Eleven sleeps left...

J'arrive, Kinshasa!

This is unbelievable. It seems like I've been waiting for this trip for my whole life and have had so many expectations and preconceived notions about how I might feel should I actually make it happen. But now that all of my best laid plans are coming to fruition I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I suppose that seems pretty obvious, doesn't it?

It's an odd sort of feeling, this not knowing how to feel for an extended period of time. I'm looking around my bedroom which, as usual, looks like my closet just got sick, and my head feels exactly the same! There's an increasing amount of nervous, happy anxiety that is making it difficult for me to stay with one thought for long enough to finish it. And instead of packing, I feel more like making bracelets or cards or setting up my blog - not because I don't want to pack, by any means, but just because I feel like I should be going on with life as usual. Which, mind you, would have me at school studying for my last exam, not making bracelets. Do you see the ridiculous train of thought going on here?

I guess I might be psyching myself out a little. A little. It's all just so surreal.

Here is the list of things I have left to do (not entirely in order of importance - I'll work that out after I make the list):

1. Fill Rx for malaria meds. OK this one maybe is in order of importance.
2. Start malaria meds. This one too - I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to start them ten days before I leave.
3. Pack.
4. Unpack.
5. Pack again.
6. Write final exam on Tuesday. This probably belongs somewhere near the top.
7. Purchase swimsuit. Tried this out today and it did not go well.
8. Speak with prof about taking winter course in fall term next year.
9. Find out about health card needed at Kinshasa airport.
10. Phone DRC embassy at 10:00 Monday morning to arrange to have visa/passport courriered to home before flight. Since it's Sunday night now, I believe I'll have to bump the Rx filling out of first place for this one.
11. Purchase insectiside-treated mosquito net.
12. Purchase solid shampoo, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, minimum 30% DEET bug spray.
13. Purchase sleeping-bag liner (thanks, Kendra) and genius electrolyte replacement tablets from MEC.
14. Ask aunt & uncle how to manage $ for the next three months. This should probably be higher on the list than #14.
15. Get hair cut.
16. Visit with mom.
17. Visit with everyone else.
18. Submit country study to practicum advisor at Menno Simons. Before May 1.
19. Try to remember what else belongs on this list.

I'll let you know how it all works out :)