Planning.

Hi world,

The saga continues. Sometimes I'm not quite sure why I'm already writing in this blog; I'm still in the U.S. and my travel plans aren't for a few months now. I suppose it's the venting I find therapeutic. So, write I will. Also, I think it would be nice for the people who start reading later to have some incite to the planning aspect of my adventure.

So, where do I begin? I got an email from travelocity this morning explaining my flight reservation had changed, and to call the customer service line as soon as possible. The email sounded urgent, so I called and sat on hold hell for 25 minutes. I was then connected to someone in, wait for it... INDIA! Ha! So, I was trying to work something out regarding my flight from India to the U.S. with a customer service representative in India. I thought that was funny. In the end, the booking problem was not solved. But I was put on a call list to have someone else contact me with alternative travel plans. I guess we'll see how things develop.

In other important news, I still don't have approval from my adviser on the internship. I think he's given up on contacting people to verify the program, and instead he's leaving the rest up to me. I think this is complete nonsense, since he's the one who is impossible to please. What else could he possibly be looking for? I've gotten emails from one past volunteer, and he's contacted two past volunteers! Last summer he was so quick to approve my internship to Ghana based on some sheets of printed information from the organization's website. This is really annoying!

Woo Hoo!!
MCC

ORD (O'Hare Intl. Airport)

I said this in an earlier post; for some reason I thought it would be cheaper to fly to Delhi from Chicago than my home city airport. To be honest, I have no idea if this is true at this point in time. Booking my plane ticket was a draining task that involved multiple search engines, varying departure times and dates, and a few different nearby departure cities. These shenanigans were all in an attempt to find the lowest airfare available. All I can say at this point is that I think flying from Chicago was the cheapest option, but that may or may not be true.

But after speaking to my close friend/past co-worker/previous first floor neighbor/birthday twin, I think flying from Chicago was meant to be. She's moving to London with her beau in March, and planning on coming back to Chicago in August to have her wedding. Guess what weekend in August? Yep, the weekend after I get back from India!

For the last few weeks I was thinking about how I should have just paid the extra money to fly in and out near my home! I was dreading the 25 hour flight back to the states by itself, not to mention spending another five hours in a car! Add to that the bickering between my divorced parents over which one gets to see me off in Chicago, and which one gets to pick me up. No thank you...

But this option works out so amazingly well. I'll fly back from India midweek, witness the coolest couple promising a lifetime of love and commitment to one another, party like the retired rock star I am, and then take the bus back home. Bellissimo! I love it already! :D

Updatezzzzz.

Hello world!

I am still at home, but I thought I'd update my nonexistent audience on the details of my developing adventure. My professor is continuing to seek out contact with a university that has had an experience with the organization, and can tell him if it can support an international intern. So far, he has heard from three individuals who have worked with the organization, but it still isn't good enough for him. Right now we are waiting for a response from a university in Canada. Once he's received a response from a faculty member there, he will give the green light on the internship.

On my end, I recently purchased my travel health insurance, and booked two nights stay at a hotel in Delhi. When I went to Kenya I flew by the seat of my pants, and somehow managed to get a room the night of my arrival. Using the web, I was able to find a hotel with decent reviews, so I went ahead and prepaid for my stay. It'll be one less thing to worry about when I arrive, so it feels quite good to have it settled.

I've also started a highly disciplined savings plan. It's completely self-imposed, but I can show impressive amounts of self restraint when needed. I did the math, and it appears that if I plan on doing any sort of additional travel while I'm in India, I'll need a hefty chunk of dinero. So be it! From here to my departure date, I have vowed not to buy any new clothes, any useless crap, any semi-useless crap, and no eating out. It kind of sucks; but keeping in mind how much $30 can go in India compared to $30 at the bar here in U.S., I think I can bring myself to stick to my plan.

India is going to be so awesome. It's also going to be ridiculously hot, I'm not going to speak any of the languages, I'm not going to understand the customs, and I might offend some people. But in the end, it is going to be awesome.

Ticket? Check.

I met with my internship coordinator at the university today. Although things didn't go exactly as I planned, I left the meeting knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was going to India, and proceeded to walk to the library and promptly booked my flight. I then texted several of my friends, emailed my parents and updated my facebook status.

So. I'm going to India this summer. :D

My flight is booked to leave Chicago O'Hare Airport at 4:00 pm on May 26th, and arrive in New Delhi the following day, May 27th at 10 pm. I'll be staying for 11 weeks, leaving Delhi for the USA on August 11th. I booked my flight through Chicago because there was a price difference that seemed substantial at the time. Looking back, it might have been worth the extra, but the ticket can't be changed, so I'm not going to worry about it.

But! I'm going abroad?! How cool is that? I've been dying to do more traveling since I got back from Kenya two and a half years ago, and I finally have something planned!! Now it's time to pour over books and websites, completely get my obsessing on.

Change in Plans!

I am proving myself to be really good at blogging. Yea right. I suppose the problem is that I know no one is reading right now, so there is zero motivation to write anything. Also, my plans have changed drastically. It turned out that going to Ghana would put me about $2,000 over my budget. Since any travel this summer will be coming directly out of my pocket, I have to keep my budget very much in mind.

After I realized Ghana was out of my price range, I resigned myself to the idea that I would have to do an internship in some local government office, probably filing papers and answering telephones. I was almost accepting this reality when I started to look elsewhere for overseas opportunities, mostly just for fun. To make a very long story short, I did a little research on volunteering in India, and found a great opportunity in community development in Jaipur. So far, the early price estimates show that it would fit nicely into my budget. The more Lonely Planet travel books I read, the more excited I become!

I applied for the program last month, and I was asked to send my C.V., which I need to write. I am working on it, and my self-imposed due date is sometime during the first week of the new year. Once I get a placement, and more concrete information on my assignment, I will be meeting with my internship coordinator once again to OK this final plan. I don't foresee any problems, but you never know about these academics...

In the mean time, I am spending countless hours creating a bomb-ass information packet for my friend. She is really into all things India, so I thought I would invite her. I had no problems making fast friends during my time in Kenya, but it could be really cool to have a friend along for this trip. This is especially so because any traveling might have to be done upfront before the monsoon season in July and August. If the partying has to be done before I start volunteering, I might not have the opportunity to meet and make fellow volunteer friends. Now, I'm normally totally brave, but I get a little uneasy at the thought of traveling in India solo. Strength in numbers, right?

Ghana is a GO!

Hello World!

Today I met with my internship adviser at my university and he passed my proposal for my internship for next summer. I applied to the program of my choice last week and was contacted yesterday with a letter of acceptance. It appears next summer in Ghana will become a reality.

Now all I have to do is work out the financial aspects and it will be on. Since this is an educational experience I don't feel too bad using some of my university grant money for the funding.

Regardless, I'm going to Ghana next summer. How cool is that?!

First Blog

I had a blog once before, but it's deleted now. But that was back when I was angry, so it should be much more fun now. Enjoy!