August 19, 2013: Day before staging

'Twas the day before staging, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring.....just kidding, I'm going CRAZY! No matter how much one prepares for leaving the country for 27 months, there always seems to be something else to do up until the minute you leave. Format/load hard drive, shop for last minute clothes, cancel phone service, straighten out loans, bother people for that check they were supposed to send you months ago....hard to believe I've been working on these things all summer and they're still not done!

 It seriously feels like last week I had just graduated from City Year Orlando and I was gearing up to enjoy my summer of travel and relaxation before heading off. Actually, feels like last week I was reading the email with my invitation and everyone in the Walker Middle School team room was singing the "Megan/Spongebob" song and celebrating. HOW WAS THAT ALMOST 5 MONTHS AGO?! Trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this is really happening tomorrow. I vividly remember hearing about the Peace Corps for the first time when I was 15, one of my friends explained the program and was considering it when she got older. I was immediately intrigued by it and went online to read the requirements and current PCV stories. Better question: How was that 8 years ago?? I guess some ideas never go away. 

Currently, I'm on a bus from NYC back to Washington, D.C. and I'm thinking back to the very beginning of my summer. I did a TON of things from May- August. Brief outline: Ocala -> Orlando -> Rhode Island -> Miami -> North Carolina -> South Carolina -> Washington, D.C. -> New York City. I traveled a bunch and saw many important people in 3 months, it was wonderful! 

However, throughout all these adventures, I will never forget the Medical Office ordeal I went through around May/June. Quick overview: I was in the process of getting physical exams, vaccinations, and whatever I needed to be medically cleared and hit a major road bump. I have a slight peanut allergy and the medical office in the Dominican Republic told me that peanuts were "unavoidable" and that my application needed to be "put on hold until I was able to be relocated". WHAT?! I can't even begin to explain the panic that ensued. I had turned down jobs and basically turned my life around for this, and it was going to be taken away all because of peanuts (for perspective, my allergy is less than a class one out of six, I eat peanuts all the time). After much time spent in doctor's offices, I received and submitted a doctor's note to my medical portal with a bunch of prayers they would lift the hold....and obviously they did!

You know those huge ordeals you go through and you tell yourself you'll never forget how hard this was, etc, and then you kind of move on and forget after it's all said and done? Not this time. I'll probably remember the feeling of this email just as much as I remember reading the actual invitation. Now for the fun stuff:

Bristol, Rhode Island the night before July 4th. Not bad RI, you exceeded my very low expectations of a good night out. Now if only we had taken that picture with Brad Marchand instead of talking to him about the spaghettios with hot dogs we were going to eat when we got home. Seriously, that happened. 

Blount's Market, Water Street, Warren Rhode Island. 

Next stop: Miami with my number one! Every time I come here and see this girl it's the time of my life. We've been doing this since high school and every time it gets better and better. First flight back from the DR will be stopping in Miami first :) 

So very obviously killin' it in the DJ booth. Professional enough someone put headphones on me!

After the chaos that was South Florida, road trip with my parents to North Carolina to see my grandma. 12 hours in a car there and back with my parents: not nearly as hard as expected. 

Hit up the zoo in NC and my dad wanted to go through the dinosaur exhibit, but they only come in a ticket package that included a carousel ride. Give the ticket to a kid or ride the carousel myself? RIDE IT! I'm going to be a wonderful youth volunteer. 

Spent the day/night in Charleston, SC. Deceivingly awesome aquarium, but everyone there is ridiculously nice. It's weird. 

Mr. Leo on one of the many trips to Orlando <3 you know those nights that were meant to be low-key and definitely weren't? Yea.

Last night in Ocala with who else but my BFF, Kyle Anderson. Last caption, times 5. 

This doesn't even begin to do justice to what packing was like. Spending 27 months out of the country with very little idea of what people wear or what your everyday life will be like? Sure, just go with your gut on what to bring. 

Last thing to do before leaving Ocala: chop off 7 inches of your hair! Range of temperature in the Dominican is 65 to 95, short hair it is.

How lucky am I to have staging in DC and have Peace Corps send me up a week early to spend some time with my lovely sister? Jazz night in the National Sculpture Garden with some awesome friends.

One of the best things about Washington, D.C. is being in an amazing city but also being able to do things like kayak the Potomac River. Best of both worlds!

Last weekend in the states, why not go to NYC?

First part spent with sister and friends, last part with Carvajal. Biggest (not really very big) accomplishment: NY subway and navigating my way home in the wee hours of the night.

I've got the best friends ever! Love you Natalie :)

Topping off this massive first blog post with this. With everything that's running through my mind right now, I'm so excited to embark on this adventure and learn a ton about myself and another culture. I'm imagining all the good I accomplished with City Year and I'm hoping to do the same/exceed that expectation of myself. Adios America!