Day 1 - August 10, 2010

7 am

It's seven am and I'm on my way to the white plains airport. I decided to just bring my backpack and my leopard carry on. Traveling with checked baggage just stresses me out. I ended up buying shampoo and other toiletries in bulk from target yesterday. I put those in a flat rate box, filling the rest of the box with books to get the most for my money. I ended up having an additional two big boxes. In total I have sent three boxes of just clothes and shoes and after my parents drop me off they will mail the flat rate box and the two boxes I packed last night. Each of these boxes are about twenty pounds... So I'll be living in Alabama with 100 lbs of stuff.

I think once I'm on the plane with my bags safely stowed above my head and under the seat in front of me, I'll feel like I'm ready. I know I am ready but I don't feel ready yet. Who would have thought this would happen. I feel like I've just been telling people about the JVC but not truly connecting myself to the story.

11am

Well my first flight wasn't too great. It was a small plane that only sat 4 people across. I was on the window seat but the man sitting next to me completely dominated the middle armrest. I also had my backpack at my feet so there was no room to spread out. I had to sit leaning towards the window the whole time, which meant my head was against the angled part of the head rest. Needless to say I have a kink in my neck now. Over packing hasn't helped. I feel like I'm in high school with my 30 lbs backpack. But I'm sure I'll need every thing in these bags!

Walking onto my second plane I met Ashley. She's from New Fairfield and went to BC. Once we landed in Houston we became search buddies. We got lunch, got her baggage, and began our search for terminal C and other JVs.

In the airport I first met Megan Brown. She had friended every one on facebook and was able to recognize each of our housemates as they arrived. Soon we met Andrew and Emily. They are both really nice and I'm really excited to meet the rest of our housemates.

We are now on an un air conditioned bus heading to the retreat center. This is a Costa Rica throw back. Except in Costa Rica I wasn't sweating this much because there was wind. But here in this bumper to bumper traffic there is hot stale air.

The bus got us to Pinehurst, TX to a retreat center owned by the Archdiocese. It is beautiful. We are all in cabins with multiple bed rooms, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a living room/dining room. In our cabins we are placed with JV's who are placed in other cities. I am sharing a room with Pamela who is placed in Austin. All of the JVs who are placed in the South are here, there are around 40 of us.

I met my entire community of seven: Megan from WV, Andrew Leonard from MA, Emily from Ohio, Mary P. from TX, Matt from Fairfield, and Andrew Vivian. The next few days will prove to be exhausting both physically and emotionally. But it's all building up to Sunday night when we arrive in Mobile and the 18th when we start working...Can't wait!