London, here we come!

Packing Day!

Today we packed roughly 20 suitcases full of medical supplies and toys and gifts for the people of Africa. It was amazing to see how generous everyone was that donated! :)

Ready, Set, Go!

I can't believe I leave tomorrow! My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. I had an interesting experience packing my medications the other day. I took all the medications in blister pack out of their boxes and put them into little pill bottles thinking I was so smart, they would take up so much less room that way. Recycled all the extra bottles and went on my way. Then I got an email from my professor, telling me that if my luggage is checked at customs and there is any unlabelled medication, it can be seized with no questions asked. So not only did I have to search through my rather nasty recycling bin through a million little paper shreds which my landlord had just dumped in there, I had to go down to the pharmacies that I got the medication from in the big snow fall and get labelled pill bottles. Needless to say, I have learned my lesson, haha. My dog is here with me right now since my mom is out travelling for work and she seems to think she is coming with me. She enjoys lying in my carry on suitcase, trying to stick airdog wherever she can find room. I will miss her alot as well as everyone here in Kelowna, it was sad to say goodbye to everyone here but I will be back so soon to tell everybody about my wonderful adventure! Here I come, London :).

Departure

I am almost ready to leave in only five days! I have yet to try to fit everything in my 60L backpack, it is a rather scary thought. I am using these last few days to say good-bye to everyone and wrap up any last minute things that I forgot to do. I am already starting to realize how lucky I am here in Canada and I am not even in Africa yet! I am looking forward to my trip. I am starting to feel nervous and anxious, but am excited to get there safe and sound with all my belongings and be able to relax and get used to my new home for the next 2 months. I am looking forward to sharing all the little gifts that I bought for the people that I meet while I am there.

I will write once I arrive in London and have access to the internet, I will not have a cell phone until January 16th roughly and will post my number when I have it.

PS: I am having trouble viewing comments that are put on this blog, I believe you have to be a 'follower' of the blog for me to actually see the comments. If anyone knows how to fix this let me know, if not I am always available via facebook and email (ajem@live.ca).

Love,
Amanda

Welcome!

Hello everyone,


This will be where I will be writing what I am doing while I am in Africa in case anyone wants to see! According to the students from last year, the power is rather unstable. I will do my best to keep this up-to-date. I leave on January 10th, 2012 and will be returning home on March the 5th, 2012. So far, I know that I will be landing in London and staying there for 4 days before flying to Lusaka. From there I will be taking a very long bus ride to Mongu where I will be staying in a house (which looks very north american) with 14 other students. At the end of January, I will be going on a safari (like you see on the TV). For the last few days of my trip I will be visiting Victoria Falls, which is in Livingston. I will have access to facebook and that but I would absolutely love a phone call or a text from anyone that is willing to pay the charge and answer their phone at obscene hours (there is an approximate time difference of 10 hours).  I will post my phone number on here when I get it (which I won't get until I arrive in Zambia). 


Amanda