Red Tape: My Nemesis

So despite my best efforts to stay calm about this trip, the process of procuring a visa is beginning to unnerve me. Unfortunately for me, I have had to wait on some documents from the places I will be working for and staying with while in South Africa. This means applying for a visa much later than I would like to be. My five calls to the consulate in the past few weeks to make sure I have everything in order did not save me from having an incomplete application with less than two weeks from departure. Breathe. My sister and I have been playing the worst case scenario game and this has managed to put things in perspective. Yes I'm doing everything I can (Including going to the most sketch walk in clinic ever while visiting my dad in Florida, trying to sound like needing a chest x ray and physical in a state I don't really live in to leave the country is no big deal) and yes, I might have to change my travel plans slightly but I WILL MAKE IT TO SOUTH AFRICA. Everybody cross your fingers!

Preparations

Its a weird feeling to spend more money than I ever have before on something as intangible as rent for the next 4 months. But each preparation like this makes my trip feel that much closer to reality. I have surprised myself with the lack of concern or worry I have felt, which is awesome! Who would want to waste time feeling anything but excitement about such a great experience. I really think that talking to my sister and sharing in her experiences abroad has really settled any anxiety I would have had. In reality, its just geography.

Also, I would like to thank everyone who has offered up contacts of friends and family that may be in Africa when I will be there. I appreciate all the help and advice! So if anyone else out there has any info that would be beneficial just shoot me a comment, I love being prepared :)

Speaking of which, the daunting task of packing up my life in less than 50 lbs. is looming in the distance. I am very much an over packer (who wouldn't want to be totally over prepared for everything?) so this is going to be the challenge of a lifetime. I'm heading to cross country camp for a week on Wednesday so in order to get into a more minimalist mindset I will only be taking a backpack. I am actually looking forward to having fewer choices. Gives me time for more important things, like running :)

The Countdown Begins!

Hello everyone! Welcome to my South African blog! I can't believe after over a year of thinking about this and months of planning, I am almost ready to take off! A few vaccinations and a visa approval is all that separates me from this new adventure. My trip begins September 5th from Detroit, then after a brief layover in Amsterdam I will be landing in Cape Town about 26 hours later.

For those that don't know, I was placed by a program called Connect 123 into an unpaid internship with an NGO (Non Governmental Organization) called Regency. http://www.regency.org/ Specifically, I will be helping with a project called HIV & Me, an HIV/AIDS education and prevention program targeting 12-15 year olds. My role will be doing project research and evaluation for the organization. It is estimated that 11% of the population in South Africa are HIV positive, and this country holds the highest infection rate in the world (20%). Programs like these need to be continually evaluated in order to ensure that the goal of infection reduction is being met.

I also plan on volunteering with Child Safe, a program that documents child accidents in Africa and creates education programs to prevent more harm to be done. My Connect 123 contact has offered to take me with her when she collects data for the program.

I have already google earthed my apartment there (yes, I know, a little stalker-ish but I was too excited!) and I am really pumped to be right down the road from the South African Parliment building, and only a few minutes walk from where I will be working. I also can not wait to explore Table Mountian and all the trails I'm sure are surrounding it.