packing...

so, after much deliberation, i have basically decided on what i'm bringing with me to the dr. i have 12 days left to get everything together and shove it into my big pack, a big rolly suitcase, a daypack, and a tote bag. in case you're interested, here's the list (which could change at any minute)

• 11 shirts
• 2 button-down shirts
• 8 pants/capris
• 2 pairs mesh shorts
• 4 skirts
• 3 dresses
• 2-week supply of socks
• 2-week supply of underwear/bras
• 3 bathing suits
• raincoat
• 2 sweatshirts
• light jacket
• 2 belts
• 1 baseball hat (old school orioles, yet to be purchased)
• 1 wide brim hat
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 1 pair of nice sandals
• 1 or 2 pairs of flats
• 1 pair of chacos
• 1 pair of "light hikers" as my dad says
• 2 pairs of flip flops
• shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant, tampons, sunblock, toothpaste etc
• 1 bath towel, 1 beach towel, 1 washcloth and 1 quick dry towel
• 2 sets of full size cotton sheets
• coolmax sleeping bag liner
• ziploc bags
• can opener
• spices
• peeler
• apron
• measuring cups
• watch
• alarm clock
• 2 pairs of sunglasses
• umbrella
• my little leatherman
• 2 nalgenes
• headlamp and mini maglite (and extra lightbulbs and batteries)
• sewing kit including good scissors
• 2 notebooks
• envelopes
• pens, pencils, crayons
• small picture album
• some jewelry
• cards, uno cards, travel scrabble, book of NYT crosswords
• mini spanish-english dictionary (thanks lisa!)
• emergen-c packets
• powerbars/clif bars
• ipod (thanks dad!)
• shortwave radio
• laptop
• flash drive
• surge protector
• tons of batteries
• digital camera
• presents for host families and kids (stickers, coloring books, etc)
• possibly a crazy creek if theres room
• as many books as i can fit

suggestions/observations are welcome!

the next step is fitting it all into my bags. kacey suggested getting those vacuum seal bags for my clothes, which is a great idea and i think it will help a lot with packing. oh man this is hard.

(kind of) getting ready

i have about 2 months left in the US... but only 4 weeks left in baltimore! i'm going backpacking in california for 3 weeks, and then i'm taking a mini-road trip to visit family in RI, NY, CT, and MI. i'll be gone from july 19- aug 21, so i'm trying to get things done now. here's a list of some things i have to get done by september:

-back up everything on my computer
-buy digital camera
-get insurance for my laptop and aforementioned camera
-close one of my bank accounts
-make my parents co-signers on the bank accounts i won't be closing
-cancel my cell phone
-sign a power of attorney so my dad can do my taxes
-apply for an absentee ballot
-try to renew my license so it doesn't expire while i'm gone
-renew my credit card so it doesn't expire
-pack up my life for 2.25 years
-say goodbye to alot of people

so yeah, i have a lot on my mind. it will be worth it though!through yahoo groups and facebook i've met a few people who are also headed to the DR in september, and i'm getting really excited to go. nervous, but definitely excited.

i am a college graduate!

so i graduated from school on saturday and now i'm back in baltimore. things are definitely slower here and i already miss my friends. a family friend of ours gave me a guidebook to the dR for graduation and i have been reading up on the country and such. i keep hoping that someone else will contact me saying they were invited to the dr too, i feel like i am the only one right now! tomorrow aubrey and i are going to REI to try on chacos and generally do peace corps shopping. woo

i'm very new at this

ok this is my first ever blog entry. blog is a weird word. i have about four months until i leave for the dominican. aubrey and i are going to go chaco shopping together soon, since we both want a pair for our peace corps adventures. i am actually doing this instead of writing papers that i need to finish in order to graduate, oops.