I made it to Fiji

Hey!  I made it to Fiji, we have been crazy busy & this is the first time I've been able to post. Things here are good, hot, but good.  I am eaten alive, but I'm managing it.  All of the people I'm here with are wonderful and I have some great friendships forming.  I am now with my host family in an Indo-Fijian community & learning to speak Hindi.  I will try to post pics as soon as I can, I'm on a public computer right now.

Miss everyone & Jimmy Johns!

made it

I made it to LA - I'm wiped out & heading to bed!

Well my bags are packed, I'm ready to go!

I'm packed! Finally, but not with out 3 to 5 meltdowns - its ok, I'm allowed to cry about having (or feeling like I need) so much stuff.  My parents were a HUGE help with packing today, they strategically placed things in my bags and let me cry when I needed.  I really have no idea what is in my backpack, it will be like Christmas when I open it up! Candace was also a big help last night, we drank wine and sorted all of my clothes.

I hope I have everything, and if not, I will just get it there. Its amazing how much stuff I think I need to survive, I cannot wait for the Fijian people to show me a different way of living. Today I realized that I may have been a little high maintenance all of these years, but then again, people didn't call me Princess for nothing!

Here are my bags

I will try to update my blog when I get to Fiji, but its pretty doubtful that will happen.  But I will update as soon as I can.

This is going to be fun!

Beginning of the Packing Experience

My departure is fast approaching, so that means it is time to pack.  I am not looking forward to trying to pack for two years. I am able to check 2 bags and have one carry-on. I think have all of my bags ready, now I need to fill them. I'm getting down to the wire.

Of my two bags, I can take one with me to my host family and one will go into storage until after swearing-in (3 months).  I have a strategy in mind, separate my things into Now, 3months & 6months.  My family is planning on coming in December, so if I cannot fit it all, they can bring it then.  I just hope I am prepared!

Here is all of the 'stuff'' I would like to take

The shoes I would like to take...I realize I will not be taking all of them, but I will miss them while I'm gone.

My clothes I would like to take, we'll see what makes it to Fiji

Mini Marathon & Going Away Party

This past week and weekend was very eventful - my sister and her family came into town, my other sister's boyfriend came into town, I ran a half marathon and had a going away party!

Saturday morning was the 500 Festival Mini Marathon.  This was my first race and it was a cold one!  The wind was blowing so hard, it felt like I was running in place for a while.  I finished in 2 hours and 24 minutes - a little past my goal of 2hr 15min, but I did have to make a quick pit-stop before the 10 mile mark.  Right now, it is unlikely I will ever do that again - miles 10-12 were hell, and once I hit the 1/2 mile to go I wanted to cry. But I made it & didn't stop to walk. My sister Katy and friend Brian also ran with me, they finished in 1hr 55min (katy) and 1hr 53min (brian),  I'm very proud of all of us!

Everyone getting ready to go...we are somewhere in the middle

Saturday evening we had my Going Away Party.  The weather was very chilly, but that just made all of us closer inside together.  I had so many wonderful people stop by to say good-bye! My parents had a yard sign delivered & my mom had a beautiful and delicious cake made for me!

Some of my family members drove in from out of town to say good-bye, and the others were there in spirit!  I am so lucky to have such an awesome family.

My mom had shirts made for our family

The Wetzel family

My nephew Nicolas and I

My Sisters, in birth order - Sarah, Katy, Greta & Heidi

Mom and I

Many friends stopped by - and they could not leave without taking a picture with me...I think I got everyone

I had such a great time...but now its time to pack, I've been dreading this part- wish me luck!

Last Day of Work

Yesterday was my last day of work at DCS, we had a good-bye lunch on Wednesday & a dessert pitch-in Friday with cannoli's, angel food cake, brownies, cupcakes, lemon bars, rice crispy treats, fruit and sherbet punch- everything was so delicious!
 
My teammates were so wonderful and got me a HUGE bag of goodies that I will need for Fiji, I am so lucky to have these wonderful people in my life!

My bag of goodies, including a pink flyswatter with a flower attached

I will miss my co-workers so much, I was so lucky to be able to work with them for the past two years.  They are all awesome social workers & are doing great work around the state.

Me and Trish, Erin, Valerie, Tracy & Sonya.....Annette was out of town

As I was walking (skipping really) out to the parking garage, I snapped a shot of me on the 6th floor with the city sky-line.