22 days to go!

I can't believe it! I leave in 22 days! 

Sorry I haven't been posting more frequently. I have been busy trying up loose ends here. I promise to keep you all up-to-date the whole time I am away.

I finished my round of Typhoid pills and luckily none of the others were as bad as the first day. Day #3 was a little rough at first, but luckily the nausea passed quickly and I got through the week just fine. I am going back to the County Health Department on Friday for one more shot -- my second round of HepA/B. After that I will be set for the trip. Six months from now I will go back for a third and final shot to complete the series and to have full protection from Hepatitis A and B, but two shots is plenty to keep me safe on this trip.

My passport also came back with my Kenya visa. Thank goodness!! It was so nerve wracking to send of my passport again before the big departure, but I am now all set with the government!

I do have to get some documents together to get a local permit. I have to bring a variety of things that prove that I am 1) Educated and 2) Have employable skills. So I have to bring things like a copy of my college diploma and a letter from an employer. What is funny, is that some of the other things they claim to accept are a business card and a student ID. I have all that stuff. I guess I will bring it all and hope they approve me!

The other thing I have been working on is clothing for the trip. My biggest concerns have been shoes and skirts. For my volunteer work I will be required to wear skirts that are long enough to cover my knees and shirts that cover my shoulders. That is the Tanzanian custom and we will be expected to blend in. I looked in my closet and found maybe two skirts that fit that bill. Now, I will be able to do laundry and they tell us that we will be able to have local clothing custom made for us very cheaply, but I figured I needed to come prepared with a couple more skirts. I can't believe how hard it has been!! I have looked EVERYWHERE. After an exhaustive search I managed to find one simple dress from Target and two cotton skirts from Old Navy. I think that I am set on the skirt front now.

The next issue is footwear. If I haven't mentioned it before or in case you didn't know, I am going

 to be in Tanzania during what they call the "Long Rains." There are two rainy seasons in East Africa: in November they have the "Short Rains" and in April-May the have the "Long Rains." That means its going to be VERY muddy. I've been trying to figure out what kind of shoes I can wear in the MUD and still look sort of OK with a skirt. I went to the Allen Outlets and looked around settled on a couple pairs of Crocs ballet flats. I know, Crocs - maybe not the coolest - but whatever, this style is actually pretty cute and the best part is that you can just hose them down if they get muddy. Sounds like the easiest solution to me! I will also bring a couple of pairs of sandals, my running shoes, my hiking boots and some flip flops. That should cover it I would think.

More updates soon, I promise!! Thanks for reading - This blog will, no doubt get more exciting in a few weeks when I'm actually in Africa! :)