Message from my trainers

Just one more reminder before I go!!

My trainers in Vanuatu asked me to tell family and friends that no news is good news.

I will have very limited access to internet and supposedly none at all during my first 3 months of training. I will have some phone access and letters of course!! Love you all and I will be in touch as soon as possible!

Bon Voyage!!

I'm here in Los Angeles! Tomorrow I have a day of orientation and then the flight leaves at 9:30 PM to head to Vanuatu. I have already met a bunch of people in my training group. They are teachers, social workers, business professionals, environmental workers and more. We had dinner in the restaurant here at the hotel. Many of us went for the burgers! We have to get that red meat in before we won't have it for a while :)

I am excited that tomorrow is the day we leave!! I'll be in touch as soon as I have access again.

Here's to new friends, big adventures, safe travels, suntans, and lots of fun!!

I have my plane tickets!

The moment arrived! I am leaving Thursday for staging. It is going to be so exciting (and nerve wracking!) Here is the scoop:

Thursday Sept. 10th -- I from Albany NY at around 10 AM and arrive in Los Angeles around 3PM. I have registration for staging (it is like college orientation) at 6 PM. That night I stay in a hotel near the airport.

Friday Sept. 11th -- I meet up with the other 44 volunteers heading to Vanuatu. We have logistics sessions as well as ice breakers. This will be out last day eating American food!! Friday night we head to the airport around 4:30. I will finally be getting this adventure started!!!


INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ITINERARY:

11 SEP 09 - FRIDAY
AIR UNITED AIRLINES FLT:9549 ECONOMY MULTI MEALS
LOS ANGELES-AUCKLAND OPERATED BY AIR NEW ZEALAND
LV LOS ANGELES 930P EQP: BOEING 747 400
DEPART: TERMINAL 2 12HR 55MIN

13 SEP 09 - SUNDAY
AR AUCKLAND 525A NON-STOP
ARRIVE: INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL REF: EDCZ3H
AIR AIR NEW ZEALAND FLT:878 ECONOMY BREAKFAST

LV AUCKLAND 735A EQP: AIRBUS A320
DEPART: INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL 03HR 25MIN
AR PORT VILA 1000A NON-STOP

If you want to know more!

Here is a website with lots of info about Vanuatu.

http://www.peacecorps.vu/

Here are direct links for:

Stories from past and current volunteers: http://www.peacecorps.vu/experiences.html

Info about the language Bislama: http://www.peacecorps.vu/bislama.html

Details about their drink Kava: http://www.peacecorps.vu/kava.html