wheels in motion

so the wheels are in motion ... it's all happening. it's all real. i've told my bosses i'm leaving and this week is the first time i'm telling my colleagues. most are shocked because i keep things to close to my heart, so this is the first they've heard. but everyone is really happy for me, very congratulatory, which is wonderful. not that i thought they'd be anything else. but it's nice to have that affirmation.

to give a recap of what my life will look like over the course of the next twelve months (in theory anyway) here goes:

now-january ... finish up with EUSA. this includes a trip to london towards the end of nov - mid-december. christmas in california, back to boston briefly in january before one last trip/meetings to london at the end of jan for work. and since i'm on that side of the world, i'll go straight to the gambia for my volunteer experience where i'll work in a school in the village of kunkujang. apparently there is no running water or electricity and classes are sometimes held under the mango trees. the woman i know who did this same program last year told me that it was 50% absolutely amazing and 50% pure shit. i'm hoping i can skew the percentages towards the amazing and away from the shit. though with a hole in the ground for a toilet, that could be tough!

i'm looking forward to getting away and being removed from reality as i know it. NOT at the end of a computer, or a phone or an email or an IM - although admittedly i'm sure i'll go through withdrawals. the fact that it's only going to three months is absolutely a perfect amount of time to get away - knowing that i'll return. so i think i will probably embrace every moment (even the shit ones!) i'm looking into all the shots i have to get now, while i'm still covered by insurance. and i know i'll have to take malaria pills. but i think i can handle it. apparently the gambia is known for bird watching ... and has amazing sunsets and beaches. so if anyone is looking for a holiday next spring ... the invite is open!

after the gambia, i'll head back to the states. i had thought about returning to boston, buying a car and driving across country. but i suppose that depends on when i need to be back to california to start some classes over the summer. classes that are pre-requisites for the masters program i'll (hopefully!) be attending at san francisco state in school counseling. i have to apply for that in january and will find out sometime in april whether i've been accepted.

so it's all happening. like i said the wheels are in motion and the bus is on its way! who knows where it'll end up but i sure am looking forward to the journey. watch this space for more exciting news soon!

(the jack johnson song 'upside down' is the soundtrack to my life at the moment. buy it on iTunes and i guarantee it'll make you smile!)