6 days and counting!

Wow! Ecuador is really sneaking up on me. It's starting to get overwhelming everything that needs to be finished before I leave (summer research applications, about 100 pages of pre-departure reading, finishing compiling clothes and things, all of my packing, paperwork, throwing my dad a birthday party, wedding dress shopping with my to-be sister-in-law, finding out who my host family is, buying a gift for my host family...). I'm sure it will all get done in time. It's just become this countdown, and it seems like it will be very relieving when I finally arrive and can say to myself "Okay, its time to have a new adventure."
I just got an e-mail from my good friend Maggie, who just arrived in India, and everything sounds so exciting! Her family, judging by photos, looks so nice and like she will fit in well. And Zach also seems to have the greatest Denmark family ever. I am really hoping that everyone in our program has a good family experience. Now if only we knew who our families will be...