Day 1.

Today as I was surfing the internet searching for information to prepare me for my study abroad trip to South Africa I realized that I have a lot going on in the next few months. I wanted to get a blog going for when I head to South Africa anyways just so I can look back at all the experiences I had, but right now I am becoming slightly stressed from school, volleyball and training that I need a way to organize my thoughts.

Starting with volleyball. So far this season we accomplished one of our goals and that was beating Notre Dame College. We, the Lake Erie College womens volleyball team, have never won a match against the falcons and this year we took it in 5 games with a score of 15-11 in the final game. Lauren, my best friend since oh I dont know... the 7th grade? is on the opposing team so it's always fun to play against her :) Now that we have started play in the GLIAC, which is the most competitive and strongest D2 conference (so everyone says), we haven't won a game. The teams are a lot bigger than us and hit a lot harder. We are having a tough time now, but if our team can bring it together I think we could really shock some teams. We leave for Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech this weekend, which is about a 12 hour bus ride... atleast I'll get some of my homework done? As for my school work. My classes are pretty tough because I am finally into my major (environmental science), but atleast I am interested in the material!

Moving on to another reason I wanted to start a blog. I was recently chosen to be an i2P (impossible2Possible) Youth Ambassador. i2P is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to inspiring youth around the world through adventure and educating them on social issues like biodiversity. This October (in a few short weeks) I will be traveling to Brazil with 3 other Youth Ambassadors (Jessie, Isaiah and Sierra) to trek for 8 days along the Tapajos River in the Amazon jungle. Along the way we will be communicating with over 13,000 students (the last number I heard, which is probably still growing) about the importance of biodiversity around the world and problems like deforestation and food that effect the Tapajos communities.

Trekking for 8 days is going to physically and mentally demanding, not to mention very hot and humid. I have been training for a few weeks now for the trip along with playing volleyball. Our training consists of strength, flexibility, upper body cardio and hiking (with 30 lbs on our backs). The hiking is probably the most important part because that is what we will be doing for a majority of those 8 days of trekking. So far its been tough to find people to hike along with me, although I don't mind going by myself, but the company is nice! My mom and dad both have hiked with me once and I want to add that I appreciate everything they do for me and all the support they have given me throughout my entire life! My puppies (coco and sugar) have also tagged along once. This past weekend one of my room mates, Rachel, headed down to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a few hours and hiked down the Standford trail in search of a waterfall (thanks Sandi for the directions!). We would have found the waterfall an hour earlier had we not run into a 3 foot long black snake that happened to cross our path (I'm pretty sure we will see even bigger snakes in the amazon). Once we spotted it we turned and ran putting us way of course, but thats where the fun is... getting lost!

Another aspect of getting ready for the journey is the vaccines. Now I am no good with blood or needles, as my room mates know, but I didn't think a few shots were going to be that bad... Well I was wrong. Krista, my other room mate, came with me for moral support and to drive me home just incase I were to pass out. Well I did end up fainting, right there in the chair... I'm not sure what it is with me, but I just can't handle needles.

One other problem that I have had is with my passport. I was denied because I had a headband on in my pictures. How was I suppose to know?! I sent everything back, so hopefully I'll get my passport in another week or so and then all I have to get is my visa which should only take about 5 days.

Thats all I have for now. I know over the next few weeks we will be getting a lot of information plus I have a lot of exams and our first home game is coming up soon! (and my birthday is only 20 short days away!!!!)

B