week til departure

highly asked question: How am I feeling given that my time to leave for my travels is coming near? Simply put, I am looking forward to my new adventure but sad to say goodbye. Lately a great deal of anxiety anticipating the learning load kicks in especially as I find another item I don't think I can bare to live without in South Africa. PC allows us to take two checked bags, one of which is filled with your essentials and the other which will be stored with PC until my PC 3 month training is completed.
When it comes to possessions, I would consider myself a minimalist, however if you ask me to select which stress relievers or books to select for my journey, I feel divided between the luxuries of a first-world country that creates overwhelming situations needing stress relievers which are easy to access. And the emptiness of a third-world country that sends one into a state of shock provided there is no television or typical conversation, but unfortunately it is likely this world won't hold the resources to meet my interests. we have met our CONUNDRUM!
On the upside: My recent visits with family and friends were everything I could have hoped for! I appreciate everyones encouragement and expression of interest! I am very thankful to have such a loving group of people in my life! I can't think of anything greater than being loved by others.
And a final proposal to all my new readers, a challenge: keep up with my blog. If anything you can scavenge through my writing for grammar usage mistakes (I know there are quite a few), I will make you feel better about your inability to find something to watch on TV, or I will feed your procrastination addiction.

Some resources provided by PC

SA
www.countrywatch.com
U.S. State Department
About.com SA
China and Africa

Connect with returned PCV
blogs from RPCV
blogs from PCV

the Mail and Guardian, a progressive weekly newspaper
the Sunday Independent, which features articles on development issues
Institute for a Democratic Alternative in South Africa
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
A United Nations site with thorough information on the AIDS epidemic
World Bank, for information related to development aid
HIV/AIDS worldwide