It's about that time...

Well, I leave for Costa Rica in about 22 hours. I am mostly just shocked at how fast time has flown by. I'm pretty sure I was booking my flights in February yesterday, so the fact that I have about 22 hours before I leave the good ol' USA to go on an adventure of a lifetime is a little bizarre! I'm a little nervous, mostly about having everything prepared. I've waterproofed my shoes (it is rainy season in Costa Rica), printed my boarding passes, and I am about 95% finished with packing. Packing is actually a very stressful thing for me because I am a chronic over-packer. I always have been--it's innate. For example, my family went to Italy when I was 10 to visit family for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, our luggage got lost, and we had to live out of our carry-ons for a couple of days. Thankfully, 10-year-old Haley packed several outfits in her carry-on, so she was fine and didn't have to worry about wearing the same outfit for 3 days straight, unlike the rest of the family. In the question of "nature vs. nurture," this is definitely my nature. As one might imagine, packing for a 2 month trip was daunting for me, especially since I'll be doing a variety of activities such as hiking, being in the city, working, going to the beach, and who knows what else. However, I think I did a pretty good job, and I will only be checking one bag--a miracle for someone like me.

I start my internship on Monday. As for what I will be doing, I'm not exactly sure, but I have been given some direction. There are two projects Sanigest might have me work on: HIV/AIDS resource allocation in Mexico and Bahamas creation of a national health insurance. As Sanigest is an international organization, they do a lot of dabbling in the health issues of other countries--fascinating, right?! I am very blessed to have this opportunity and have been PRAYING that it goes well! I think it will all tie in nicely with my Brueggeman research and the project I am trying to write up for that. I am so excited!! I hope to learn a lot and do a lot--the more hands-on, the better! I am looking to do some traveling on the weekends, and, thanks be to God, Sanigest hired another female intern (who has already invited me to travel with her!), so I will have a travel buddy. YAY! :)  

The only thing standing between my summer fun and me is a 6-hour shift at Kohl's (my old summer job). And doing the rest of my packing. And reassuring my mother that just because I am going to Central America, it does not mean that I am going to run off with a drug lord and squander my life away. ;) Love you, mom!!

Here's to the start of a great adventure! ¡Hasta pronto! :)

amdg.