Less than a month!

It's officially less than one month away and I have no idea how I'm getting there! I still haven't received my "Staging Kit", which tells me how to make my travel arrangements. I am starting to get emails more frequently from this Jason character, who informed me that he is looking forward to meeting me Jan 29th in Washington D.C. As I'm typing this, I can't help but feel like I'm flying off to meet a complete stranger; a match made in the Peace Corps world, with whom I've has so little contact with that I can't even decide if I should be excited about meeting him.

Yesterday, Jason sent me another email informing me about language resources. Turns out I should be freshening up on my Wolof, one of the many indigenous languages in The Gambia, but spoken by 90% of those in Senegal (which surrounds The Gambia on 3 sides), as opposed to French, which is only spoken by 20% of males and only 2% of females. Wolof is also a language spoken in Mauritania, Mali and a few other West African countries. I could also be learning Mandinka or Fula, but I looked at the consonants in the Wolof language and they seem pretty neat, so I'm pulling for Wolof.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season, spending time with those with whom they want! (Does that even make sense?!) Happy new year!

New Years Eve Par-Tay

8:30, this Sunday at 623 S. Lahoma Avenue in Norman (Joe Ripperger's house). It could be the last time you see me!

What-not

The other night, I dreamt that I witnessed a hostage situation in a car that I was following. I tried to get the licence plate number. After I couldn't see that clearly, I followed the car with the hostage to a house. I ended up getting caught and played a game of hide and seek with the criminal. It was pretty creepy.

On a ligher note, Christmas was wonderful this year. I have gone on two amazing runs around my neighborhood in Carrollton (thanks to the new MP3 player from Chris), reflecting on whom and what I will miss. I am so grateful that I was able to spend these past few holidays with my family and that I will be around for the birth of one of my best friend's first child. I received an email from the Peace Corps stating that they "are looking forward to my arrival in D.C. on the 29th of January". That was news to me, as I still haven't received my staging kit, which tells me how to make travel arrangements. I also got a letter for you guys to read, which I posted as the "Peace Corps info for friends and family" link.

My family will be making our annual visit to Beavers Bend State Park in a few days. We will celebrate my Mother's 55th birthday with family friends and hike nature trails that I know like the back of my calloused hands. I am looking forward to 3 days of solace through hikes, books, runs, camp fires and soul soups and pastas. Roscoe is almost as excited as I am. His frisbee is already packed in the car.

Livin it up in Nompton

Soooooooooo, in keeping with my love of lists, I've decided to start a "Things to do in Norman and the surrounding areas with people who would like to hang out because we won't be able to hang out for a while" list. Feel free to comment some suggestions because I know you Normanites have been keeping those underground Latin salsa dance clubs secret from us wanna be Normanites.

1. Happy hour (or any hour for that matter) at the Library
2. Play with my dogs
3. Make something at the Beadery
4. Buy music at Guestroom
5. See a movie at the Ed Nobel Theater/ art exhibit at Oklahoma City Museum of Art
6. Eat at Sushi Neko
7. Stay out dancing all night long with friends
8. Take some photos of things that remind me of Norman
9. Make a snow angel (please snow one more time!!!!!!!!!!!)
10. Get a beer and prepare for stares at Ol' Blues Bar on Flood

My so-called boring life

So, I was told the other day by a good-hearted person that my blog (I still haven't gotten used to that word) has recently been "kinda boring". Yikes! Does that mean my life is kinda boring? Well, I guess I'll let you decide that one. But, heck, I'm having a good time and that's all that matters, right?

This is a little of what I've been doing since I started feeling like the departure count down has begun.

I go to my awesome advocating job for NASW two times a week, and usually babysit for these adorable (that is until 5 o'clock comes around) two kiddos once a week.

In the past few weeks, I've been taking advantage of the sweet things that OU has to offer, such as plays, capstones and concerts. I saw Iphigenia, a Greek tragedy put on by the drama department. I also saw Joanna Newsom and Billy Callahan from Smog. Both perfomed amazing sets, but I can't stop describing how mesmorizing Joanna Newsom and her harp were.

