Closing in on Departure.

So today it was at least 40 degrees out at one point. I am not acclimatized yet so it was pretty brutal. A good laundry day though cause everything dried in about two seconds. Anyways, I guess I better get acclimatized pretty quick to prepare for the whole alberta summer-bit of alberta fall-bolivia summer thing.

Well the fundraising is over! Thanks to everyone who came out to the coffeehouse on the 28th. The night completed my epic quest for funds plus some. The garage sale also went very well and all funds were donated to the Get-Jesse-to-Ireland Fund.

I have been packing...and un-packing...and re-packing. I am such a manic packer. I just get worried that I won't have what I need when I get there.

I also spoke to my project leader on the phone the other day. She is getting things in Cochrane organized for our arrival. She has all our work placements lined up and is just getting the last few host families lined up. She sounds pretty cool and she has led CWY groups before. It was also just good to talk to someone who I'm going to be spending the next little while with.

Well, it is time to set up fans all over the house and try to get rid of this heat. If you would like me to send you a postcard, just leave me your address. I've still got a bunch of unclaimed postcards.

Cheers,
Anna

p.s. I'll put up some pictures of the coffeehouse soon so you can all see them!

Only A Month Away

A month from today I will be heading off on a plane at 8:00 in the morning to Edmonton! I pretty much can't believe it.

The fundraising is going really well. I am half-way there already. I want to thank everyone who has donated or given their time to help me out. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

The coffeehouse is coming along nicely and will be happening on Sunday the 22nd of June at 7pm in the SAGA Art Gallery. I have some wonderful performances lined up as well as some goodies and drinks, some stellar silent auction items and door prizes. I hope to see a bunch of people come out.

I also have a garage sale in the works for the 28th of June. If anyone has donations for the sale please let me know. Also feel free to drop by my dad's house the morning of the 28th cause we are going to have some pretty cool stuff.

Now I am into the packing stage of the preparation. I am trying to figure out how I am going to fit all the things I need for Alberta and Bolivia for 7 months into the baggage restrictions of WestJet. If you have any packing tips let me know cause I am trying not to leave it to the last minute :D (like I always do)

Thank you to everyone and send me addresses if you want me to send you a postcard!!!

Love,
Anna

And it all comes together!!

42 days until take-off!

I got an e-mail from my project leader the other day introducing herself and letting me know that I will be going to Camiri in Bolivia. I also got a list of all the other Canadian participants in my group. We are a pretty small group (only 7 from each country) but it is pretty cool to e-mail back and forth with the people I will be getting to know over the next 7 months.

So I have been on the fundraising trail for a while now and I'm getting there! I'm 1/4 of the way there and have several awesome events planned. I'll give you the running talley:

-$530 in donations (thank you everyone who has donated)
-various silent auction/raffle items (two weekend passes to the Roots and Blues festival, a thermos from BDO Dunwoody etc.)
-The art gallery booked for the 22nd of June!!!!! COFFEEHOUSE
-a garage sale planned for the ??28th???

I'm pretty excited about all of these things and I'm hoping they will all go off beautifully. If anyone wants to help in any capacity give me a call. I'm always looking for help. I especially don't like asking people for money so if anyone likes doing that please let me know. I will give you an ice-cream cone or a hug or something...

Also I am putting together pictures and music to take with me. If you have any photo's or songs that are particularly 'canadian' or 'british columbian' or you just think I should take with, guve me a shout!

love to you all,
Anna