Training, training, training...

...And just when you think you're done, you train for a few more hours! :) That's how my life goes these days. I feel like I'm back in college, but I've always been such a slacker that I have to be honest and say that none of my time in college was this rigorous. Plus, we are in the middle of the hottest weeks here in Pasadena so not only do we have to sit and listen all day, we also don't have air conditioning and it's in the upper 90's. I guess I can't complain too much, I have to look at it like God's little way of toughening me up before I go to Casablanca! :) It's been really great getting to know these people that I'm going to be spending so much time with. Everyone on the Morocco team is awesome and especially my wonderful teammates that will be going to Casa with me. I already feel like I've known them forever and we've just met. That's partially due to the questions they make us ask one another. On the second day that we were together we had to answer the question, "...Looking at your team and the different personalities, what are some conflicts that you think might arise? How do you think you will handle them?" What a way to introduce yourself to someone! Anyway, we will be in training for another 2 weeks then we have a long weekend! Paul is coming down and we are just going to play and relax! Hooray, I'm so ready for a break already I can't imagine how I'll feel by then! I leave for Morocco the following Saturday, which will be the 13th. We will then have about 2 weeks to get settle in and then it's back to work with new teacher training. I still don't know what grade I'm teaching or if the teacher housing will be finished when we get there, but I can be flexible. Thank you all so much for supporting me and I promise to get some new pictures on the page soon!

Oh, I forgot...

I added new pictures to the picture link, just a little album about my time here!

Tomorrow's the Big Day

I'm heading off to LA at a very unreasonable hour of the morning! I will get there sometime around noon and have the afternoon to settle in. I've had a really great visit down here but I'm looking forward to getting to work and having a purpose. It's been hard this past week to have left my life but just be on vacation. A break is good but I can only take being in limbo for so long! :) The rest of today I'll be packing and rearranging, trying to get both bags under the weight limit. It's very hard to pack a years worth of stuff into two suitcases and keep it under the 50 pound weight limit. :)

And I'm off...

After a crazy flight down to Seattle filled with everything from medical emergencies on the plane (not me) to missing rental cars, I'm officially done with step one of my trip. What concerns me most is that this was suppossed to be the easiest part! :) I will be in Washington and Portland for the next week and then I'll head down to L.A. where the real work of training begins. The whole experience still feels a little surreal, but that's probably a good thing because in the off moments when it does sink in, I'm an emotional wreck, no surprise to the people who have been around me for the past few months I'm sure! By the way, I have so many thank you's, but since this isn't the academy awards or anything I'll keep it simple. To everyone that has been praying or has given money or has been my roommate or my knight in shining armour the past few weeks I just want to tell you that I am totally blessed to have people like you in my life, and I'm fully aware of what a special gift that is. Just one last thing, for those of you who don't know I switched my e-mail account so it is now Markley_Sarah@yahoo.com feel free to drop me a line anytime!