Well here it is kids. . . My last day home!

I've known this day was going to come for a few months, and now that it is finally here it is incredibly surreal. Thank you to everyone who has shown me love, support and encouragement over this past year of applying to the Peace Corps. That will never be forgotten.

So the day before I leave is when I finally put things in a bag. I really dont want to go through everything again, so it's all just staying put until I get to Mozambique.  I have two duffel bags (each less than 50lbs), a backpack and a "purse". Africa here I come.

I leave tomorrow morning at 4am for Staging in Philadelphia- the final time spent in America. I will be one with the masses, finishing up any paperwork necessary, receiving any final immunizations (ouch) and turning off my cell phone. From there, the other 29 Volunteers and I will take a Greyhound to JFK airport, where we begin our very longggggg flight to Maputo, Mozambique.

From JFK we fly to Dakar, Senegal (about a 9.5hr flight), stay on the plan there for about an hour or so while it refuels and the airline staff switch out. From Senegal, we fly down the continent into Johannesburg, South Africa (another 9.5hr flight). This is when things get tricky... we go through customs there, have to make it to another flight and make sure all of our baggage makes it on safely, all while hoping things don't get stolen from them. Previous PCV (peace corps volunteers) have had things stolen from bags, and have given great advice on what to pack/how to pack, and what to expect. I am not sure what we all would have done without their valuable advice. I digress- From Johannesburg, we fly into Maputo where we will be met by current PCV's and taken to a hotel for the first night. It is then that we will have a chance to re-arrange baggage- I am only allotted one bag for the first 3 months during Pre-Service Training(PST).

Then comes the exciting part- Meeting my host family!! During PST I will be doing in-depth language acquisition and studies, cultural training, situational awareness etc. It is a very structured training schedule, 6 days a week from 7am-whenever. Basically I am in school for the first few months, but it is all to prepare me for the two years that lay ahead.

Today I was lucky enough to go to the Memorial Day parade with my parents, spend time at home with loved ones, and am looking forward to a cook-out with some family this evening. Truly the best possible way to say "see ya later" to my lovely home.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru

Good morning! 

Countdown until Mozambique - 5 days!!!

These past few weeks have been a wild scramble of packing, organizing, unpacking/re-packing, dealing with financial aid, getting to doctors offices, filling out paperwork, studying Portuguese etc. . . Basically trying to get prepared for a life-altering experience. 

This past Saturday was my going-away party. The amount of people who came to celebrate my departure, and to wish me well was overwhelming. (I get it, you just want me to leave!) haha kidding. . .

Words will never be able to describe just how wonderful it is to have such support and love. I could not have imagined a more incredible send off.

But now it is down to the nitty-gritty. Packing. For two years. Limited to 100lbs. Two bags. yeahhh ok.

It is a stressful process, and at times I feel like I am running around in circles... but knowing that I am packing to go somewhere, to embark on this great adventure, keeps me going strong. Lists upon lists have been made, bags have been packed only to be unpacked and then re-packed. Woof.

In addition to all of this, I am trying to soak in as much "Pittsburgh" as possible. This city is absolutely amazing, although I complain about it from time to time. I have made so many friends (who have turned into family) here, made so many memories- both happy and sad, that I will be saddened to see it become small in my rear-view mirror.

To all of my family and friends, your support, love, and encouragement are beyond incredible. I would not be here without you.


“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Testing one two. . . Testing one two...   Is this thing on?

Hello everyone! Welcome to my very first blog!

This site will be dedicated to my upcoming adventure in Mozambique, serving with the Peace Corps. I will post as much as possible about everything - happy times, sad times, adventures, struggles, boring daily life, etc. .

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese