Itinerary

Today I finally got the e-mail I had been anxiously awaiting...my flight information!

7/20/10: Fly from MSP to Atlanta EARLY in the am
Arrive in ATL in the mid-morning
"Staging" at the hotel...this period will include some short, but intense training sessions and submitting any last forms

7/21/10 Check-out of hotel
Go to clinic for any last minute immunizations
Evening fly out to ZAMBIA!!! (Only one stop in South Africa before arriving in Lusaka)

So after all that I will be in Lusaka the night of the 22nd....I'm not sure what the time change is yet. I'll add that to my list of "things to figure out..."

And one of the most exciting things is that my cost of this is $0.

Time

I will leave in exactly one month from today.
I am excited to begin, but don't really want to think about the sad part of saying goodbye...so until then I will just fill my time studying for my NCLEX exam and choose not to think about it. That's allowed, right?

Written Sentiments Are Welcomed!

Are you thinking, "Emily, if you don't have regular Internet access and no phone how will I ever keep in contact with you?" Well I am here to tell you, no fear you can WRITE to me with a classic old pen and paper!

For at least the first couple months you can write to me at:

Emily Skurla/PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia

Just be sure to write "Air Mail" and "Par Avion" to ensure that it makes it across the ocean :)
And if you want to give me a letter before I leave to take with me that would also be much appreciated :)

Just think how fun it will be to have a trans-continental pen pal?!

Details...

In t-minus 35 days I will leave for Zambia to begin my time as a Peace Corps Volunteer! I will be a Community Health Development Extensionist, working in a rural Zambian village helping to establish healthy strategies to deal with priorities such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and food improvement. Still don't really understand what that means? That's okay, neither do I! From what I've been reading in my HUGE packet I will be doing a lot of teaching with community members about various health topics, which really excites me because it is in the area of public health, which I have enjoyed in past clinicals.

Here's a little snapshot of what my life will look like:

So since I don't know too much, I will let you know what I do know:

1. I will be living in a remote village with my own hut

2. I get a bike to get me from place to place (helmet included)

3. No electricity, no running water

4. The first 3 months will be training with other volunteers, then I will be in my own village.

5. I leave July 20th (from where is still TBD)

6. I will return September 23, 2012.

Ah I can't wait!