A week and a half before setting sail to Madagascar (and a week before Mardi Gras) and I've been living the stereotypical, gusto American lifestyle. I've eaten whatever whenever, smoked hookah and pipes (tobacco mind you - don't get any funny ideas), splurged on yoga classes, slept excessively and spent countless hours on the porch with a book...and man, do I feel good! My soul is indeed satisfied. I feel more at peace than I have in a long time and I've begun to wonder why I don't live like this all the time. Apparently, my self-conscious feels no guilt when it knows there's a stratospheric drought for opportunities of self-indulgence coming its way. And my inappreciable muffin top knows it's about to eat rice for two years and should absorb all these calories.
On the other hand I'm completely ecstatic for the "drought" to finally be upon me. I can now safely say five months might be too long to prepare for an adventure of this size but no, the anticipation did not kill me (I've been too busy with work for that). The positive side is I've finally weeded out most of the unnecessary items from my luggage (minus a few items to keep me sane) and just might make the 80 lb. limit.
I don't think it's really hit me the enormity of what I'm about to undertake and as someone told me today, that's probably a good thing. Often I make major life decisions from the heart and let my head process it later. It's not that I don't fully consider decisions before I make them, but I take leaps of faith when I know that it will take me in a positive direction.
To all of my fellow stagees "Laissez les bons temps rouler" and I can't wait to meet you!
