, with a washing machine and a cleaning lady. I knew I'd be in decent living conditions in the city, no mud hut in the bush, at least not for now. But I didn't expect such convenience as a washing machine and a cleaning lady! Kampala is a pretty modern city, and one of the girls working there said that sometimes you feel like you could be at home, but other times you're in a completely different world. I've actually spoken with several people who have been to Kampala, and they all rave about how much they loved it, and say that they felt safe everywhere they went.

So that's what I'm expecting at the moment. Up until a few days ago, I really had no clue where I would be living or what I would be doing, and even now there are a lot of things I'm not sure about! I don't mind, I'm always up for the adventure of just finding out when I get there!

Well it's only the first day of orientation, so pretty low key. Just meeting people and touring the offices and that sort of thing. They have hotel-like rooms set up on site, so that's very convenient. Tomorrow is more intense orientation.

Well I've written enough for having only left home about 12 hours ago! Thanks again for all your love and support!