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On my way to Uganda: Here I go!

Well I’m never too sure how to start something like this. What I’m referring to is this journal and packing.  Though I can’t say I’ve ever kept a journal for everyday stuff, I have kept a journal for writing down thoughts.  And as for packing, it’s surprising really, I pack for long trips all the time.  I suppose that still doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m packing for a place I’ve never seen before, a place where I don’t know people. 

Regardless,  I’ve been stressing about getting stuff together, it's not a matter of what to bring, but rather what not to bring.  I can only be thankful that Jessica wanted to help and is driving me to the airport in the morning.  The whole thing still hasn't really hit me yet, I'm still just going through the motions as if it was everyday.  But when I do think about it, I am really excited: Even before High School I had always had it as one of my goals to go to Africa and do development work and even though most of my family was in the military, I only had questions about the Peace Corps. 

After two years of being in EWB, and so much work, it is finally happening. After two previously planned trips which had failed to get off the ground, it is finally happening.  After fighting hard to keep the grant we almost lost, it is finally happening.  Uganda, here I come.

Dagan Trnka, undergraduate, UC Davis

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