Times a Flyin'.....and so am I.

It is currently 1:09am Manitoba time on May 10th, 2011. To comprehend that May 10th has actually arrived, is extremely mind boggling - as after months of planning the day to start the adventures is here. I am all packed, and will hopefully make the weight and size restrictions. (My bag is weighing in at around 44 pounds!) As well as a full back pack and small purse for my carry-on.  Here are the pictures of my bag from the night before take-off....

 

This is also funny....

My dearest dog Sheba must have seperation anxiety and gets quite anxious whenever we clean the house majorly, or pack, or change things around. She has been far from helpful in the packing process as she liked to conveniently be in the way all the time, or lay on my stuff laid out to pack. As in this picture where she was laying down about 4 feet away - got up and laid her self down again with her paw on some of the clothes I was just about to put in my bag. She is too funny, and will be extremely missed! :(

5 hours from now I will be waking up from the comfort of my own bed for one last time before I become accustomed to sleeping in/on: airplane seats, airport benches, hostels, bunk beds in a room with 5 other people, cots in mud huts, many more hostels and lots and lots of African ground! The thought of that absolutely enthralls me, and is still way too surreal! The idea that I am really flying to Africa for 137 days by myself is still a little hard to comprehend myself....and certainly comes with many many mixtures of emotions: Excitement, anxiousness, stress, fright, happiness, saddness, pride, and much anticipation to name just a few.

Many of you who might be reading this will be extremely missed, and it was not an easy thing to say my goodbye for nows and see ya laters! I never have been really good with goodbye. Though with every goodbye and good luck and stay safe I got, I felt extreme pride in the company I keep who have all been nothing but supportive and fantastic! I have always been told I was a girl with a lot of determination and drive to achieve nearly any goal I set in front of myself - though none of that would be possible without the encouragment from all of you lovely people...especially my mamma! :)

If you want to get in touch with me, I will do my best to get to an internet source as often as I can, and you can email me at..... kateleask@hotmail.com ......though for me it is just easier if it is on here, regardless I'd love to hear from you all!

Though I have a solid 29 hours of travel ahead of me, so I'm off to get some shut-eye before I have to get up again! Much love and best wishes to all! Stay in touch!

Kate
oxox