Swoosh

Yay! After a stern talking-to from Pops (think Nike slogan), I went with my gut and bought the Wicked Expensive route. It's a lot more money than I was anticipating, but is the most likeliest of the two to get me and my luggage there. If one of my connections on the other flight didn't go through or was delayed, I would have been screwed somewhere between here and goodness knows where!

When I first thought about volunteering overseas I decided to base where I went depending on how cheap it was to fly there. My roommate Emily was very wise in saying that I should go where my heart is leading me, not because it'll save me a couple hundred bucks... I'm (so far) glad I listened to her. Have I mentioned that I'm excited and can't wait?!!!

So here's the info:
SEA to JFK (departs 6:30am, arrives 3:00pm)
JFK to Casablanca (departs 8:20pm, arrives 8:45am)

I will leave August 7th to get there by the 8th, and will be returning September 5/6th.

OH! And I had a revelation. The more I think about my anticipated three week stay, the more I realize how short of a time that is to connect with the community and become involved. Because I'm not spending a day or two in Madrid on the way home as I anticipated and I'm supposed to be coming back the week before Labor Day, I decided to sign up for an additional week to make it a full month. This way I'll be able to spend a full month serving AND still make it home before Labor Day to recuperate a few days before going back at work. It's an additional $355 to stay another week, which will change my overall cost, but I really feel that if I'm going to do this, I want to do it to the best of my abilities. I know that once I look into some of the kiddos eyes over there, I'll know that I made the right decision.

This is not a terrorist threat, but...

I'm seriously about to shoot the airline companies! Any of them, really. It's not their fault or anyone else's, but why does this have to be so difficult?

My two options are as follows:

1. Wicked expensive flight: SEA to JFK to Casablanca (CMN)
Pro: Get there at the scheduled time
Con: ummm.. It's wicked expensive. Much more than I had budgeted for!

2. Cheap detour: SEA to Washington DC to Madrid to Casablanca
Pro: I would save 700 dollars!!!
Con: I would also have to spend the night in Casablanca the night before I'm due to check in volunteering, and another night in Madrid on the way home. Oh, and they're 25+ hour flights with layovers
Pro: Despite these two "sleepovers", it would STILL SAVE ME 700 DOLLARS!!

What's a girl to do?

Decisions, Decicions

I'm seriously frustrated that I STILL don't have my ticket to Morocco! It's been a lot harder than I thought it would be, and I'm learning more and more about what you need to consider when booking an international flight. At first I was okay with traveling 25ish hours if it meant a fantastic deal and saving hundreds of dollars. However, the more I think about it and talk to those that have gone that route, the more I've realized that I'm okay with being tired when I get there, not violent that I haven't slept in two days and had to sit next to stinky Steve all the way from New York!

My dad used his dad powers yesterday to demand that I call his friend Sam who is a travel agent to see if he could help keep funds down. We'll see if he can work his magic! It looks like Seattle to JFK to Casablanca will be my best bet.

Not much else is new. Every new experience has me wondering more and more about Morocco. For example, I went to Seattle's Folklife festival this weekend with 30,000+ of my closest non-showering, dread lock wearing friends. It was a blast, but standing in crowds with no personal space had me pondering what that will be like when there is also a language and cultural difference. Then again, I'm pretty sure ANY country uses more deodorant than Folklifers...

Thank you to those of you that have sponsored me! It means so much to me, and I have been overwhelmed time and time again by God's goodness. Now, if only I could learn how to tell you that in Moroccan Arabic? One step at a time!

Life is a Highway

A ginormous MERCI! to those of you that sponsored me within the last couple of days! I am so incredibly overwhelmed with the greatness of God and how I'm once again one step closer to hanging with the kiddos of Rabat. I've had a smile on my face all day knowing that others have contributed to this dream of mine!

I came across a blog of another volunteer that just got to Rabat. Feel free to check it out and hear a bit more of her experience. It sounds like she's volunteering an orphanage as I hope to do. http://summerinafrica.wordpress.com/2009/05/

It looks like I'm going to be buying my flight in the next couple of days! It's a lot harder than I thought. There's a straight shot from JFK to Casablanca (it's cheaper to fly into Casa versus Rabat), that's $1200+, a flight through Paris that is about $1300, and a flight through Madrid for $800-$900. It looks like I'll be doing the Madrid one, but I want to make sure that the connecting flight to Casa from Madrid is from a somewhat respectable company that won't cancel my flight a week before (thanks for the tip, Amy!). We shall see.

On another note, Tyler, a little boy I nanny for (that is in the photo on the right), is back in the hospital. For those of you that don't know, he has had three heart surgeries before age 5 months to alleviate several congenital heart defects. Anyways, his last and biggest surgery was almost a month ago, but he came down with a bad cold a couple weeks later that has put him back in the hospital. If you could please be praying for Tyler and his family, I know they would appreciate it!

Tyler has been such a motivation for me to take this trip. After spending time with him and his family I have seen with my own eyes just how precious life is, and how important it is to live in the moment. It breaks my heart to consider that there are other kids out there with similar issues that don't have the love that he has from his family. If I can be even a sliver of support and love to these kids in need that Tyler has with his family, I know it will be well worth it. Nothing can replace the love that a parent has for their child, but I can at least try to show them that Love is real and never ending.

Okay, I'm exhausted. Night!

A little bit of Typhoid with a whole lotta everything on the side

Goodness gracious. So much to do, and so little time! I'm trying to move in two weeks (still don't know where yet!), plan for leading a group through church, work, go to school, fundraise and plan for Morocco, and OH... Sleep! I definitely haven't gotten enough of the latter. It's been crazy.

