Only Seven Days...

At this time next week, I will be headed to the airport with my family. In just seven days...

I have seven days to buy all the last minute items I'll need for the next two years...

I have seven days to pack and meet the 100-pound weight limit...

I have seven days to work on Samoan language lessons...

I have seven days to see as many family and friends as possible...

I have seven days to eat at all the restaurants I will miss...

I have just seven days...

Around this time last September, I was finishing up the application and the two essays that Peace Corps requires. I imagined being at the point I'm currently in: preparing to leave for Peace Corps service. Did I think it would happen? While I imagined it would happen, the truth is, it felt so out of reach at the time, that no, I did not think it would happen, at least so quickly.

While I applied one year ago, I received my invitation just nine weeks ago. Up until I received the invitation in late July, my future with the Peace Corps was uncertain. I didn't know if I was qualified or even good enough to get an invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Getting the invitation was one of the happiest days of my life, thus far. I was one of the chosen ones. My nomination remained the same as my invitation, which hardly ever happens, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I feel so blessed to be leaving for Peace Corps staging in just seven days, but I feel like I need more time to prepare because truthfully these nine weeks have flown by, and all I have left is seven days. Seven days is not enough time to buy all the last minute items I need. Seven days is not enough time to pack and meet the luggage weight limit. Seven days is not enough time to study the Samoan language. Seven days is not enough time to see all my family and friends. Seven days is not enough time to eat at all the restaurants I will miss.

The next seven days will be filled with many tears, as I say goodbye to those I love. I know they will be very emotional goodbyes because these last few days have been emotional as it is. I find myself getting teary-eyed for the littlest thing someone tells me, even if it's through a text message. It's safe to say that I'm an emotional wreck, and it isn't fun.

Many people have asked me if I'm making the right decision. While I'm sad to leave for two years, I'll be back. Joining the Peace Corps is a dream of mine. I've jumped through many hoops during the application process, and I'm finally at the finish line. There's no way I'm quitting now. Quitting would be the easy fix to all the sadness and other emotions I feel at the moment. I'm sure these feelings are normal. I'm leaving for two years, after all... So yes, I am making the right decision.

I only have seven days to get numerous things done, but it's also exciting to know that in seven days I'm meeting the other people in Group 84. I couldn't be more excited about that. I couldn't be more excited to start this once in a lifetime journey, in just seven days.

Staging Materials

I woke up to a staging email from the Peace Corps this morning. Turns out I have to be in Los Angeles on October 4, not October 5 like I originally thought. I'm excited, but also sad to have one less day with my family.

I called Sato Travel to make flight arrangements to staging. I'll depart from Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 4 at 1:00pm, and will arrive in LAX at 2:05pm (02hrs 05 mins).
The email also includes:

• Samoa Reporting Instructions - This attachment has information on the hotel we will be staying at during staging, the staging event schedule, and the flight itinerary.
• On October 5, my group (Samoa Group 84) will depart from Los Angeles, California to Auckland, New Zealand (13hrs 00min). On October 7 (yes October 7. It's only a 4 hour layover, but because of the time change, we lose October 6 altogether) we depart from Auckland, New Zealand to Apia, Samoa (03hrs 40mins). Total, I'll be traveling for almost 19 hours! What a long journey it will take to get to Samoa!

• Instructions to Read the Welcome Book, Volunteer Handbook, and Peace Corps Approach to Safety and Security. I also have to complete the Pre-departure Online Security Orientation.

• Baggage Advisory - I'm allowed two checked bags. The baggage should not exceed 100 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag.

Hopefully two years of my life does not weigh more than 100 pounds!

At LAX, I'm planning on meeting two girls who are in my training group, and we will go to the hotel together. I'm so excited to finally meet the people who will be such a big part of my life for the next to years!

Only 24 days!

This just got so real!

With love,
Angelina