Single Digits

This is it.  Finally it.  Tomorrow I'm hitting single digits in my countdown to Belize.  Honestly, there were times that I didn't think I'd make it to where I am now.  It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in my Learning and Assessment class in the basement of the School of Education at Drake being told that "During Spring Break next year, we're taking a group of people to Belize.  If you'd like more information, sign this."  I wrestled with myself for a good while about whether or not I should bother signing up for more information.  But looking back?  Best decision I made in that class, by far.

So here I am, what seems like mere moments but is actually almost a year later (a YEAR?!) and my countdown has reached 10 days.  Ten days from now I will be waking up way too early, making my way through airport traffic, and taking off.  I seriously can't wrap my mind around it.

I made it here.  I made it here by my own choice and by my own will.  I've made sacrifices so I could get enough money to pay for this.  I've given up the idea of seeing my family, my friends, Daniel, for a whole week, in order to do this.  Do I regret it?  Not a single part.  Sure, I'd love nothing more than to spend Spring Break with the people I love.  But what I really love is travel, excitement, experience.

So where do I go from here?  Well, as logic would tell you, I should probably make sure I get all my homework done before I go.  Because frankly, I'm NOT going to be laying on a beach in the Caribbean, getting my tan on, while writing lesson plans.  I love my major, but sometimes a break is good.  And that's what this is.

So what am I looking at getting done in the next nine days?

• Childhood Lit: Midterm, Poetry File, Read Alouds, Read The Hunger Games (And let's face it...I'm going to be finishing that by tomorrow at the latest and I just got the book 2 days ago.)
• Language & Literacy: Midterm - Well, that's easy enough
• Curriculum & Pedagogy: Concept Attainment Lesson Plan - Not bad.
• Early Childhood Methods: Just the normal 2 short reflection papers. Fine.
• ESL Methods: Now here's where we get tricky. Differentiated Lesson Plans and Differentiated Assignment/Assessment with a listening/speaking focus. Due? The day we start back at school.
• Reading in the Content Areas: Midterm, Explicit Lesson Plan on Building Vocabulary (and I have to re-do my last lesson plan because, well, I didn't do too hot)
• Speech & The Classroom Teacher: Crisis/Solution Podcasts

Obviously, it's going to be my night classes (the last 3) that are going to do me in here. And that's a LOT to get done in the next 9 days.

On top of that -- I have to put together a guest speaking presentation for my preschoolers at Holy Cross in Belize.  I just have to point out that this is an AWESOME opportunity that I am so, so grateful to have.  But, at the same time, I have really bad anxiety about speaking in front of people.  Yes, I'll have to get over that as a teacher.  Yes, these are 4 years olds and I'll never see them again (Which kind of breaks my heart, if I'm being honest).  But still, it's terrifying.  Especially considering my topic of conversation is Good Touch, Bad Touch.  Here we go.  Thankfully I have gotten some help from a fellow classmate (and Belize traveler) of mine - Melissa.

So after homework is done, what's next?  Oh right, we have to pack up a suitcase.  What should we bring?

• Clothes (Well, duh. But I'm kind of reminding myself that I bought new clothes specifically for our practicum and I have to make sure I'm bringing them with!)
• Shoes (Again, I had to buy new Keens for this and I can't forget them.
• Medications - in original containers and copies of prescriptions (Also need to leave parents a copy!)
• Sunscreen (and tanning oil. Because let's face it...I'm super pale.)
• Aloe Vera -- I'm pretty likely to get burnt.  That's just the way the world works.
• Chapstick - with SPF
• Lotion - Yes, yes, yes!
• Water Bottle - We can't actually DRINK the water there, so this is super important.
• Coffee (Again, bought specifically for this. Our hotel room has a kitchen)
• Credit Card - I'm thinking of going and buying one of those pre-paid ones so I can leave my actual credit cards at home. Don't really want to lose any of those. Also, copies for mom and dad!
• Cash - Both US dollars and Belizean
• Gym Bag - For holding my stuff while I'm at the beach, etc.
• Sunglasses - I CAN NOT FORGET THESE!
• Insect repellant - Oh yeah, I was going to look online for the good stuff. Need to do that.
• Camera - I CAN NOT FORGET THIS EITHER! I also plan on buying a waterproof disposable one as well, for snorkeling.  Dr. Fairbairn found waterproof things to put over your digital camera, which would be great.  But I just can't convince myself to buy something like that for $25 when I probably won't use it again and I can just get digital prints when I turn in my camera to Walgreens.
• Books for the plane - Oh yes. If I finish The Hunger Games Trilogy before I go, which, I probably will, my next goal is The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire.  I've had both of those for a while, but never have time to read it.
• Essentials - You know, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Oh, there's definitely more.  But, I feel like I've got the basics.  I also need to figure out what in the world I'm using as my carry-on.  My backpack?  Who knows...

All I know is, 10 days from now, I'll no longer be on North American soil.