Getting Shot

Michelle and I both have to go get 6 shots in the next couple weeks. Fun stuff! Everything else is coming together though... we've got most of our prescriptions already, including enough anti-malaria medicine for over a years worth of travel.

80 Days!!

Wow I can't believe how close the trip is getting! Everything is coming together really well--we're getting things worked out with doctors, medications, vaccinations, insurance, etc. Next week I have to get 5 shots in one day--yikes! We have a hostel booked for the first 2 nights in Saigon, and have worked out a pretty solid budget. At this point it's looking probable that we'll do Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Nepal, and hopefully Bangladesh. We'll probably be gone for about 9 months-a year based on where we want to go and how much money we have. Jason is much more disciplined with the finances so I'm glad he's going, otherwise I imagine I'd blow through it all in about 3 months because I kept finding things I just HAD to do or buy. It's about 6 weeks until I get to give notice to my job (I literally daydream about doing this) and I'll probably quit Target earlier in September. There's still a lot to take care of but September 27 is approaching very fast!

Ready to Go

Well we leave in 4 months and 3 days and are more than ready to get the hell out of here. It might be a long summer, but at least we will be saving money and won't be in school.

I'm here too!

Ok I figured out how to get on this too, so I think we're set up for our joint blog for the trip! Tickets were bought last Wednesday and we leave September 27th from Springfield, and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on September 29th. We got one-way tickets so there's no return date at this point! I've gone through and trimmed my finances as much as I can to work on saving harder for the trip since it's only about 5 months away now!

New Camera

Just bought a new camera, I'm really looking forward to getting it. Although I know the basics concerning the technical aspects of cameras, and on my little point and shoot I have tweaked the settings a bit, my new Canon XSi won't even be on the same playing field. I got a bargain deal on it at $649, and although I am now broke, I've got enough once in a lifetime trips coming up that I think it is validated. It was shipped to me today, should be here by Friday. Should have a good time this weekend trying to become a real photographer, haha.

Hmm... what to do.

Haven't really figured out what to use this blog for just yet... but I will. Have simply been doing more research and reading about blogs and other social media lately, which is actually turning out to be quite interesting. I've been using social media for a long time, and I know that is is valuable to people of all ages and for many different reasons, but watching Harvard scholars talk about it is kind of cool.

Also, due to some good news on the financial front, the trip to Asia might be expedited. It's possible I may leave in October (as opposed to November), and may stay a month longer. I'm also going to Utah over spring break for some outdoor activities, to check out the University of Utah for grad school, and to look for a place to live. And I think I might buy a new camera. Exciting.

The Beginning of the Beginning

This is the start of my personal blog. I haven't figured out exactly what to do with it yet, but I will. When I leave for Asia, this will be a a documentation of the trip. Until then, we'll have to wait see...