Shila Travels: Africa is on the horizon!

My life is about to become a lot less Canadian and a lot more Lion King!

Today, I'm adopting a new title: blogger! I haven't blogged before, but anyone who knows me knows that I journal like a madwoman, so I dont think I'll have too much of a problem spewing my thoughts to the world. Once I announced the travel news, quite a few people suggested I write about it. So, here it is. My very first blog post.

The news? June 1st, I'll be heading to Mochudi, Botswana. CRAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!
In case you haven't been in my loop, here are the deets:

- I was accepted into the Youth in Partnership Program with the Coady International Institute. The Coady is located in Antigonish, NS, right on the St. FX campus where I did my undergrad. Want to know more? http://coady.stfx.ca/. I've had my eye on this internship for years now, so getting it is pretty phenomenal.

- I'll be working with an NGO called Stepping Stones International. This organization works with orphaned or vulnerable youth, focusing on life skills, psychosocial support, leadership skills, and community mobilization. SO COOL! Want to know more?
http://steppingstonesintl.org/

- My official title is "Life Skills and Leadership Support Officer." Fancy I know- by far the most legit title I've had yet!

- I leave June 1st and fly back December 2nd, just in time for Christmas. Its a full 6 months of working.

So for now this is about the extent of what I know. I'll get a package soon with all kinds of other info. Til then, I need to get the ball rolling with travel vaccinations, stocking up on sunscreen, etc etc etc. AH!
Generally, I'm feeling just about every emotion in the world all at once. It's all a very intense thing, and I really don't have a ton of time before I fly out. I'd say I'm about 80% excited to the max, 10% terrified, and 10% everything else.

Things I'm excited for:
To step foot on African soil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To work with the Coady
To work with Stepping Stones, which sounds SO UNREAL
To meet all the people I'll be working with for half a year
To settle into Mochudi and get to know the lifestyle/culture/people
TO SEE AN ELEPHANT (and other really cool wildlife)
TO GO ON THIS AWESOME ADVENTURE!

Things I'm scared for:
Being so far away from all my people
Getting eaten by a lion (seriously.... a random link said they chomp on 46 people a year!!!!!)
And, one a more serious note, I'm worried about my heart. I feel things pretty deeply and I'll be working a lot with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This will be a real challenge for me.

The good news: this will be crazy, intense, and also 100% incredible. I'm very very very sure of this!

Annnnnyway, once I know more I will pass it on. Until then, I did a quick Google image search and here's what I'm in for folks. Who's coming to visit?!?!?!