the contents of your life in 100lbs or less

30 DAYS AND COUNTING until I leave for 10 months of camping in West Kili, Tanzania.

Up until now-ish, this blog has mainly been nothin but logistical jargon about visas, permits and the dealing with the Tz Embassy & Fulbright bureaucracy. Well, all that is taken care of for now, (until I actually get there and have to pick up all those permits and go to the Embassy!) so now it's time to start writing about the more exciting part; GOING!! (and freaking out about going)

How the heck do you pack for 10 months in a tent? How am I even going to get my 74lb tent over there?!? I have to buy a truck, I don't even know how to drive standard!! I'm going to an Elephant Research camp that's staffed by 30 dudes...WHO am I going to talk to?!?! How am I supposed to make mac n'cheese?! do i have to drink Sanka?? ohgod!

Now's the time where I actually have to think about traveling there. And of course I've planned it all out in my head and thought about what I'm going to bring, what it's going to be like, etc. But it' waayyy different when you actually have to put your stuff in a bag and GO. There are so many things I'm going to miss! Goodbye cheese...goodbye ice cream...goodbye houseplants...goodbye Wilma, Hoggerbots, Bobaflogg, Ginger, Lily, Fidget, Arusha and Chui... and the lame things that even I'm surprised I will miss...mascara (like, the only makeup I wear, okay!) dresses, patterned tights, snow boots, sweaters!? Now, I am not a girly girl, but I do enjoy dressing up and going out! I am going to have to seriously man-up to live at this camp!I already bought an entire new arsenal of beaters and man shorts...hot.

There are a few body products I know I cannot go without..judge me however you want, everyone has their vices..St. Ives Apricot scrub, Neutrogena Facial Moisturizer and shaving! I personally cannot go very long before shaving my legs/armpits...I mean, I consider myself to be pretty crunchy..but not that crunchy..and I think this list is pretty modest in comparison to most ladies out there today!

Food is going to be the hardest part, I think. I eat pretty healthy in general, but I do have special relationships with cheese & chocolate.. When I was there for 2 weeks in '07 I lost 8lbs..so if that's any indicator as to how my body's going to react to a severe change in diet, oh boy...I'm going to look like a stick all over again.

Packing will sure be interesting..I have to get my entire life into 2 large bags under 50lbs. I am very excited for 10 months of living relatively clutter-free, with only the things I really need. I do have to pack all the art supplies I will want because you can't really get colored pencils, fine point pens, or nice paper there. Books are also a tough one..how do you pick and choose? They certainly add a lot of weight, so I'll have to choose carefully. I'll have to choose each and every item carefully..