T-Minus Thirty

Let the countdown begin!

My last thirty days in the United States begin today, and I can't help but feel under-prepared for the next year.  In making my checklist of everything I need and want to do before I leave, I'm realizing how much I still need to put together.  Such are the concerns of avid list makers.  Major sigh.  Let's take a look:

[x]  Passport
[x]  Visa
[x]  Vaccinations
[  ]  Anti-malarial, diarrhea, and upset stomach pills
[  ]  Mosquito repellant
[x]  Ticket to Bangalore, India on July 26
[x]  Backpack
[x]  Underwear
[x]  Overwear
[  ]  Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
[  ]  Find a place to stay in Bangalore
[  ]  Find thing(s) to do on a 5 hour layover in Berlin, Germany
[  ]  Find a camera/camcorder/videorecorder that I hope won't get stolen
[  ]  Say my goodbyes

Note how many of those boxes are empty.  Note how many are checked.  Insert concerned frown.

On another note, I'm excited to wear my security travel pouch, as modeled by Loraine below.

Looking sleek, sexy, and discrete, Loraine.  I can only hope to hide my valuables as well as you do while I'm abroad.  Insert concerned frown again.

[Jmags]

Prologue

What? 

About two and a half months ago, I found out that I've been given the opportunity to embark on a Watson Fellowship, which allows someone to travel around the world to do something they're super passionate about;  in my situation, I proposed a project in studying how community service is incorporated into dance companies around the world.


So you're going to...?

To [tentatively] six countries:

1. Bangalore, India
2. Kampala, Uganda
3. Cairo, Egypt
4. Paris, France
5. London, England
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina

And the blog is for...?

Part of my proposal was to update a blog as much as possible to keep my friends and family informed on what I'm doing, but to also show that [somewhere in the world] I am alive and not shoved in a sewer.  I've decide to start writing in this to a) figure out what the text looks like while I'm still formatting the look of "the blog," b) keep myself entertained while in Wheeling, IL, and c) make some very dear friends who have egged me on to start blogging [somewhat] happy.  Additionally, expect pictures and videos, especially when I'm either at a loss for words, too exhausted to write, or have limited to no internet access to write that much or that long.


And you want me to do what?

One [or, preferably, more] of the following:

• Read this.
• Remember.
• Respond.
• Reply about your life.
• Criticize [I couldn't think of another "re" word] my tone.  I have a dreadful writing voice.

[Jmags]