The Challenge: pack a year of my life into a 50 lb bag

Packing is the most tangible way to prepare for any trip and fitting my worldly possessions into one 50 lb bag (thank you stingy airlines) was a daunting task.  But, as always, I made a plan. Step one: pile everything I would ideally love to take with me to Mexico on my bedroom floor. Easy enough:

Step 2: attempt to jam everything on the floor into an olive green suitcase borrowed from Mom and Dad.  Well, several hours filled with rolling, squishing, discarding, coddling zippers and numerous weigh-ins (I hope our scale is aligned correctly), I present:

 

Though difficult, packing was one of the easier tasks I had to accomplish in the final weeks before heading to orientation.  Sure, I would have liked to pack that hairdryer and pair of rain boots.  After all, I might be taking cold showers and when I get to San Cristóbal, rainy season will be in full swing.  However, parting with these two possessions was infinitely easier than the--what feels like--millions of goodbyes I've said.  Even though I've cried more in the past week and a half than I have all summer, these moments have been bittersweet.  It's incredibly painful to know that I won't see many of you for a very long time, but these moments have also been a profound reminder of how deep my roots are, how blessed I am to love so many people and to have that love returned.  Thank you for the hugs, cards, blessings, tears, time and conversations.  Knowing that I'm leaving so many important relationships is difficult, but I'm also less scared because I'm taking that love with me.

And now, I'm ready to go. I hope my suitcase doesn't get lost because after all, being loved only gets you so far if you're naked in a new country.