I've been practicing yoga at Ashtanga Yoga Studio on Campus Corner about 3 or 4 times a week. If you like being surrounded by genuine people and have ever been interested in learning Ashtanga yoga, I highly recommend a visit.

I've been reading a ton and looking for good books to read. I just finished Little Children by Tom Perrotta; a great dynamic read. Have any more suggestions?

I've been making a lot of lists. I have a list of what to pack. I have the obvious list of what needs to be done before I leave (like making tons of phone calls). I even started a list of random things that I like and a list of things that I don't like that has nothing to do with The Gambia.

I've also recently decided to do a trial period of vegetarianism (still consuming fish, dairy and eggs). Partly because I'm interested to see if it will help with my yoga practice, but also because if it doesn't work out, eating in The Gambia may be easier. Okay, yeah, that really doesn't make any sense, but I'm going to try it anyway.

Also, I'm helping my friend, Joe, plan a huge New Year's Eve party. I think it's gonna be awesome. Last time he had a party, there was a bar tender. More to come on that later, but mark your calendars!

Finally, I have definitely NOT been stuyding for the GRE. I don't even know if I want to take it right now. It's just so much easier to watch my lists grow longer and longer and enjoy a few seasonal beers at The Libaray with good company.

Christmas party this Friday

So, I know this technically has nothing to do with The Gambia, but my roommates and I are having a Christmas party Friday, Dec. 15 around 8pm. Bring your friends and beverages of your holiday cheer.

201 Apache (Big white house on the corner of Sante Fe and Apache, bottom floor)
Norman

A few more wishes

A harmonica (check, thanks to Brandon!!)

A day planner/calendar with large boxes to write in

Pre-departure Nostalgia?

Is there such thing? Recently people have been asking me if I'm ready to take the plunge. I had been saying that I feel mentally prepared, but not materially prepared. But that was before I turned the page on my wall calander to December.

Less than two months away, I am already sensing a feeling of what it will be like to miss my amazing network of friends and activities here in Norman. With that said, I want to spend as much time as possible with YOU!!! Yeah, that's right, YOU! Without the time, laughs, fun, sturggles, hours at The Library, etc., my life wouldn't have ammounted to what its combination is today. So pick up the phone, send an email, stop by my house or purposely run into me on the street (I'll try to do the same), cuz I've got a tad of free time and plenty of ways to spend it.

The Information Station

Due to the recent influx of questions regarding anything to do with the Peace Corps and The Gambia, I have decided to make some lists. Hopefully this will ease some repetition so we can talk about you a little more.

What I don't know:
1. Where I will be living, whether it will be in a rural or urban area, with or without a host family
2. How much I will be making
3. What exactly I will be doing
4. When I will return to the US
5. Which indigenous tribe I will be working with and what language I will be learning
6. How often I will have phone or computer access
7. If I will have electricity
8. If I will have running water
9. If I wll be working with another Peace Corps volunteer or alone
10. Where my orientation in the States will be held

What I do know:
1. They speak English
2. I will be doing something under community health and development
3. I will be in training for 3 months in a camp called Tendaba
4. I will be in my assignment for 24 months starting after the training
5. I leave at the end of January or the beginning of February
6. I have a few days of orientation in the States before I leave (which I found out now is in D.C. on the 29th of January)

What I want to bring but don't have yet:
1. MP3 player (check! Chris, you're awesome)
2. A travel yoga mat
3. A good head lamp (check! Thanks Aaron and Lisa!!)
4. A quick dry towl (check! Dang, I actually received 3 of these all in about 3 days. Thanks so much Andrew and Julie, Bob and Erica, Mom and Dad)
5. Burts Bees chap stick (Brandon rules)
6. Another synthetic sports bra
7. Synthetic running pants that come just below my knees
8. Any advice on herbal meds that could help with digestion problems