I'm leaving on a jet plane

Well, this is it. In two days, I'll be on a plane destined for Denver, then to Memphis. It's quite surreal that I'll be spending three months (or 12 weeks, as I like to see it) in a bloody hot country helping people with God-only-knows what illness, far, far away from anyone I know. That spells f-u-n for me. No, I really do think it'll be a fabulous opportunity and a chance for growth and learning, but it just seems so crazy for me to be doing this. Still hasn't hit me yet, I haven't had any breakdowns or crying fits (which I would usually have before such a trip). I'll bet once I get on the plane, surrounded by complete strangers in an enclosed space, I'll collapse into a puddle. Knowing my luck, this is the most probable outcome.

Trying to keep a record of what's going on and what I'm bringing (which, by the way, is WAY too much). Bringing: scrubs, skirts, jeans, a flannel shirt (it does get relatively chilly at night...into the mid-70's, even high 60's), a fleece blanket, a small inflatable mattress (like one for camping, very thin, packable, but in case I'm sleeping on a concrete slab with a wimpy foam mattress, I won't be miserable for three months), a webcam for skype (will get that working shortly), iPod and speakers, batteries, recharger, books (will list titles later...haven't yet decided), knitting projects (again, will list once they are decided), sandals, slip-on shoes, tennis shoes, cell phone and charger (in case of an emercency), and a ton of medicine (for malaria, intestinal upset, flare-ups, and a few others...odd to be carrying all that).

Books I'm paring down to bring:
The BFG, Roald Dahl
The Witches, Roald Dahl
Mountains Beyond Mountains, Tracy Kidder
Krik Krak, Edwidge Danticat
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Le Petit Nicolas, Sempe-Goscinny
L'Elegance du Herisson, Muriel Barbery

So, as you can see, I have to choose between all these...not an easy task. Now, knitting patterns:

Ene's Scarf with a nubby cotton fingering-weight yarn
Flower Basket Shawl with silk/wool blend lace-weight yarn
Hip in Hemp with Hempathy in a stunning red
Lacy Baktus scarf with Cascade Heritage sock yarn
bolero with Linares (I'll be making up that pattern based on Ash from Rowan 36)

So much to bring. I don't know if I'll have enough time to do all this, but I'd rather have too much and not finish it all than finish it all and be bored after two weeks. AND, who knows, I may be there for six months and then I'd be S.O.L. as far as keeping myself busy. (In all truth, I think I'll be plenty busy with working 7a-4p six days a week. We'll just see...)

I'll keep up the posting as things happen. 2 days now and I'll be posting soon after I get to the clinic.