Back from Tejas!

Just took a trip to Texas to see all of my family and it went perfectly! Thank you fam! Daniel and I went to Bass Pro Shop, Main Event, Braum's (mmmmm), and Six Flags Over Texas! Then, my amazing cousin Nathan picked me up for the weekend and Ashlee, Nathan, and I went to a really neat restaurant, Jo T. Garcia's, where I only had two choices on the menu, enchiladas or fajitas! It just might be my new favorite restaurant because it was set in an old villa, it seemed to go on and on, and the food was amazing! Then we headed to a house of beers, The Ginger Man, where I proceeded to pass out on the couch and kick the boys' butt at darts. The next morning we visited the Rangers' stadium so that cuz could get his new, sexy security uniform! Lol. It's cuuuute! Then it was time to head up to Gainesville and see my Aunt Sarah and Uncle Mark! Their house is beautiful and they have buffalo roaming their backyard! Too cool! From there we went to a casino in Oklahoma with the biggest gambling area in the US! I lost all of my $14 (playing penny slots) and so we got some Texas brisket and Nathan and I headed to my Aunt Susan and Uncle Frank's house (there was some Braum's in there again!). We enjoyed a good conversation around the campfire! Then it was time to head home and get some rest for church the next morning. After church we went to a neat TCU/college restaurant where I had the best vegetable/taco salad ever! Well, honestly, I'm not sure I will ever have the chance to order one of those again. So, my weekend was coming to a close, we stopped by Cabela's on my way back to Aunt Lisa's. I relaxed with Aunt Lisa and Daniel the rest of the night (had Braum's, again!) and headed to the airport the next morning. Wow. Good trip! Thank you Nathan and Aunt Lisa for being so accommodating! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and it was because of ya'll! 

On to a Peace Corps note, I have lots of questions that I have been asking Leslie and John who are already in Fiji! So I just wanted to give a shout out and thanks for all of your replies Leslie! I would be lost without you! Can't wait to get there and meet you! Less than two months left!

On another note... those care packages I so frequently mention... I didn't realize it would cost an arm and a leg to send me stuff. So, please do not feel the need to send me anything if money is tight! I do not expect anyone to pay the kinds of prices I was quoted at the post office! It's the thought that counts! Much love.

I am also searching for a Gregory Deva 70 Small Hiking Backpack if anyone reads this and has one they want to sell me I would much appreciate it!

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.

I ACCEPTED MY INVITATION! I will be going to Ireland May 8-18, then straight to Staging May 19!! I am so excited! Although, I still have to quit my job... grrrr. I cannot wait to learn Fijian and Hindi! I know they only teach us one or the other, but I am devoted to learning them both! Then... when I finish my two years of service I can head straight to India! Aaahhhh! My time has finally come! Anyways, the work has just begun and it has been an 8 month long process already! Time to tailer my resume and write an aspiration statement! Love to all!

Each bay, its own wind. -Fijian Proverb

IM GOING TO FIJI!!!

I finally received my official invitation! Time to celebrate! and be crazy sick to my stomach! I am nervous, excited, sad to leave my mom, sis, dad, Lex, Wil, and all my amazing friends! But hey, I am headed to FIJI! I will be leaving May 19, hopefully a day after I get back from Ireland if all goes well! I don't have too many details except that I am in the Integrated Environmental Resource Management Project and my title is Environmental Resource Management Promoter... whatever that entails! My activities may include: Teaching conservation concepts to adult and youth populations that support environmental education projects that are active in communities; conducting environmental impact studies; monitoring, accessing, and evaluating coral reefs, mangroves, and the upland forest; improving the technical skills of staff at governmental agencies and introducing new information, methods and ideas regarding natural resource conservation; assisting with the planning and administering of locally managed marine protected areas and forest reserves; providing disaster preparedness and mitigation training in local communities; assisting local and outside agencies in meeting their goals through improved planning and organizational development, monitoring, and reporting; designing sustainable marine tourism training programs to increase the number of Fijians trained in marine tourism and ensuring an environmentally sustainable industry; and last but not least, building the capacity of community members - especially youth and women - in effective and environmentally sound ecotourism and other income-generating activities. Wow. All of that sounds exciting! Put me to work!

Some minor facts about Fiji:

It is 17 hours ahead of Central Time (so we are almost the first country to see the dawn of each new day!)

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians (54%), who are mainly of Melanesian descent, and Indo-Fijians (38%), descendants of Indian contract laborers brought to the Islands by the British in the nineteenth century.

Fiji consists of 322 islands (only 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets.

87% of the population lives on only 2 islands: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu

The country is mountainous and covered with tropical forests with animals ranging from parrots and iguanas to blue ribbon eels and freckle face blennies (See why I love animals that come from the Sea... where else do you see cool names like that?).

Well, I better get to bed! Kate is coming in the morning to go to Trade Day and a winery! I am soooo excited! Everyone will be getting a card in the mail of where they can send me care packages! ;) Much love!