*Donna News*

Welcome to the first edition of Donna News!

Since Donna left home, she hasn't had a chance to update her blog, so I figured I would give a well deserved update with some Donna News.

She has been keeping pretty good contact with us via chats and emails and I think that has been helping to keep the melancholy away. She has since moved to her host family and her consistent (daily) internet access has ended, but she will still have access occasionally and is always able to get and respond to letters and care packages!

Empire State of Mind

Let's play a little game I like to call "Can Donna Fit That Into Her Luggage?"


Photo 1. This is some of the accessory stuff.

Photo 2. Some of my clothing and more accessories.

My eye obviously did not measure my junk correctly. I had to cut about half of my stuff to fit it into what is now called the "tiny luggage". As of right now, the luggage is under weight and packed.


Yesterday, my family and friends threw me a surprise going away party and it was amazing. I will miss everyone dearly. I also was able to meet up with some fellow RPCV in College Station, which gave me confidence and a sense of peace.


I'd like to post more but at the moment I'm taking in every moment I can with my family. (I type as my mother stares at me)




"New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can't do,
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York"
Empire State of Mind Part 2 Broken Down - Alicia Keys

Wide Open Spaces

An amazing friend of mine sent me a birthday package with 6 books, 3 mix cd's, and one of the sweetest cards I've ever received. These are all gifts that will help me with my travels and remember the good times back in Tejas.

Wide Open Spaces was one of the songs that I found to perfectly describe me today and my adventures in life. This song I find parallels with another Dixie Chicks song, The Long Way Around. I often am asked why I have such a odd lifestyle and I always respond that I stay open to opportunities and snatch them up when they appear; regardless on how crazy they may be or sound. There are days when I wish my opportunities weren't best friends with my failures though. Today feels like one of those days...only 2 weeks away from my departure it looks as if a hiccup has occurred. As with all adventures in life it wouldn't be the same if it worked out smoothly. What happens will happen and I will learn from it all.




"She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes


She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test"
Wide Open Space - Dixie Chicks

Play My Song Mr. Tambourine!

Everyone loves a photo journal so here is mine. I have found myself taking in every detail of my life and trying to remember how it feels, smells, and tastes (does not apply to all situations). Here are some photos I'd like to look back on and associate with good times and giggles.
On the left is possible stuff to get into the bags and on the right are my bags. This includes a carry-on backpack, carry-on rollie bag, rollie luggage bag, and a hiking bag (with a yoga mat strapped on). I'm missing little stuff at this point but hopefully I will get everything reorganized and added in as time progresses.



Stuff I'll miss: Cupcakes from Frost and Sprinkles. They are both delicious and cute.
Pani puri.. Thanks to some friends I love this stuff as well as some other nummy Indian food.

Oh they look beautiful don't they?! Sadly, I sold off the orange ones (Omaha show). Ah such is life. I'm excited about these last concerts. Let Mr. Dave Matthews sing #41 for me (pass that along).

"Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me

I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you"
- Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan

American Girl

OH the lists begin and the paperwork never ends.


The 3-Day Events

09/22/10
6:09am
-Fly out of Houston (3hr 21min)


10:30am
-Arrive at Philadelphia


12:00pm
-Registration


2:00pm - 4:25pm
-Who We Are
-What's Expected of You


4:45pm - 7:00pm
-What You Expect
-What's Next
-Closing


7:00pm-?
-Philly Shenanigans


09/23/10
11:00am
-Check Out


1:15pm
-Leave for JFK Airport


9:40pm
-Flight Leaves for Germany (7hr 50min)


09/24/10
11:30am
-Arrive in Frankfurt (2hr layover)


1:30pm
-Leave for Baku (4hr 25min)


8:55pm
-Arrive in Baku




"She couldn't help thinkin'
That there was a little more life somewhere else
After all it was a great big world
With lots of places to run to"
American Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers