winding down and gearing up

Today was my last stressful day of school! I turned in my term project in American Government and now I can relax...for a minute! Next week is finals, but they should all be easy. I talked to my program manager today, and Moses (the in country director, who I will see a lot of while I am in Tanzania) has found a doctor that is willing to communicate with my parents and my doctors from UofM, should anything happen while I am over there! Today I went to REI and bought some of the last things on my list. I bought binoculars, sunglasses, a backpack, mosquito netting, and bug repellent that is 98.11% deet...that's a lot of deet! I'm hoping I won't have to use this a lot, because I know deet isn't good for you, but I suppose it's better than malaria. I got my drivers license (FINALLY!) on tuesday, and now am enjoying the fact that I never have to drive again. My parents keep saying "you know, it's okay if you call off the trip, or wait until next year"...I'm pretty sure they think this is a giant prank I'm pulling. They find it really hard to believe that I'm really just ecstatic to be going! Well, in a week or two I should receive my official work placement from CCS, and in 20 days I'll be off to Africa!