Two weeks!!!!!

I cannot believe that two weeks from today, I'll be boarding a plane on my way to South America! I am bursting at the seams with excitement!!!

New Developments:

1. I have received verification that I am cool enough for school in Ecuador by getting an official Visa a few weeks ago. The people at the embassy were very nice and helpful with all the paperwork. If you are reading this blog because you also plan on student teaching abroad, you should know that you will need 2 passport sized photos in order to get your Visa. I was not aware (I should have done some research) and was a little embarrassed that I showed up unprepared. They were, of course, very understanding as I took a detour to a local pharmacy. Technically, I've already been on Ecuadorian soil!
2. I took the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (basically the state boards for teaching) on June 15th. After a month of anxiously awaiting the results, I learned that I passed! I can now legally teach 3 subjects (Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies) in Georgia to students in grades 4-8. WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! If you are nervous about the test, don't be. I know that the state will be changing the company that issues the test soon, but the goals will not change. I studied with a group of friends for Social Studies, and I highly advise doing the same. If you stick to the standards to guide you, you will be fine. Also, the examples online for the constructed response are formatted exactly the same as the questions on the test. They are not trying to trip you up, the test is designed to help you do well.
3. My collaborating teacher at Colegio Menor and I have started exchanging e-mails! He seems very nice and has been very helpful with all my questions. He is from Canada, so I might come home with more of my old Midwestern accent than I let with, despite being on another continent. He told me to pack toiletries for the trip, because imported goods can be very expensive in Ecuador. How much shampoo and body wash do I go through in three and a half months?!? I have no idea (do you? Any ideas are appreciated.) He was also kind enough to send me a run-down of what I might expect to teach. I have some brushing up to do! It has been a while since I multiplied and divided fractions, calculated area, or learned about ancient China. Good thing I like to learn! 
4. My apartment has been confirmed! I will be in a 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartment a this beautiful, furnished apartment complex in Quito. I will be bunking with 3 other KSU students, all one semester behind me in school. My fellow student teachers will be just down the hall, and I'm excited to work with all of them. I decided to pay more and spring for my own bathroom and a bedroom with a king size bed (so I have plenty of space if you want to visit!)
5. I received a scholarship called STARs! I am officially a temporary employee of KSU, as a result, I will get $500 for my trip! Also, I finally got around to obtaining an official copy of my Social Security Card, something I had been putting off for years by using my passport as identification and proof of citizenship. The scholarship requires me to help with organization for the KSU students in Ecuador (thus far, my only duty has been to work with the other students to assign rooms in our apartments, but may require more later.) I am so happy to receive this award, partly for the money, partly for something more to put on my resume, and partly because I can be a bit of a control freak and it keeps me in the know. I am very lucky that the girls I will be traveling with have been incredibly easy going, cooperative, and quick to reply to my many e-mails. The room assignments had a few speed bumps, but we managed to find a fair set up that satisfied everyone's desires and financial needs. 

That's about it for now! I still have a lot of cleaning, shopping and packing to do in so little time! Any things you would like to hear about in particular? Specific photos I must post? Who's coming to visit? 

I'll update again soon, hopefully with photos of my packed luggage in my clean room....