12 Weeks 'til Showtime!

The countdown is on!  12 weeks until I embark on the journey to Kathmandu.  It's been a whirlwind of announcing this decision, getting personal affairs in order, and getting stabbed with needles full of vaccines so I don't die from brain exploding diseases.

If you don't know the details of my volunteer trip abroad please visit this website for more info.

The flights are all booked, with a transferable ticket for the way home - whenever that is.  I'll be flying out of YVR just after midnight on the 2nd of December, and spending a 24 hour layover in Bangkok before connecting to Kathmandu.  My travel agent is still trying to figure out how or if it's possible to ship my teaching materials or if it's better to get all of it in Nepal.  This isn't the most straightforward place to get to, especially with a lot of stuff.

Volunteer BaseCamp is a Canadian organization that offers support for those wanting to volunteer abroad.  They offer facilitation and coordination between volunteers and placement opportunities in five different countries.  They provide accommodation and training for volunteers, and ongoing language courses and support with logistics.  There is also an opportunity to stay with a host family instead, which I will consider after getting settled in.  My placement isn't fully confirmed yet, but it will most likely be a centre with young children 5 and under, or somewhere with elementary school aged children.  I'll be able to run a music program for either of those age groups, and get some piano lessons going for those who are old enough and ready.

Learning a brand new language will be the biggest hurdle.  Nepali uses the Devanagari alphabet, as do other languages like Hindi and Sanskrit.  Learning the different characters and sounds will be the first step (and adding a new iPhone keyboard!).  I've acquired some good maps and books on Nepal, and am about to start reading the Little Princes novel, which was recommended by at least 8 different people and graciously leant to me by one of my best friends.

Over the next 12 weeks I'll be finishing up personal and medical preparations, getting all my students here up to speed and preparing them for the transition, planning more details with the team in Nepal, and organizing what and how to PACK.  I am terrified.