But in 11 days I will be in sunny Miami.. soaking up the sun for a few brief days at an incredible flight deal that no one could say no to. Miami for me has become another home… a place to forget things for next time, a sanctuary of warmth when hot teas does not suffice in the winter time. It’s nice to be headed back there in a few days.. well eleven days..

What worries me… is that when I come back,  have less than 24 hours to re pack for Taiwan, go to an airport to meet the leading professor for the first time, get on a 20 hour flight, and head to a country where they use whitening moisturizer for beauty whereas I am showing up with a new tan from Miami. Kill me now.

Well this is just an update… Keep your eyes peeled for crazy posts from Miami, freaking out over Taiwan, and packing last minute for Africa… which by the way… you still don’t know what countries I’m headed to.

Needless to say… I was selected by the Taiwan government to be a delegate from my University. I am one of four who was selected. If this isn’t an honour on it’s own, then I am not sure what is. When applying I never really thought I stood a chance… I didn’t re-read my personal statement on the application a thousand times, as I did for Semester at Sea or other opportunities. ( I mean, I did read it a few times… but never made any huge adjustments). When the email came yesterday explaining that I was accepted… I fell of my chair. I Re-read the email, and when it registered that I was accepted… I started to scream. I was so ex-tactic, I felt like I won a contest. I ran around my room, up and down the stairs, and couldn’t wait to tell someone.

Do you believe that dreams can come true? It hadn’t dawned on me that they do until this morning. I was told this morning that I was giggling in my sleep last night. I would take that as a sign of happy I am… ( the funny part is that I remember dreaming about killer bears… so I am not too sure). But for once in my life, every thing seems to be falling exactly where it should. I moved back home, which I have to admit, I was terrified, but being home and away from my old apartment, I am able to breath again. The problems that consumed me and my roommates, don’t exist anymore, I don’t need to talk about them all the time, I can sleep through the night, I wake up with fresh air that has not been intoxicated by smoke. My grades are coming in perfectly… I got an A- in the hardest class I have ever taken in my entire life, and the rest of my grades fall in that range too! I am only surrounded by the people who love me and I love as well. My brother gave me a wonderful part-time job to fill the void of being home, and to save up for further excursions. On top of it all… I was selected for this amazing opportunity to Taiwan, where I conveniently know the other 3 delegates who were selected.

I have to sit back and believe that dreams do come true. When the world feels like it may be falling down on my, I have to remember that it is just making space with a little spring cleaning for an amazing adventure ahead of me.

I told someone the other day where I was headed, and she laughed and asked me why I needed to go for so long. A woman next to her chimed in the conversation and asked what countries I was going go. The first woman bluntly said… “What do you mean what countries? She’s going to Africa.”

This is where I realized that my lovely unexplored continent of Africa, really is misunderstood as a solitary country. A continent of 47 countries, all of them going completely unnoticed. So that’s where I’m headed. Africa.

Where in Africa is a whole other story.

So this is Africa. A country I have only briefly visited while on Semester at Sea. I have been the soils of South Africa, Ghana, and a lovely island Mauritius which for argument’s sake… I count a part of Africa. Either way… with those 2 and half countries out of 47 I am seriously behind. Political turmoil, corruption and recent war fare have the continent in a scramble making many countries inaccessible. However there is still a large chunk that can be explored and I intend to get started.

Some of you already know…. but you only know by default because I have casually mentioned it to you. BUT to the rest of you… this is a complete secret!!! Some lovely followers might know I have been struggling with my plans for a while flopping back and forth between South America and Africa or flopping between organized tour or solo trip. It was a battle.

SO WHERE AM I GOING? IT’S A SECRET!

… I can give you some hint’s though! It’s going to be an adventure…

• Waterfalls, over land trucks and camping are all involved.
• I will see both the Northern and the Southern hemisphere.
• Temperatures will vary from very hot to mild and cold.
• I can scuba dive, hike, and visit natural agriculture.
• I will not see a human made world wonder, but will see a natural world wonder.

Any guesses yet? Let me know below…

Until next time.

I have great plans for the summer and CAN NOT wait to share them with all of you! I am sorry for any inconvenience, but please feel free to still subscribe so you do not miss any posts when the cite is back up in action!

Things to Look Forward Too:

- Interview a Traveler

- Summer Plans

- Future Job Postings

I will be blogging again in MID APRIL:) Stay posted!