It appears that this will be my landing place for the first couple days in Malawi. The elevation is roughly five thousand feet.

My mother made me a Cake for my birthday. It was very good. I especially like the gingerbread marshmallow men.

Well, its two weeks to my departure and I am currently doing a practice pack. Also today my mother is celebrating my birthday a little early since I will be arriving in Malawi on my Birthday. What a great present. Right now I can smell the cake in the over, its competing with the turkey. We decided to make thanksgiving dinner, turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.....nom!!!!

I recently bought a book about Southern Africa by Lonely Planet. Most of my research had been online and it was nice to just read. I bought the book at a store in Denver called "Tattered Cover Book Store". What a great store, comfortable chairs, great coffee/food and courteous staff.

I recently became aware of feeling very in the moment. My nervousness about making plans in regard to my future service with the Peace Corps has disappeared. I have managed to thin out most all of my belongings and have settled on what I will be bringing with me. I have made tentative plans on how my last month before leaving the states will look. It has been very enjoyable process and I am glad to have had this time.

well, its official, I have been invited to go to Malawi. I am so excited. I have been thinking none stop about preparations. It feels so huge that is almost dream like.

I have been thinking a lot about my getting into the Peace Corps over the last couple days. I came to the realization that this has been my dream for as long as I could remember. I had put the idea out of my mind numerous times and it always came back.  

I just found out that I have been invited to join the Peace Corp. This Process officially started in September when I submitted my application. I have dreamed of serving for years. I still do not know where but when is roughly mid to late February. When I got an email letting me know, I was dancing and singing. I plan on using this as my primary place to share my experience. What a wonderful early christmas presentblessings to all this holiday season

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I have been working now for a few weeks at a mental health facility and feel I am learning a lot. I am glad to be working. I however miss the road and adventures that are down that dusty road. I am still looking for an opportunity that will allow me to be a gypsy and serve as a nurse. I look forward to returning to the road, traveling around the world and learning about health care practices.

This weekend marked the end of my undergraduate work. I first started college in 1993. I started again a couple years later. In both of these attempts I was not focused enough. After a semester I quit. Who knows what my life would look like, or where I would be right now had I followed through those two previous times. I am glad to be here right now. I am applying for jobs, attending interviews and seeking out my next great challenge. My years on the road and my years in college I believe will serve me well. I am eager to begin work and to continue my education. I plan on getting a Doctor of Nursing Pracitce (DNP). I plan on becoming apart of a global effort for health. I plan on enjoying every moment of every day. Thanks must be said to all those who have helped me along the way through encourgement, inspiration and kicks in the butt.

Much love

Gibran C. Mancus BSN

I find with travel that there is much time for reflection. Travel and "vacation" often come with lots of "down" time. Time to consider the moment, the past and the future. Having had more time to think about my life lately and less distractions beyond the tide, sun and moon I am finding peace in the unknowing about what the future has in store. I am finding peace of the moment. Last night I had the pleasure of playing guitar and singing songs from their country. Today I floated and swam in the ocean, took a nap on the beach and read some from a book. Upon first arriving, many of my thoughts were about how to move here and work here. I still find myself wondering what that would be like however those thoughts are not as insistent. Now I am just enjoying right now!

This place is great, nice chill atmosphere, great rates, and perfect location. If you are looking for a place to stay on Isla Mujeres, then check out Pocna hostel.

It's raining today, but its warm enough for me to be in shorts and t-shirt so, I am ok with that. Hope the weather clears, but I am going swimming in the ocean, come rain or shine.

Planes, a bus and a ferry. a few blocks of walking and tadah, arrival at the hostel that is home for the week. Pacna Hostel on Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tonight I learned some salsa dancing. Soon to bed.cheers

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I just wanted to wish all well. I am off to bed, should have gone before now. Oh, well. Buenos Noches.

This morning my family and I went for the second time to Isla Mujeres. We took the bus downtown and found our way to the Express Service ferry to Cancun. The cost was 70 pessos round trip. There are other compaines that are more expensive, but the trip was short and sweet and the point is to get there, right. The ferry runs every half hour over the day and then once a hour in the evening till 11pm or so, unconfirmed after that. When we arrived back around 8pm we found that there was no longer bus service and we had to take a taxi, so keep that in mind. I realize this is sort of backwards but its my side right? Any way we did have a lovely day at North Beach. This beach is rummored to be where the Corona commercials were filmed as well as the movie Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields. Its more developed I guess theses days, but there are tons of great places to be discovered. Inns, hostels, restaurants, coffie shops and shopping till your hearts content. The one place I did inquire about rates was 20 feet from the water and had rooms starting at $100US. For an idea, right now my room is $50US, but not on the beach. We are planning on heading to Tulum in the morning.BeWellloveGibran

We spent the day swiming at North Beach and then as the night fell it started to rain. We ducked into a restaurant to find the best food we have had since ariving. The food everywhere has been great, but I have to give props to Vinales. The food is fantastic. To find Vinales from the piers in downtown take a left. Its on the right side of the main street. 

I do not claim to be paparzi but these are some photos that earned me the title in DC.

My sister asked for some pictures to be added with my face. So thanks to Burty here goes.

I was hoping to get clearer and closer photos, but this is what I got. cheers.

After singing "This land is you land" with Pete Seager people the crowds were in motion. We voted against trying to get on the metro right away and opted to walk the Mall. This lead to us being in a crowd shot on CNN, Hi Mom, and then we met up for dinner at a place called "Busboys and Poets" http://www.busboysandpoets.com/  .  What a place of beauty and consciousness, every where was packed but we met up with some kind men who shared a place to sit while we waited. Dinner was excellent. I had the vegan brownie as an apitizer and the falafel sandwich.

Via Dupont circle and the White House we made our way down to the Mall. People were everywhere and having fun. 

The Kearney crew made our way to Dupont circle where we meet up with a fellow compaitrait, my dear friend Lauren, her husband Andrew and some of her friends from University of the District of Columbia. We enjoyed our lunch while some of National leaders spoke. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and  Govenor Bev Purdue spoke. Senator Kay Hagan, some of President Obama's nominees also who spoke were now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Labor-designate Hilda Solis, Homeland Securtiy Secretary Janet Napolitano, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore also spoke. It was a wonderful event that inspired all at the table and in the room of around 2000 people. 

The staff at the Best Western, Pentagon City were gracious and helpful. We got registered amid a bustle of guests arriving all excited just like us. We found our room and decided we were hungry. We asked for a cab at the desk, waited to we could not anymore and then asked the desk for suggestions. One pub was within walking distance and so off we went, twice infact, and finally found the place only after they had stopped serving food. We wearly returned to the room and called Dr. Delivery. My mother says if you do not have any thing nice to say... after eating, we all fell asleep with George Washington and the Declaration of Independence keeping watch for much needed rest.