The time has come to start my life long dream of living and teaching in a foreign country! I leave for the Dominican Republic tomorrow, August 6th, at 7:00am, and you can't imagine the emotions that are running through my mind and body! (Literally...I think my body is revolting against me...a sinus infection, impetigo, and a bad case of the Ds due to being nervous!) My body and I are apparently having a hard time coming to the realization that THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! There are times when I think about how amazing and exciting this experience is going to be: the new people I will meet, the students I will teach and learn from, the new foods I'll try, the opportunity to go to the beach every weekend (oooh yaah!), learning a new language! And there are times when I think about how intimidating and scary this journey could be: not knowing the culture, people judging me because I'm not from there, being vulnerable, missing out on things in the states, LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE!

I've already said some tearful goodbyes to my family and friends in Kentucky, but I get to spend my last moments before I leave with my one and only, Tom! :) I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to go on this journey, but I'm mostly blessed with amazing friends, family, and a fiance who support and love me and my dreams and help them to come true! I can't say enough "Thank you!"s to all of you who have helped me discern the choices I made to get here, prepare me spiritually/emotionally/financially/physically, gave me helpful tips, and even taught me some basic Spanish! Yo necesito un gato! :) I wouldn't be on this journey without you, and I will continue to count on your prayers and love throughout the 6 months I will be in the Dominican Republic. I hope to update my blog while I'm there, so I hope you can follow me on my adventure of a lifetime!