Fireflies in my stomach

As I sit and watch the Cubs game, something I do often without problem, I find that I am not able to keep myself entertained and seated for a long period of time. I still have a solid 9 days before I depart for staging and I cannot seem to shake this overwhelming anxiety. Will I make a difference? Will I fit in? Will I be able to hack it? I am bound and determined give it my all, so why do I feel like my stomach is trying to fight its way out of my body every time I think of leaving? Oh yes... maybe its because I have lived not only in the state of Illinois my entire life, but aside from college, the same house. Or maybe its because I know squat about business. Or maybe that I have no idea what I will be doing.
I know that all of this is normal and that I should not even know how to feel, but I wanted to include this in my blog for all of the poor souls who come in contact with me in the next week. I understand that I am a bit tense, and I truly appreciate all of your support as my friends and family. Thank you for putting up with me and know that you will be sincerely missed.

I leave in three weeks......

Its strange to me that I applied almost a year ago, and three weeks from tomorrow I will actually leave for Mali. I am really grateful to have had my leaving date pushed back a couple times because I think it not only gave me time to prepare, but time with my friends and family.

Here my schedule up until I depart:
::Visiting my second mom this week

::Going away party on Saturday June 21 at my house

::CUBS game with the girls Tuesday June 24

:: A final trip back to Augie

:: The taste of Chicago, fireworks, and 4th of July celebrations

:: Finally, I will be leaving Monday morning from O'hare and will arrive later that morning in Philadelphia for a 3 day "staging" process. From there we fly to Bamako, arriving in the morning on Thursday. Thus beginning the trainee portion of my service.


At the present moment I really do not know how to feel. Of course I have been excited and nervous but that seems to be subsiding. Now I am just waiting with little to know understanding of how I will be feeling and what I will be doing for the next 2 years of my life. But I like it this way. So here goes as I jump into the unknown!
::Elizabeth::