Updates

Despite the "waiting", time is actually progressing pretty quickly. Here are some life updates.

- Yesterday I was accepted to the Lewis and Clark School of Law in Portland, Oregon. Lewis and Clark has one of the best and most prestigious environmental law programs in the U.S. and has been my dream since I was just a wee-child interested in environmental law and policy. Frankly, I am just so happy they accepted me. I am still freaking out. Thanks to their kind acceptance of me, my Mom and I are flying to Portland exactly two days after I land in America from Morocco to do a school visit before the deposit deadline! This also means I get to see my newly-engaged and beautiful friend Brittany in Oregon. She has kindly volunteered to be our chauffeur around Portland! I am really looking forward to the trip, even though it's going to be a chaotic week. We are going to visit Indiana about 12 hours after we land from Portland!

- I recently got rid of my first bags of "stuff"! It seems like just a few days ago I was major-ly stressing about packing for Morocco and now, two years later, I am getting rid of ALL of my stuff. The thought of clearing out my fully stocked house has been stressing me out for a long time. I have accumulated a lot of stuff in two years, and I have to get rid of it ALL before I can board that plane to the good ole US of A. The good news is that my local counterpart Lahcen, and his family, were eager to take some clothes, blankets and trinkets off my hands. Despite me giving them three giant bags full of stuff, they still offered to take more as the time comes! I also got final word from my Host Mother in my original site that she wants my furniture and whatever is left before I leave for my host sister's pending marriage. The end of March I just have to call my truck-guy, Huessin, and he will take the rest of my stuff off my hands for me. At least I know all of my old stuff will be both appreciated and put to good use. I plan on coming back to America with a few souvenirs for myself, my computer, my Kindle and the clothes on my back, saa-fi (that's all).

- Our final work-related wrap up meeting happens this Thursday. I requested a small grant ($150) from the Mid-Missouri Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Association a few months ago to hold a "wrap-up" and sustainability meeting for all of the villages who have recently gotten running water thanks to Peace Corps. My site mate worked with three villages before I arrived and we worked on two together, totaling five new communities with running water. This meeting will focus on making sure the projects stay working and the bills get paid. I am hoping it will be a way to get people together and network making problem solving easier in the future, after we are gone. There will be certificates handed out, fancy cookies eaten and even some expensive juice. It should be fun and most importantly, symbolizes my last official work-event with Peace Corps.

- The person in charge of booking my flight home contacted me today, meaning it's really happening. A flight is getting booked. I will be in America no later than April 6th, 2012. My life-long dream of doing the Peace Corps will finally be completed!

- My coming home party date has officially been set. On Friday, April 13th all are welcome to my house in St. Louis to come and celebrate my glorious return to America. We will have good food and delicious drinks on hand! I am really looking forward to seeing everyone! If you want to come and didn't get my e-mail invite, shoot me an email at carastuckel@gmail.com

- I am on day seven of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and let me tell you, it's kicking my butt.

This is how I look after every-single-workout. I am a hot mess.

I will update again after our wrap-up and celebration party on Thursday!