Man, the information is continuing to come in, and with each new detail, I become that much more excited. Yesterday I recieved a email that was basically explaining what to expect for the next couple of months. It looks like for the first couple of days, we will be in a Hotel, then we will start living with our host families within the first three weeks in jamaica. Then we get to shadow a volunteer at work and in their communities. I am really excited about that for some reason lol. then after the three weeks we are sent somewhere else, and that training will mainly focus on technical training. Im excited. Im excited to meet new people and make new friends, i'm excited for the program I am going to be in. Im really glad to be in the youth program, I really like working with youth. Im excited to go to a new country, learn a new language (even though I'm not that great at it lol, languages are still fun) and learn about a different culture.

Yay!!!I recieved an email from the Peace Corps the other day and staging is in Miami. My plane leaves for Jamaica March 18th at 10:45am. Looks like staging is a basic introduction to the Peace Corps and what will happen in the next couple of months, years, etc. Recieving any new information about Peace Corps is usually pretty exciting. My dad and I called Sato travel and reserved my flight to Miami, looks like I will be leaving the 17th at 8:45am. I'm so excited, but at the same time a little bit nervous about leaving for 27 months. I'm going to miss my parents and my sister so much, but i'm sure I will talk to them all the time once everything settles. I've talked to some of the other volunteers going to staging and currently serving in Jamaica, and everyone seems wonderful, so I think that will make everything that much easier. On another subject, packing is hard...I kind of think I might be packing too many clothes, but everytime I think of taking clothes out, more always goes in my bag!!!Well, when everything is weighed it will help me be able to decide what to leave home.

words that come to mind when I think of Jamaica:

reggae,bob marley, beach, jerk chicken, rice, mobay, mountains, coffee, dreads, rasta, red, green, yellow, black, fruits, patois, sea shells, culture, boats, rich, poor, hotels, shacks, heat, dancehall,party, island, africa, kingston, sean paul, beanie man, new friends

I know that I will miss my family the most. Yea, they get on my nerves sometimes but I still love them and I know if I ever needed anything, they will be the ones there for me. Better yet, If I can avoid needing anything from anyone other than family, I do. But, two years is such a small time frame in this life, and I think It will go by just as quick as college and high school did. While im gone, I plan on praying for myself and my family, just like I do here...but pray for them because tomorrow is never promised and I hope everyone that I love is still in the states when I come back. I think that is one of my biggest fears as far as leaving the country for two years...someone I love not being there when I get back. If they were not, at least I would know in my heart they are in a better place because I prayed that they would be there. I will also miss american food....a lot...LOL:)

My first blog...never before have I blogged about anything...even when facebook and myspace had the sections in the website for it, I never really wrote anything...but its the beginning of a new year, and I think this year for me is going to be about trying new things. Not really a resolution, those never work out for me, I tend to forget about it halfway, ha-ha. For my first post, I think I will write about Japanese Reggae dancers...yea, pretty funny actually. I was doing some research on Jamaica and happened to come upon them...youtube is a good source for anything. But here is a video I happened upon about a dancehall party in Japan...who knew?