This just got real...

Sitting in the airport in Detroit at the moment waiting to board my flight to Philadelphia. It was hard leaving home this morning- quite honestly saying goodbye to Oliver and Otis (my dogs) was the hardest part.

It's just that being home is comfortable. I have people that will care for me all around and I don't have to be so responsible the whole time. I love my comfy bed and the full kitchen access. Our couch is comfy and it's summer time in Michigan. 

But my time has come, this is it. My whole life all I've wanted to do is travel the world and take photographs. If this isn't my chance quite frankly I'm not sure what is.

I woke up at 4:15 am this morning and my first thought was "I'm not ready, no not yet." And let me tell you from personal experience that's the worst possible thought you can have. But I'm just scared and to be perfectly honest: change? I suck at it. I'll love it there and I'll love this entire experience it's just scary to say goodbye to my comfortable house with my loving family for so long. I will always be scared and as Summer my older sister told me this morning "you'll always want one more moment." 

But here I go- I'm living it out- my new life motto: "if not now, then when?" Because seriously? I'm 20. It all starts today, with this first flight to Philedelphia!

And I'm carrying it all...

• 11 pairs of pants
• 14 shirts
• 2 things of deodorant
• 2 things of eyeliner
• 4 pairs of shoes
• 1 gazillion pairs of earrings
• 30 pair of underwear
• 1 raincoat
• 1 jacket
• 1 large can of bug spray (30% deet)
• 1 laptop
• 2 pairs of head phones
• 3 cameras
• 6 camera lenses
• 2 speedlites
• 4 books
• 1.25 hair brushes
• 90 face wash toiletts
• 2 head scarves
• 1 watch
• numerous medications
• a bunch of other necessary stuff...
• 4 host gifts
• 2 plane tickets
• 1 visa
• 1 passport

59 hours...

Tons of last minute packing to do. Hopefully I'll post a complete list of everything I am packing later.

Tomorrow I'm spending with my mom getting our nails done since she took the day off. It'll be nice to hopefully relax and have some fun before leaving.

Advice: Prepare for getting forwards on your prescriptions well before traveling- that's my advice for the day. 

Crunch Time

Well with about 82 hours left until my flight ... I'm getting really stressed, sad, excited, nervous, thrilled, terrified, and about every other emotion you can think of. I'm desperately trying to fit in time with everyone I love back here at home. I haven't even really packed because I can't get myself to sit in my room by myself and pack when I could be with my family. Then I run into  my rambling thoughts of I can't even stay up really late to do it because then I won't wake up early enough to spend the entire day with them. I have been blessed with some really great days here at home with my friends and family. I've gotten to bake and go to baseball games and the zoo and have bonfires and go to my favorite restaurants, most importantly I've gotten to catch up on Downton Abbey and hung out at home with my family.

I've received my passport and visa in the mail. I've finished my typhoid vaccination and will be soon to start my altitude sickness preventative meds.

Oy vay... it's so soon!

Typhoid and Malaria and Acetazolamide... Oh my!

Well this medicine stuff is getting to be a real thing. The pressure that comes with being sure to take your Typhoid vaccination the correct way is a serious one. And also a real pain. Everyone is making me worried since I'm not being vaccinated for Malaria so thats seemed to become a real worry. And on top of it all, I've been wracking my brain trying to think what my other prescription was supposed to be for... but I just couldn't remember. So, naturally I looked it up. Acetazolamide... its used for epileptic seizures and glaucoma, neither of which I suffer from. It also so happens to be used for altitude sickness which I must admit I know little to nothing about but well, we will just have to see how it goes!

Anyhow, the plans are going well and everything is falling together. Only about a week left!

I'm Rich! ... Or Am I?

Well, my I Owe You paid off and I received my Nepalese Rupees today! The drive home from Birmingham was absolutely miserable but at least I got to sit next to my dad the whole time.

Not sure the exact strength and dependence on a Nepalese Rupee so I feel like I traded in my green bucks for... well I'm not sure what. The bills look old and used but thats all the beauty in it right? Had a nice little chat about the worth of each bill also with the man at the currency exchange office. Ten Nepalese Rupees are worth about twelve cents in US Dollars. It'll will be pretty cool to have a grasp on the bills and the cost of everything over there. I remember coming home from Mexico last summer and in the air port we used US money for the first time in over a month and it just looked and felt so weird, not to mention a coffee suddenly was extremely expensive.

