Saying Goodbye...A final trip

So this is being written from a Super 8 motel in Nashville, TN. Random, I know but there is a reason for it which I will get to in a min.

Due to reasons beyond my control I was forced to say goodbye to my two beautiful nephews earlier than I was expecting (and prepared for). Brayden is 4 going on 5; we have an amazing relationship and I knew that saying goodbye to him would be very difficult, but I was not expecting it to be this hard. I spent two fun filled days with him and his baby brother, Emerson. We went to the movies, the zoo, shopping, and dinner. I had an amazing time with them but when it came time to say goodbye I just didn't want to. Knowing that when I come home Brayden would be in 1st grade and Emerson would almost be 4. They both were cuddly and I got lots and lots of love from them. When we get ready to leave Emerson gives me one final hug and smile and that is that (He is only 17 months). When it came time to say goodbye to Brayden I picked him up and he gave me the biggest hug ever and I felt myself swelling with tears. The hug lasted a while until I couldn't take it any longer and put him down and walked away. I was left with the song he was singing to me the previous day about me going to Africa. When we went shopping I bought him one of those blow up globes and showed him where I was going to be and where he would be and he said, "Auntie Kayla, can I walk there?" While the goodbyes were earlier than expected they were excellent and I truly love and will miss them both.

Okay, now to why I am in Nashville. Due to the same circumstances about why I said goodbye to my nephews, my brother and I took an impromptu trip to Nashville. He is an amazing and aspiring singer/songwriter (check out www.myspace.com/douglassstreet). We came down here so he could go to a workshop at ASCAP. This is his second trip here and the first one went well, so the hopes are high that this trip will go as well if not better. I immediately fell in love with this town. It is amazing, between the people, the place, and the atmosphere there is sooooo much to do and see.

on a final note, WAHOOO! just a few more days left.

love ya'll

flying to DC

so i have found out that there is another PCT on my flight from Cleveland to DC. I am so excited it will be nice to have someone else who just left their family and friends on the plane. i can't believe i am leaving so soon. the closer it gets the more anxious i get.


till next time

go siame

Staging and Flight Information!

Here is my itnerary for staging along with my flight information.

JULY 12, 2008

Depart: Grand Rapids at 7:00AM on July 12
Arrive: Washington DC at 9:40 AM on July 12

Staging Registration begins at 1:30pm
Hotel Check-in is at 3pm

Then we go through meetings and training programs until 7pm when we break for the night.

JULY 13, 2008

8:30-12:00 Training Programs continued

12:00-1:30 Break for Lunch

1:30-6:00 Training programs continued

JULY 14, 2008

6:30am: check out of hotel

7:00 depart for clinic

7:45am Clinic all day (I am so excited to go to the clinic for the day and get my vaccinations! HAH)

5:40 pm Flights depart for South Africa

FLT: 4590 Departs Dulles with a travel time of 17 hrs and 05 min.

JULY 15, 2008

Arrives in Johannesburg at 4:45pm
we have a re-fueling layover in Dakar but from what I gather are not allowed off the plane.

I will be brining my cell phone with me to DC but will mail it home before I depart for SA. When I arrive in SA I am not sure how soon it will be when I have access to a phone or internet so it might be awhile before I write again.

I am soooo excited I can't hardly stand it :)

Luv ya'll

Staging Packet (and Thank you's)

So we are closing in on the time to departure and once again I find myself planning my life around the mail person and when they will deliver the mail. Like an eager kid on Christmas morning, I wait and see if the Staging Packet has arrived yet. I think I will probably get it by the end of next week. When I do I will update the page with travel arrangements, and other information which would be relevant.

On a side note, I had a graduation/going away party in my hometown this past weekend and I want to tell everyone how much I appreciated you being there. I also wanted to thank everyone for the gifts and while I am sad to leave, I know everyday that the path I am on is the path I am meant to be on. There has been such a myriad of emotions throughout this process but the two which stand out the most right now are fear (of the unknown and drastic change) and excitement (for the experience and change).

Peace Out and keep on rockin'

Luv

Change of Address

Here is my address as of July. Please feel free to send letters and stuff :) I am sure I will love it.

MaKayla Gusching
Peace Corps
PO Box 9536
Pretoria 0001
South Africa

Almost There!

I can not believe how fast the time has gone from when I first applied. I was talking with my boss the other day and they said it seemed like just yesterday when I told them I was applying to the Peace Corps but a year has come and gone and they can't believe I will be leaving so soon. I have kept my job up-to-date and they have been an active part of the whole process. I did this because I work with at risk middle school kids who I have established remarkable and life long relationships with and did not want to up and leave them without them knowing what, where, when, and why. When I told my kids I was nominated for Africa they thought I was out of my mind to want and go there--with the lions and what not. But this process has brought about tons of "teachable moments" on the importance of diversity and learning from others as well as lessons on how one person can make a difference. Now the end of the school year is quickly approaching and tomorrow is my last day with "my kids" since most of them will not be around during the summer (or the three weeks I will be working there), and needless to say I am sad to leave them. I have established a relationship with one particular student that I will never forget and hope to remain in contact with him, as he is one of those kids who touched my soul.

I feel as though I have already started as a PCV because of the conversations and "teachable moments" I have had with not only my kids but with other random people who don't know what it is and have asked questions about the PC and what we do. People from work to the neighborhood, to random people asking about my button or hoodie have all stopped to talk about the PC and all say how incredible what I (we) are doing. These moments are the ones where I stop and get the biggest smile on my face. This is how I know I am doing what I am meant to...the smile it brings to my face just talking about the PC, the feeling I get when I see a plane fly over and think, "soon that will be me!"

I know these last few weeks will fly by but I am ready for the new chapter in my life to begin and just can't believe how lucky I am to begin this chapter with the PC experience.

Until Next Time :)

This whole moving to SA thing is becoming more and more of a reality with each passing day. in January I compiled a "to do" list of things I wanted/needed to accomplish before I left:

1. Turning 25 CHECK
2. Graduating from College CHECK
3. Sell my car CHECK
4. Go to Birthday Bash (free all day concert)
5. Having a graduation/going away party--Inivations in the mail
6. Go on a shopping trip with with the "girls"--planned for first week of june
7. Working-alot to get as much of my debt paid off b/f I leave
8. Getting all of my affairs inorder~Passport CHECK, power of attorney, will, ect...
9. Packing for this awsome and what I am sure will be crazy at times adventure--started

with the list just about complete my time is dwindling down and I am getting more excited for this new adventure and all the fun, difficult, stressful, lonely, fullfilling times that i am sure are to come. Until next time. :)