Fellow Volunteers!

Last week I got a list of my fellow volunteers. There are 25 of us going at the same time. The Cape Town program is very popular! We have been emailing and connecting on facebook. It is nice to finally know who else is going - hopefully it will make things easier when we arrive. There are a couple of girls who are also "older" as we refer to ourselves. Most of the volunteers are still in college. We all have different backgrounds and are from all over including one girl in Liverpool.

I have found a few people who are on my same flight from JFK to Cape Town so I hope to meet up with them at the airport. I have a telephone conference next Tuesday so I will get even more info then. I can barely believe I have less than three weeks to go. Lucily I am sooo busy at work that I haven't had too much time to get nervous.

One Month To Go!!

In one month I will be on my way to South Africa!! Time has flown by and I can't believe the trip is so close. I have so much to do to get ready.

In terms of fundraising Father Ed is putting something in this weekends church bulletin so I hope to add a few more Sponsors to my list. I feel so blessed to have received so much already from my long list of Sponsors. The deadline for online donations through the Cross-Cultural Solutions website has passed. Any money donated through the website now will be kept by Cross-Cultural Solutions and I will have to request a refund which can take weeks so please don't donate online.

I am still reading my books on South Africa and making a lot of calls to take care of the details of travelling. I am very excited to find out exactly where my volunteer placement will be. I should know one week before I leave.

On a professional note I have accepted the position of Youth First School Social Worker at North Elementary and South Terrace in Posey County! Funding for my current school is ending and there was some new funding for Posey Co. I am very happy to get to stay with Youth First Inc. So I have lots to do to end the school year and be ready for South Africa. I will keep you all posted!

Fundraiser

For the past four years I have been fortunate enough to serve as the Youth First School Social Worker for Delaware Elementary. With the help of some teachers I had the idea to do a fundraiser there. So today everyone could pay $1 to wear Jeans or $2 to wear Sweats. The fundraiser was a big success and I received $86.66!! Thanks to everyone who participated!!!

Immunizations!!

I got my immunizations today at the Health Department! I got two shots - a tetnus booster and Hep A. I also got my oral typhoid vaccine which is a total of four pills one every other day until finished. I even got a bracelet to help remind me to take my typhoid vaccine! The woman at the health department was very helpful and she gave me a lot of Travel Health Tips. Apparently the malaria vaccine I have to take has a side effect of sun sensitivity - I naturally have that problem so I will have to be extra careful not to come home roasted!

South Africa Videos

I have been spending some time looking on You Tube for information about Cape Town culture and living. I have found some interesting music videos, language lessons and more. Here are some of the best videos I have found:

South Africa Langa Township Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MplL_KvJys

Classy Cape Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVGbf3yIsI0

Langa Children Dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwfeKRqlu0s

Fundraising Update!

Less than 3 months and I will be on my way to South Africa!! My fundraising is going very well. I received a much needed boost from the St. Wendel Knights of St. John and the St. Ann's Ladies Auxiliary. Thank You!! My goal is to raise $1300 more by April 17th. Then I can focus on my other preparations. I feel like it will be here before I know it.

Immunizations & Vaccines

I am going through the Health Department's Foreign Travel Clinic to get the necessary vaccines for South Africa. They provide what is recommended by the Center for Disease Control. I will have to get two shots - a tetnus booster and Hepatitis A(one now and another in 6 months). For Typhoid I will have to take a pill every other day for four days. I made an appointment in late March for these.

I also need to take an anti-malaria medication. I had to get the prescription from my doctor and I will have to take it daily beginning one week before I leave. I will take it throughout my whole trip and then for four weeks once I return! Luckily I only had to pay my $10 co-pay.

My fundraising is going great!! I still owe $468 towards my program fee and then I will start working on the cost of my plane tickets.