jitters or lack thereof.

After what seemed like a full month of packing and preparing for my African departure, I finally left behind the comforts of home this Thursday. With many a tearful farewell to my family in New Hampshire, I was happy to arrive into the welcoming arms of friends in Washington DC. Staying in DC for the last few days catching up with dear friends and luxuriating in various relaxing activities has been so good for me.

Friday, Evelyn and I went to a lovely noontime yoga flow class followed by a most wonderful massage. The combination of the two put me in such a peaceful state of bliss. It's great to be in the city too, with all the culture, rhythm, energy and wonderful places to eat & drink! Indeed, Friday night it was such a pleasure to enjoy a leisurely glass of wine at the hookah bar with a friend from Montana who just recently moved to the DC area on Friday night. After that, we met up with Evelyn and her new fiance to celebrate their engagement at a nice little restaurant in the Adam's Morgan district of DC.

And joy of all joys, my very dear friend Jenna arrived on Saturday morning for a quick 24-hour visit! Continuing with the luxurious theme of the previous day, we spent the afternoon at a mini-spa called "Mint," where we sweated out our impurities in the steam room and sauna, and enjoyed (you guessed it) mint-flavored water and mint-scented lotions and shampoos. The whole experience left all of us practically floating down the street to a small wine & cheese shop, where we picked up provisions for a nice ladies night at Evelyn's apartment.

All the while, I have felt nothing but calm and relaxed leading up to my departure to Madagascar these last few days. I had anticipated feeling jittery and nervous and scared, but have been pleasantly surprised to feel such a sense of readiness. I see this as a good sign that I am in the right space. However, in just a few hours, I make my way across the city to the Peace Corps orientation, where I will meet the other 20-someodd Environmental & Small Business Development volunteers who will be serving in Madagascar, and I think that is when the full weight of reality will start to sink in. This afternoon we'll spend about five hours learning about basic expectations and going through medical & legal paperwork, spend the night at the hotel, and depart for the airport tomorrow afternoon.

The flight from DC to Johannesburg will take about 18 hours. We layover there and then it's just a quick 5 more hours the next day to our final destination in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. And while I have plenty of long-distance flights under my belt, I imagine the combination of being cooped up with jitters and excitement will have me feeling a little antsy by the time we arrive. Upon arrival, I'm meant to have a brief job interview and get placed with our host family that I'll be staying with for the next three months.

So for now, I'm enjoying the last couple hours of my life as a free entity, before I become an official government worker, listening to some blues and sipping on coffee in a little sunny apartment in Washington DC. With a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

happiness equals:

mindfulness
inquisitiveness
energy
joy
concentration
tranquility
equanimity

happiness also equals spending time with my grandmother, who is the only person i know in the world who can find something to wonder upon and be joyful about in every moment, with mindfulness and sincerity.

shopping.

Today I went shopping.

For perhaps the fourth or fifth day in a row, I have willingly joined the unsatisfied masses in their insatiable attempt to acquire more all in the name of being prepared for having less in Madagascar.

Shopping makes me feel berserk. I question all the big and little aspects of every purchase. Why am I paying $25 for a shirt I know cost 30 cents to actually make in Bangladesh? Why must I buy a whole new watch when the one I have just needs a new wristband? However, the wristband is not replaceable; I have to buy a whole new piece because Timex has perfected the art of planned obsolescence. And which shoes to bring? Forget about it.

As I begin to pack and decide which items to bring and which to leave behind, I keep thinking of a quote I read from a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. She said she struggled with the 80-pound luggage limit before her departure only to arrive at her village and discover that she had 79 more pounds of stuff than all of her neighbors. A humbling experience, for sure, and one of many I look forward to witnessing myself firsthand.

the beginning (snow).

First of all, thank you for visiting my blog. Your interest in this endeavor is greatly appreciated. Secondly, please bear with me as I learn how to create an aesthetically pleasing blog that you will actually want to read!

As I sit at my desk in New Hampshire, and enjoy the view of spruce branches bending under the heavy weight of wet snow, I try to imagine what my new life will be like in Madagascar in just a couple weeks. For now, there are the simple pleasures of being home with family and enjoying the quiet solitude of a long walk in the snowy woods.

The frenetic packing and excitement and anticipation are just days away.