Rachel Goes to Africa: May 2011

Perhaps a more appropriate title for this blog would be "Rachel goes to Nashville, Kansas, Costa Rica and Africa." With all of my stuff packed away in storage, I’ll be hitting the road in the morning for a nice 3 month escape from Boone. Driving back to Kansas with a friend, we’ll make a convenient 2 night stop in Nashville on the way. Then after spending a little over a week in Kansas, I’ll be taking off for a last-minute family vacation to Costa Rica. I’ll then return to Kansas for another week before finally departing for my 8 week stay in South Africa. I should get back just in time to make the drive back to Boone before the start of the school year in August. Not a bad way to spend the summer…

This has been quite a year, probably one of the most challenging years I’ve ever experienced. The courses I’ve taken this semester have completely challenged everything that I’ve known, and if I thought I was clear on who I was as a person before starting this program, well, I was wrong. I believe this program is designed to challenge you emotionally if you allow it to, and boy did I allow it to. It’s been difficult to say the least, and while there were moments that I thought I was literally losing my marbles, (my sister can testify to this as she was usually the recipient of my tearful phone calls) I also believe there has been a tremendous amount of growth. With that said, I think it is absolutely necessary for me to get away for the summer because if I am forced to talk about my feelings anymore I might actually go insane!

I will be sad to leave Boone though; I’ve met many incredible people and have been fortunate enough to make some amazing friends. The abundance of outdoor activities that this part of the world has to offer is also unreal, and I am going to miss the endless amounts of hiking right outside my front door.

Boone, I'll be back for round 2 in August! (at least that's the plan...)

Stay tuned!