Ok, so if you are on this blog right now you probably know who I am and also know that in the morning I am leaving for Pietermaritzburg, South Africa so that I can volunteer with the YDC helping at risk youth living on the street. If you feel like you don't really know much about Pietermaritzburg and or the YDC you can look them up on the internet. You can find out all about the City just by typing in Pietermaritzburg on Wikipedia or see lots of pictures by doing a google image search. Finding the YDC is a bit more tricky. I actually forgot how to find it on google myself (typing in YDC will give you some place in Austin) but my mom can tell you how. If you don't know my mom then I suppose I will have to leave a link in a future blog.

So some last minute thoughts before I depart from the states. I really can't believe that in the morning I am actually leaving to go halfway around the world for 9 months. The farthest out of the country I have been is two hours over the border into Canada. I can honestly say that having spent time with someone who actually lives there and therefore having done things that tourist traditionally don't do, (bowling with five pins and a botchey ball, and taking my shoes off at the chiropractor), Canada is more unlike the US than one might tipically think. For the record a blinking green light does not mean go apparently. I cannot kid myself though, Canada is not that different.

Here I am about to go off on this crazy adventure. Well, I don't actually think its that crazy, but after talking with many of you it is apparent that I perhaps am crazy myself. Indeed it may be hard to grasp what would posses a 17 year old to up and leave a country that has been concidered so great for so long. So why go? Those of you who know me well know that I have to find out things for myself and come to my own conclusions. Hard headed if you will. You probably also know that I enjoy a good adventure/ change of pace and scenery. Throw in my interest of cultures and current dissolutionment with the west and it kinda all makes sense. I think everyone can agree that if anything, this trip will be a good learning experience.

I haven't even started off yet so I think I'm going to close this entry off soon, but know that since I have started saying my fairwells, particullarly those since saturday, I have realized how much I am going to miss everyone. I wish I could bring some of you along in my suit case. (I would bring everyone but that would get really complicated.) I know however that I need to do this trip without you. Its kinda a time to reevaluate things and find out what is really important to me. I will not be doing this trip alone however because my good friend Aerin (yes she is also my girlfriend, but we were good friends first, and still are) is coming with me. That will be quite different because she and I have never lived anywhere close together. So I guess we shall see how compatible we really are.

That about wraps it up. I hope I haven't been too scatterbrained. I have no clue when next I will post right now, but it will be at least a few days. I do plan on updating at least once a week though so check back often. And feel free to send this on to others and what not. I shall miss you all and see you in 9 months.

Farewell,
Cullen