I’ve been noticing a lot of things. I live in a beautiful city. I have a pretty great life with a lot of amazing people in it. I noticed the sunset the other day and almost took a picture. I keep taking pictures in my mind of things I want to remember and moments I want to capture and hold onto forever. Remembering that it’s the little things that I will miss the most. The way the lights are strung above the mall parking lot that makes it look much prettier than it actually is because it’s a parking lot. The way the trees line both sides of the street on my way home. The same trees that I’ve passed by my whole life in my favorite neighborhood. The fact that I can’t go anywhere without running into someone I know. This town has been my home for 30 years and I’m leaving. I have eight months for that to sink in. 

I went to the Simi mall last night to take my nieces trick-or-treating and saw so many familiar faces. So many people I’ve gone to school with for years. These people with their families and their babies. Where has the time gone? Because of my job, I am constantly back at schools I used to attend and it makes me feel incredibly nostalgic. I can’t help but ask myself “where has the time gone” because it feels like yesterday when I was thinking of any possible reason to stay home from school. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t miss high school! I just can’t believe it was over 12 years ago. 

This new adventure excites every fiber of my being and ignites the flame that’s been, quietly, waiting for years to burn brilliantly. It’s just weird to think about the fact that, very soon, I will be leaving my home. 

FOREVER. Even though I know it will fly by and then June will be here and I’ll be like “OMG I’M NOT READY!!!!”… 

I’ve been lucky enough to have gotten in contact with a girl who is already in Malawi as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) and she has been super helpful. Honestly, I had a sinking hole in my stomach before messaging back and forth with her and now I feel a million times better. 

However, I’m realizing more and more that I am gonna need a lot of things. I’m notorious for packing last minute for every trip I’ve ever been on and so I am really trying to be smart about all of this. Luckily, there are lists that have been created and Anne, the PCV, is fine with me asking a million questions. She has already set me straight about a few things I wasn’t going to bring (makeup) and let me know of things I don’t need to bring (peanut butter!). So I should bring makeup but they give you peanut butter once a week. It’s the little things. 

To elaborate on the last post… they have powdered milk for the coffee but Anne says to bring powdered creamer because it will be a lot better… I know you were all worried. 

I found a water bottle on Amazon that has a built-in “life pen” that purifies your drinking water and works for 1000L! I’ll admit, I never thought I would find so much joy in discovering a particular water bottle.  

Update on my mom: She’s already tired of me talking about the PC and hearing me remind her REPEATEDLY of how much she’s gonna miss me but… COME ON. I’m so right. She said today “Erin, let’s be honest, who’s going to miss who?” And she’s right. I’m gonna miss her way more because I always do. 

I was in Long Beach all weekend and my older sister called and said my niece was asking about me. Being away from my family is going to be the hardest part of all of this. 27 months without them. Yikes. Thank goodness for FaceTime!