...off we are...in 5 hours!!!

Ok, I'll be checking out and heading to the airport in a few hours...wow. Our orientation today was great...thunderstorm and all. We had a lot of questions answered, yet left us with new ones too. Turns out the group is made up of youth development, municipal development, and protected area management trainees. A very young group, slightly diverse in cultural background, and two married couples. I learned some names and volunteered to be a group leader for tomorrow's departure. Had a big growing moment at the end of training since I was selected as the "three dot" volunteer that wasn't placed in a color group...funny how things always work out. Ok, this time tomorrow I'll be staying with my host family. We've been told to plan for minimal communication via phone/email...so this may actually be the last posting for a while. I encourage you to write me through emails/Facebook to be happily surprised if I do get internet access. =)

Ok, estare en saliendo del hotel y rumbo al aeropuerto en pocas horas...wow! Nos fue bien con la orientacion...tormenta y todo. Nos contestaron varias de las preguntas que teniamos, pero nos dejaron con nuevas dudas. Resulta que el grupo es compuesto de voluntarios en el desarrollo de jovenes, desarrollo municipal, y el manejo de areas protegidas. Es un grupo muy joven, un poco diverso en culturas, y con dos parejas casadas. Me aprendi unos nombres y me ofreci como voluntario de un grupo para la salida. Me toco ser la voluntaria de los tres puntos que no fue colocada en un grupo y la experiencia me ayudo crecer.....chistoso como occurren las cosas. Ok, a esta hora manana estare con mi familia hondurena. Nos han dicho que estemos preparados para tener muy poca comunicacion de telefono/correo electronico...asi que sera el ultimo mensaje de mi parte por un tiempo. Los animo que me escriban por correo electronico/Facebook para estar felizmente sorprendia cuando si tenga internet. =)

sorry no pictures/perdon no ahi fotos

So far...great!

Hola,

I arrived in Houston and after an hour wait was on my way to the hotel (Hilton - Southwest...yeah I know). It's funny because I kept looking out for Peace Corps volunteer look-alikes at the airport. I was correct on 2/3 guesses. I can't believe I have to admit it, but I definitely brought the most luggage compared to the other three. / Llegue a Houston y despues de una hora de espera estaba en camino al hotel (Hilton-Southwest....si lo se). Es chistoso porque estaba en busqueda de gente que pareciera Voluntarios de Cuerpo de Paz en el aeropuerto. Sali correcta en 2/3. No creo que lo tenga que admitir, pero definitivamente traje la mayor cantidad de maletas en comparacion a los otros tres.

The volunteers I've met so far seem like great people. It's interesting how we are going through such similar experiences as far as thoughts, emotions, doubts, etc. / Los voluntarios que he conocido hasta ahora parecen ser gran gente. Es interesante como estamos pasando por experencias parecidas aserca los pensamientos, emociones, y dudas, etc.

Finally packed! And this time it will be final as I leave for the airport in a few hours. I fly to Houston tomorrow to await orientation on Tuesday. We need to turn in a ton of paperwork and collect our new passports. (Peace Corps first project is really staying organized and on top of all the paperwork requirements.)/ Por fin con las maletas listas! Y esta vez es la ultima vez ya que me voy al aeropuerto en unas horas. Vuelo a Houston para esperar orientacion el martes. Tenemos que entregar un papeleo y recojer nuestros nuevos pasaportes. (El primer proyecto de Cuerpo de Paz es mantenerse organizada e informada de los requisitos del papeleo.)

57 of us will fly out to Honduras early Weds morning. Upon arriving, we'll be driven to Zarabanda for training and to meet our first host family. We'll be spending three weeks there doing general training. Then, we'll be split up into three large groups based on our project. We'll spend the next seven weeks in a new location and with a second host family. After all this, we'll return to Zarabanda for the finals week of training and our swearing in ceremony in Tegucigalpa. I'm excited!! / 57 de nosotros volaremos a Honduras el miercoles por la manana. Al llegar, nos llevaran a Zarabanda para entrenamiento y para conocer nuestra primera familia. Estaremos tres semanas ahi haciendo entrenamiento general. Despues, nos separan en tres grupos grandes dependiendo en nuestro proyecto. Pasaremos las proximas siete semanas en un nuevo sitio y con una segunda familia. Despues de todo esto, nos regresaran a Zarabanda para nuestra semana de examenes y nuestra ceremonia en Tegucigalpa. Estoy emocionada!

To be completely honest, I was going through many mixed emotions again. It's tough stuff to think of leaving everything/everyone for two years. Pero como alguin me recordo/but as someone reminded me....it's time for my dream to come true!! Y asi sera/and that's how it'll be.

Mixed emotions...

I've had such a great time hanging out at Soffie's that as the days pass by I'm going through mixed emotions. I'm glad to have come across a great book, "A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring" that has helped me be at peace. Reading John Wooden's words have also energized me. It reminds me that if I stick to my principles I will be fine in any situation during these upcoming months of service.

The pics are of our stroll around Indiana State Museum, our carne asada on Sunday, our stroll through Eaglecreek State Park, and our visit to Arby's Central Region office (Soffi's work site).

1 week, 4 days...

Trying to help my parents understand where/what I'll be living/doing...I came across a blog of another Youth Development Volunteer - Honduras volunteer. My parents were happy to see the living conditions will be similar to what we are familiar with in Mexico. La pila de agua para cuando no caiga el agua y una cubeta para banarnos. The few homes we saw looked luxurious compared to some en nuestro pueblo.

In Waterford with the familia...

..and repacking my bags. They were already overstuffed and now I needed to fit the few items I purchased in SF. I definitely went overboard on the number of shirts but I figured this will be my wardrobe for the next two years....so no harm in having choices. In case you are wondering what does a person take on a two year trip to the third world....let me share that PC provides us with a suggested packing list. Still pending are waterproof boots and a light rain jacket. The shopping continues =)

In preparation for my departure...

In preparation for my departure, I'm in SFO....out to paint the town red! Well, sort of. We had a chill day...morning at a coffee shop, afternoon at USF, a quick stop to get eyebrows done, and a great dinner at Fresca (Peruvian). I'm lucky to be spending time with a great friend.

I received info from PC today. They sent me pages of details on my training. And I mean details.....step by step arrival information. We will be training in Zarabanda. I came across a PCV blog during my Google searching. The volunteer has been in Honduras since Feb. 2009. Reading his blog has really helped better understand what training will be like.