The first day of my journey

It's 5:25AM, September 29th, 2008. Couldn't sleep. I have to pack up my hotel room before I go check out at 7AM. Then the experience really begins as we leave for JFK and fly to Istanbul. Then after a 12-hour layover, during which I hope to visit some mosques and bazaars, we fly to Turkmenistan to be greeted by the Peace Corps staff and some nationals.

It sunk in yesterday that I was leaving, but today is the day of no return. I am excited and terrified at the same time. I am merely a naive, recent college graduate. Others in my group have had life experiences abroad, but other than being born in China, I haven't been outside of the US. Am I mentally equipped for the job? At this point, all I can do is dive in and give it my all. I am prepared for lots of failures and mistakes and language goofs, but like they recommended, I am also ready to check my pride at the door. I look around now at the hotel and note the things that will be missing from my upcoming new life: hot showers, consistent electricity and water supply, TV, comfy beds, an American roommate. I hope I can wean myself off these luxuries, especially the presence of another American in my village since I will be alone. All the doubts and fears about loneliness and homesickness--they have to wait on the backburner. Today is the day of no return.