Time left at posting: 556 hours
23 days left until we leave San Francisco, so I thought it was a perfect time to post an update.
After the earthquake recently in Nepal, I emailed our guide Raj just to make sure he and his family were okay. Fortunately they did not have any damage or injuries, but they were a bit nervous after such a large quake.
Preparations are finally getting serious and I have been starting to gather my stuff together and make a few last minute purchases so that I have everything ready. Lately I have been shedding some of the things I was planning on bringing, such as a GPS and my Kindle in favor of going old school. We will have a GPS that Jeff is bringing and I don't see the need for two of them, and I really don't want to have to worry about charging or breaking anything. I should still be able to post updates to my blog if and when an Internet
connection is available with the MacBook Air that Jeff is bringing, so
it is not like we won't have our precious gadgets (Although there is this altimeter watch I have my eye on that has been very difficult to resist purchasing, so perhaps I may make this one concession). Otherwise my plan is to go with a paper journal and large paperback book for my reading and writing pleasure. As we are planning on packing as much of our own stuff as we can, no point in taking anything that will only add weight. I can carry more beef jerky and gummy bears this way!
As we get closer to the departure day, I am starting to get the same excited feelings as I did when going to pick up Jack from Kyrgyzstan a few years back. It is kind of an emotional soup with so many feeling mixed in together. There is of course excitement and anticipation, but there is also a bit of guilt mixed in as I am leaving my family for so long. Plus there is always that small amount of fear that something will go wrong, such as getting injured or sick. It's nothing major or anything that would lessen the excitement of my trip, but it is always hanging out there in the back of your mind. Don't worry though as I don't let any of that bother me, in fact it has become increasingly difficult to keep my excitement level down to a point where I can still function at work and school. Trust me when I tell you that I am totally fired up for this trip!
I am sure that the updates will start coming a bit more often now that we are getting so close to leaving, so I will sign-out for now.
