As one of the worlds best procrastinators, getting ready to leave on Friday only means one thing: I don’t need to start packing until Thursday night around 11:45pm. While there are many emotions that go into leaving for trips, as a seasoned traveler I know that once I make it to the airport, or better yet, once I make it to my destination all worries will subside. Even the five minutes that I have let myself think as I sit down to write this blog have allowed for an overwhelming amount of self questioning. How many pairs of shoes do I pack? Do I bring jeans or shorts, or maybe both? What do I just “have to have” that I can get away with as a travel expense by putting it on Dad’s credit card? What happens if I miss my connecting flight? The list of questions flow as endlessly and consistently as a waterfall. Aren’t each of these questions natural to have. Isn’t the anxiety of going somewhere new, where you do not speak the language, completely normal. Whether you agree or not, I have to say yes, because life isn’t always butterflies and rainbows and as we depart for our journey there are going to be some rough patches along the way. For example we are 4 days from departing and I am still trying to get my flights worked out and while I do this others on the trip made their returning flights on the wrong day. Why do we go through all the chaos, it’s because we are excited to learn and eat in our case, and are equally as excited to see what South America has in store for us.
So for now, I am going to try to piece together a packing list, find the itinerary in the black whole of an e-mail inbox that I have, and keep educating myself through our weekly webinars about what to expect while in Uruguay. And until I make it there safely, I am just going to roll with the punches and remember how blessed that I am to be getting the chance to partake in an opportunity like this.
