The Countdown Begins.

Hello!

So, most of you are reading my first blog entry right now because you are either a family member or a friend and you believe you'll feel guilty if you don't read my blog. You think you'll need to be able to discuss this blog with me while I'm away, in the interest of assuring me you care enough to look into what I'm doing with myself while abroad. Well, I'm taking this opportunity to let you off the hook:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL OBLIGATED TO READ THIS.

Let's face it, there's a very good chance that if you were to travel to a far off land and blog about your time spent there, I would maybe read one entry, and then get bored. Or I may be too busy with my life to remember to read another. So anyway, I'd truly only like you to keep reading these entries if you want to.

That being said, I feel it necessary to point out the following:

1. Sometimes I'm funny.

2. Costa Rica is supposed to be very cool.

3. If you're feeling thrilled to be exempt from reading this blog, know this: the next time I see you, once it becomes clear to me that you know nothing about what I've been doing in Costa Rica, you will be forced to sit with me for two to three hours and go through each and every one of the hundreds of pictures I've taken during my time spent away.

Your choice.

OK, here goes.

Today is Monday, January 25th, and I'm leaving in 13 days for San Jose, Costa Rica. Through a volunteer program called IVHQ, I will be set up with a host family and placed at a volunteer site (most likely an orphanage) to provide childcare for kids in need of assistance. I will also be signing up for spanish classes, and spending my weekends hopefully traveling to lots of different parts of Costa Rica to experience the amazing things it has to offer: volcanos, beautiful beaches, rain forests, waterfalls. General awesomeness, as far as I know.

So, you wonder, am I ready to leave yet? Have I begun preparing? Not in the slightest. Currently I'm lying in bed watching reruns of Grey's Anatomy. Hopefully I'll feel motivated tomorrow, and for the rest of the next couple of weeks, to get to shopping and making lists. I'll keep you posted. Welcome to my blog! Are you excited? Yeah you are. I know I am.

Xtine.