Staging flight booked!

I just booked my flight to Washington D.C. for my staging event where final logistics are introductions are done. I'm thoroughly excited... I've never been to the capital before, let alone the east coast of the US! Additionally, it is a nonstop on Alaska so that will be nice :) I am an "early arrival" since I cannot leave on the 29th and be ready for a meeting by noon, so I arrive on the 28th at 4:40pm. It's so great to start getting precise (essential) details! A facebook group was created for new volunteers as a forum for questions and a means of communication. There is someone else coming from the west coast so we are planning to hang out in the airport already! I know I have a lot going on, but it is crazy to think about how many individuals are preparing for a similar fate. Granted the Peace Corps is competitive to be accepted, but there are still loads of volunteers.

One month to go

I just realized that I am in the country for just over a month more (35 days to be exact). Crazy. It's going to be a busy time before that! I have (in chronological order): a housewarming party, a few scheduled dinners, a few more shifts at work, Jennifer's birthday, a weekend in Portland, a two week roadtrip in the SW, a music festival in San Fran, Kris and Meghan's wedding, seeing Nathan while he is stateside, Jacob's birthday, and ohh yah, packing! I keep hearing about all of these amazing things my friends are doing, getting actual jobs, travelling, etc that I feel like I'm in a stagnant lull although I know I will be doing something exciting soon. It doesn't seem like it's happening yet. I'm not quite sure when it'll "hit" me. I guess all in all, I'm excited to go, but I have to much to look forward to in the meantime, I don't want to overshadow my upcoming experiences with something that I know relatively little about (and something I anticipate having information overload soon).

Optimistic

So I submitted my visa application and applied for a special passport within days of receiving my official invitation but have not heard anything from the Peace Corps. I am slightly concerned due to the fact that my departure date is three weeks AFTER the day that the federal budget will be surpassed if Congress does not pass legislation to increase level of federal debt. I don't know if that would impact me necessarily... Nevertheless, I called the office in D.C. last week, spoke with the person in charge of my program, and apparently, there is nothing else I should do until my "staging" on the 29th of August. At this time, final logistics will be figured out and I will be leaving either that day or the following. I wonder when I should pack... shortly after returning from a roadtrip with my brother to ID, UT, AZ, CA and the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco I suppose! In the meantime, I'm printing pictures and deciding on things I'd like to accompany me in the upcoming YEARS (yikes!). That's so crazy to think about, although, I'm sure it'll go by faster than I am willing to anticipate. All I know is that I will be nearly 26 when I'm back in the States again... hmm. Just in time for Christmas though! I'm good at arranging that :)