I'm excited to look at this time in Nepal more like "moving" there, for a short time be it, but ten weeks is just a bit too long to call a vacation. I'll be un packing, moving in, making my self comfortable. I'll be finding my favorite place to stop and buy some chocolate and fully re adjusting my sleep schedule. I'll forget that everyone back here in the states is asleep when I'm awake. I'll get sick of the food and then eventually just adjust my tastebuds to it. This is no just get through it, see what its like and try to survive, this is the real deal.

... lets just hope the Nepalese Rupees I have lying next to me are too!

An I Owe You...

Today Summer, Amanda, and I drove down to Birmingham to visit our favorite currency exchange business. Summer was successful in receiving Mexican Pesos, Amanda received her Indian Rupees, and I received a lovely receipt that pretty much says I Owe You. Being that the Nepalese Rupee isn't the most common bill that the business exchanges for customers the owner had to place a custom order for me today. I left my US Dollars with him and chatted a bit about my plans for Nepal. I'm now just waiting on a call from him to say that they have arrived, then another half hour drive down to pick them up!

I also got my hair cut today in hopes of making the care a little bit simpler while I'm over there.

I started laying out my clothes the other day across my bedroom floor. I bought some really nice pants the other day with my mom at the mall that I think will serve me well with the heat and the rain over there but also help me look at least semi-professional while I'm working. I also ordered some custom Chacos, (high quality walking sandals)! I'm very excited about them and can't wait for them to get some serious use out in Kathmandu!

Its getting so close! 16 days, 6 hours, 14 minutes, and 34 seconds! So much to still do! Trying to enjoy my last little bit at home too though!

Papers on Papers on Papers...

If I've learned anything about international travel its that it requires a lot of paper. Filling out my visa application required: application paper, instructions on how to complete application paper, printed passport size photo from CVS, receipt for passport size photo from CVS, and a printed money order (also from CVS), along with its own receipt. With an email sent to my host father I received my address for while I'm there and finished up the application. Paper still to be utilized (for the visa alone): all envelopes and return envelopes to be purchased at FedEx!

Today I also picked up my prescriptions from CVS all four of them. My typhoid vaccination is waiting in the fridge for me! Only about a week left until I start taking those!

Yesterday I ordered myself some new hiking sandals and also an English/Nepali dictionary. So, as much as I still have left to do, things are coming together!

23 days, 7 hours, 10 minutes and 50 seconds left until take off!

The Count Down Continues

Just received another picture of my home in Kathmandu from Nardev, my host father. I've been keeping busy with getting everything ready for my trip! I started working on my visa application today, can't wait to have all of that settled! Only 24 days left until departure... yikes! So much to do so little time!

Preparation Time

Well yesterday, I finally wrapped up my sophomore year of undergrad. I took my last exam at 8 am and by 9:25 am I was checked out of my dorm and on the road with my tiny car shoved full of nearly my whole life. Immediately once back in Novi I drove straight to the doctors office to pick up my immunization records. At four I had an appointment with a travel doctor to get Hepititus A and Meningitis vaccinations. I left with I don't even know how many prescriptions also. We talked about how the elevations was going to feel and things I probably shouldn't do while in Kathmandu.

I've sent my flight intenerary to all of my program coordinators and been warned on what to do once I get to the airport. Now as a pretty adventurous person it takes a lot to scare me... But this email managed to get even me a little worried. It's a matter of avoiding locals trying to scan me out of my money or drive off with any of my bags. I'm not too concerned though as long as I find the IFRE man with a card that says my name all will be well. 

I've also been in contact with my host father Nardev who has told me about my (lack of a) dress code for work and that his family rarely eats meat and me being a vegetarian will not be of any inconvenience to him or his family. I've heard really positive things about him and his family from various sources and I'm really hoping it all works out. Not going to lie though going to a place primarily vegetarian really takes a load of concern off my shoulders. 

Now that school is out of the way I'm in full blown planning mode! This part is the really fun and exciting part! All of it will be figured out in just the next 27 days 19 hours and 33 minutes!