Today is my last day in Charlottesville, before my trip. I am totally excited. Someone asked me yesterday how I was feeling, was it a bitter sweet reality, to which I replied, “Oh No, its ALL SWEET.” I am ready for a sabbatical and hopefully I will return changed for the better with my cup running over with stories and experiences.

I can tell this is going to be an adventure already, which makes me laugh out loud even, seeming that this morning I got an email from the US Embassy in Guatemala (I am registered with the State Department to get email updates from the countries I am visiting) informing me that a volcano has erupted just 20 miles from Guatemala City and everything, including the airport I am flying into, is covered with ash. And if you don’t know what ash looks like, it’s like soot or black sand. SWEET!!! I haven’t even left yet. For now, the airport is closed and they have 9 days to get it together or I will likely be going to Costa Rica instead (not that that is a raw deal, so I can’t really complain). I laugh because what else can I do, but say, “Bring it on adventure! I might as well get used to stuff like this.

What will I miss most about Charlottesville? I usually don’t miss things until I am bored, and something tells me I will be preoccupied with trying to navigate the world, but if I had to choose, here is a top 5 list (it not in order of importance):

1. I will probably miss going to the gym and working out, and for all who go to ACAC, I will miss the hot tub and Blaise (the athletic conditioning instructor). However, there are quite a few Gold’s Gym’s around the world. I will be walking a lot, so maybe I will stay fit. I also like to eat, so maybe not. I will keep you updated and take at least one picture of my plate in each country so you know what the food is like.

1. My coworkers. These are the people you spend more time with then your family. My coworkers are super funny and cool. I will miss the banter, because when you work in the public sector, you need something to do to relieve the stress of working with irate citizens, no I mean active community members.

1. Simple stuff, like the familiarity of this place – knowing where you are going, knowing the language, and people knowing you and knowing you well. Being able to pick up the phone and say let’s hang out. I will miss being known. Randomly, most of the time that I walk home from work; I get spotted for one of two reasons. 1-“Hey aren’t you the girl on TV” to which I reply “yes that is me”. Apparently TV 10 has high ratings and Planning Commission meetings must be the top rated show. 2- Yesterday, I was walking home and someone says, “Hey Ebony” and says to her friend, “Hey there is Ebony from the Poetry Jams.” They were big fans; it’s kind of amazing that I am associated with such a cool endeavor. I could get used to being famous. But anyway, all this to say, on the streets of wherever, no one will know my name.

1. Friends and family obviously in there. People, please email, skype or G-chat me (I will make myself visible, which I am currently not). I will also miss my church family, it’s a new church and I haven’t been there long, but it feels like I’ve dipped my toes in the life of the church, which has been a quite refreshing experience(I was kind of anti-church for a while) and know I have to leave. That makes me sad, but I will be happy to return.

1. Out of all the things that I have to give up for this trip, money, my comfy bed (really comfortable, I have an egg crate and a featherbed), my job, etc. the hardest thing to give up was my car. I sold it yesterday. I didn’t necessarily need to do that, but it will likely ensure that I come back debt free. But, it was like a piece of my independence (I have been buying into Americanism too much) was sold off. It kind of sad, but good. Like a Disciple (not really, they went to spread the good news, but you get what I mean), I have nearly sold everything I own in search of God, adventure and hospitality around the world. So like Sprint, I am “Free and Clear.” and damn happy about it.

So now, for the next 9 days, I will be off to NY for a family fundraiser (I will do my first poetry workshop there), rest and preparation for the unexpected, if you can prepare for such a thing. My trip bag is actually about 90% packed. I will be crossing the last things off on my “to do” list (don’t you love crossing things off, it’s a simple joy), finishing Eat, Pray, Love, and blogging to give you some more insight into the countries I am visiting. I sort of dropped the ball on that; my last blog in this regard was on Europe. I have a blog brewing about Kenya and maybe I’ll get to some others.

Pray for my safe travels and return.

Hasta Luego C’ville!!!