I'm getting down to the wire and I am sort of concerned about funds for Morrocco. June 8th is getting closer and closer! I'm doing as much extra work as possible and putting every spare penny towards the trip.

The Typhoid immunization begins tomorrow. It's four pills every other day that are to be taken with cold liquids on an empty stomach. Not sure why it's better in a pill form than shots, but I'll take this regime over getting Typhoid any day! Each little step like this is another realization for me that my dream is becoming that much more true.

I CAN'T WAIT!

The Countdown is on!

I was talking to my friend Amy this weekend about planning a possible camping trip this summer, and realized that I have less than a month to fundraise!!! Holy smokes! For those of you that know me well, it's amazing that I'm not currently hyperventilating at the idea that I'm down to the wire. That doesn't mean I haven't considered becoming a street performer or joining the circus to help with costs ;) All funds given to CCS after June 8th will go into their general scholarship fund and not towards my placement. The countdown is on!

I've included some photos of where I will be living for your viewing pleasure (Photo Credit: CCS). Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there, and hope you all have a great Sunday!

It's a go!

Hooray, hooray, hooray! The pieces are coming together! As some of you may know, I have been planning a trip to Morocco with Cross Cultural Solutions (CCS) to volunteer with impoverished children. You have NO idea how excited this makes me! It's been a lifelong dream of mine to work in an orphanage, and while I won't know my exact work placement until a month prior to my departure, I'm psyched to help in whatever way I can!



So, here are some of the logistics. I am due in Rabat, Morocco on August 8th and my placement is until August 29th. I will be living in a house that CCS calls HomeBase with other volunteers, a cook, and a household manager. They have an in-country staff that drives us to our work assignments, helps with cultural awareness, and is there 24/7 for any support we may need. I'll be working 5 days a week in the community with evenings and weekends off to explore and learn about a different culture. I don't know anyone else personally that is going, but it sounds like the volunteers travel on the side together a lot which sounds like a lot of fun.



I am so excited that this dream is becoming a reality! I got my first round of Hep A/Hep B immunization and am about to begin Typhoid. Those are the only immunizations that I will needing, which is a huge blessing to help with costs.



Speaking of costs, I've been saving up for years for this trip but I am still short and I could really use your support to make this happen! I'm attaching my fundraising letter below that has additional information about my reasons for going on this trip and the exact amount that I need to raise. I know it's a yucky time to ask for money. Then again, I never liked asking for money! Thank you for taking the time to consider sponsoring me, and if you feel so inclined to help out, you can click on the icon to the right :)



Thank you for joining me along on this journey! I appreciate your support and encouragement, and please stay tuned for updates!



*****Fundraising Letter******

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope all is well with each of you as we approach the wonderful summer season. I think that I can speak for everyone here in Seattle when I say we are more than ready for the sunshine! In addition to the preparation for summertime and time off of school, I have exciting news that I want to share with you.

As many of you know, I have a deep love for children that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Whether it was kidnapping my newborn sister when I was five to come play in the playhouse without my parents knowledge, volunteering at my church and Seattle Children’s Hospital in the Emergency Department, or my future plans of becoming a pediatric nurse, children have always been the center of my life. I simply cannot imagine living without the giggles and smiles I have come to love when working with children, yet am saddened that I haven’t been able to serve and support some of the kiddos that have needs beyond what I could imagine. Thus, I have decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine and pursue volunteering overseas this summer with impoverished children.

I am going to Morocco! I will be leaving for a month at the beginning of August and will be working in the Rabat community under Cross Cultural Solutions, a renowned non-profit organization that operates volunteer programs in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, in partnership with sustainable community initiatives. One thing that makes Cross Cultural Solutions (CCS) different than other volunteer organizations is that they partner with local community organizations already founded that are currently seeking support. This way our works as CCS volunteers are always respectful and sustainable to the local community. My hope is to work in an orphanage or with local street children but I will not know my work placement until a month before my departure.

Regardless, I am very excited about this opportunity of a lifetime and look forward to serving a community with need in any way that I can! To make this happen, I need to raise about $4,500 for the program cost and airfare. CCS is an independent international not-for-profit with no governmental or religious affiliations, and their programs worldwide are dependent on volunteer contributions. I understand that finances are extremely tight with the economy today, and I spent a long time praying and thinking over if this is the best time to go. After much thought however, I decided there will always be restraints, and sometimes it’s important to live on the edge and trust that everything will come together. I completely understand if you cannot support me financially at this time. I will also need many prayers, positive thoughts, and encouragement as I take this huge leap of faith and travel to a country with very different ways of living than our own!

If you are able to give financially, please remember that every donation is 100% tax deductible. Every little bit counts, as does your spiritual and emotional support, and I appreciate it all. If you have any questions about anything or would like to hear more about my trip, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I apologize I couldn’t call and tell you each about this personally, and please know that you’re always in my thoughts despite the crazy speed that life has been going at recently. I have created a blog to chronicle my thoughts and desires for the trip leading up to it as well as a way to help keep in touch with loved ones while I am away. Feel free to join me on the journey at the address below. My hope is that you are all well and thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter.

Much love and blessings,

Nicole



Ways to give:
1. Click the widget (icon) on my blog
2. Go to https://my.crossculturalsolutions.org/login.aspx Username: Grizzy
3. Checks payable to “Cross Cultural Solutions” for a 100% tax-deductible receipt (I will provide your address when mailing it in), or to me, “Nicole Griswold” (which I will sign over and can still retrieve a receipt for you).
4. I also accept hugs, lucky key chains or other paraphernalia, prayers, and encouragement!