In Miami.... Pre-Orientation

Miami is beautiful, just like it was last year when I was here. Everything seems like a vacation today, but I know once tomorrow starts it won't be at all. My hotel has a pool that changes colors outside with jets flying right over the top! Nice for now, at least.

I still have yet to go to bed, though I did manage to catch a few zzzzz's on the plane(s) here. You should have seen it! It was the typical movie scene of someone trying to pack for two years in a matter of an hour and a half. I know there are plenty of things that I forgot back at home. Not to mention that I left my mom's house in complete shambles from the lack of time we had thanks to a flat tire on my brother's car earlier in the day! It was a hell of a send off, thats for sure! :) But I am here now, and so far, I am fine. PC hasn't started yet, officially, but it's already a much different life as I can tell it will be.

I met Desmund today. He came from Seattle with me to Miami. He's short in person! He's a cool dude. I think we are going to get along quite well, though he is going to be at St. Vincent and the Genadines. I've decided I am going to call him "Dezzy". Ironically, there were two married couples in the shuttle to the airport that were also part of our training group! Both of them were amazingly nice and it seems like everyone has a lot to offer their communities. One of the couples, Louiss and Scott are staying on St. Lucia with me. Louis will be working with Youth Development as well. They are kayak trainers in Boston. I cannot wait for them to take me out on the water! Then I got to meet my roomie for the trip in Miami and funny enough her name is Lee. So what did I say but "hey, Lee" (like Haley for those of you that don't get it!).

So I think that this is going to be good. It's certainly not going to be easy but I know it is all going to be worth it in the long run. It is going to be an experience that I will never forget and never want to let go. I am excited, nervous and anxious to get started because I know this is only the beginning and I cannot wait to see what lies in front of me for the next two years! I'm kinda anxious to meet the rest of the group tomorrow to see what they are like. Unfortunately we don't get the three weeks of training all together that most of the groups get. Instead we get three days in Miami and four days in St. Lucia.... boo! Makes sense though so we can get started earlier. Already so much I am looking forward to.