Two Week Countdown

It was pretty jarring to look at the calendar this morning and having it sink in that I leave for Chicago to meet my flight TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY! Maybe this trip isn't so very hypothetical after all.

I have learned that there are no fees for the first two checked suitcases, weighing up to 50 pounds EACH, plus a 25-pound max carry-on, so, man, am I taking the stuff! Lots of veterinary supplies and gifts. Several bars of amazing home made soap.

Now I'm feeling the responsibility of bringing books to leave at the project for future volunteers to read. Since most of the volunteers are British and Australian, I feel a mandate to provide an entertaining selection of AMERICAN material with a focus on environmentalist concerns. Tony Hillerman and Carl Hiassen are already packed after I went shopping for used books at Kids Korner.

While I'm still looking for good quality pen knives, I'm going to follow Jack's suggestion and get aspirin, ibuprofen, and band aids as gifts for the locals. Apparently the over-the counter stuff available there is inconsistent and low quality--cheap Chinese knock-offs.

A little lacking in creative gift-giving, perhaps, but hopefully something that's needed. And as one astute reader commented, not something that constitutes an attempt to change the people's way of life.