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UPDATE: 23.02.08

ALOHA all!

I'm buried in thermal socks, woolly knit cap, longjohns, Gallaudet thick cotton sweatpants, and a cozy hood sweater as I'm typing this. No, I'm not in my igloo outside in the -10oC freezing wintry night, I'm sitting in my dad's reclining chair inside the house. He likes to keep the temperature at an atonishingly low 60oF and thinks the house needs fresh air so he opens the windows up a crack. My dad, he's a true to boot nutcracker Canadian who likes his window down during frostbiting cold, his coffee from Tim Horton's and loves his Hockey Nights in Canada. I think I'm projecting my veiled feelings about my country and its quirkiness as I prepare for my move to an area that has a sun that would cook up eggs in a second on a flat iron sheet and the only river of water would be the sweat from the people who are situated in the desert. So, in stark comparison, Canada's painfully cold climate is sometimes a refreshing stay with fresh air, while sitting outside baking in the hundred-degree sun with a nice lemonade. I think I'm going to pick the latter despite the sad fact I'll have to wait two years to drink Tim Horton's coffee.

That being said, the days count down to six with the prospect of departing Canadian soil on Friday, February 29 enroute to London for a layover.

On Thursday morning, I received a pager message from the Canadian VSO headquarters saying that my final visa proceedings were complete and the whole shebang was sitting pretty on the desk of the travel co-ordinator. Admittedly, I let out a loud scream while my dad was gearing to back out of the driveway, and my brother listening idly by to his warped music. I couldn't help myself, okay? I was supposed to leave in October, then November then February 11 then February 25 then February 29. So sue me for screaming at the top of my lungs. I am really going!! (with the exception of the long-awaited news if my two intervenors' visas would be complete on time, too.. without them, another postponement is possible.... ugh.) But the point is, my visa is D-O-N-E. Doggity damn.

All day I've been packing, fretting around, experiencing short breathing, my heart constantly beats 250bpm, slipping on the huge pellets of sweat trailing me as I freak out and lug heavy boxes of books, et cetera, generously donated by kindred spirits.

Today, I've had one or two episodes where I just sat there, staring at the blank wall, chewing my lips and my fingers fidgety. In less than a full week, I could be sitting in a wooden chair in a hot and humid classroom taking in every word that drifts and echoes through my sign language interpreters during a VSO training session.

To be honest with you, I'm experiencing an overload of feelings. I'm feeling overwhelmed, scared, anxious, excited, confused, irritated, borderline schizophrenic ("Go!" "Don't Go!") and eager to bolt out of here and kiss the hot sands of the Nigerian desert.

Here's praying Erin and Zach's visas come through by the start of next week, so we all can start the adventure of all adventures.

Wish me luck. I can feel all of your positive vibes. Leave wall messages, send in pictures and contribute to the discussion threads!

Tactile love far and abroad,
Coco xoxo