bed bugs, birthdays, and big news

My last few weeks in a nutshell...

I unknowingly killed one of my first Bostonian friends with my bare foot... I woke up the other day and went straight for water in my kitchen before putting in my contacts (you all know I have awful vision). I heard (and felt) a crunch under my foot but figured it was just some crumbs I had forgotten to clean up. Nope, definitely NOT crumbs. I put my contacts in and found a large cockroach in my kitchen, legs still kicking as it fought against death. I seriously got chills all day when I thought about how my foot, my SKIN, had touched that gross intruder. Now I am paranoid and wake up in the middle of the night thinking I hear the scurrying footsteps of cockroaches, rodents, and bed bugs (which are apparently a HUGE deal around here). Like those good old days of lice outbreaks in elementary school...

Last weekend I celebrated a friend's birthday in NYC and had such a good time playing in the city. I forgot how much I love NYC - the fast pace, the hodgepodge of people, and how you can go from feeling like you are in Italy to feeling like you are in China just by walking a few blocks. Perhaps I will have to live there for a bit at some point in my life? Best part by far was walking down Canal Street in ChinaTown and getting caught up in the whole fake bag chaos. Those people seriously have a fake version of anything you could ever want (DVDS, purses, NorthFace, even iPods???) What's the point of a fake iPod? They all thought they were being so sleuth but really doesn't everyone know what goes on down those side streets?

The parentals are headed up for a visit this weekend and we are going to spend a few days in Maine! I already have my grocery and Target list compiled as I think a bit of shopping needs to happen. I'm sure they have missed spending money on me...

Anyway, things are still going well. I am still working at Cambridge Associates and trying to hold on to my sanity. The job really is that bad. They actually asked me to stay another 6 months, and while flattered, I declined. The temp agency I am working with told me I could easily find something better by then. And good thing because................

I'M MOVING TO SOUTH AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you read correctly! I really am moving back! I was notified the other day that I have an internship at a small NGO called Women on Farms (http://www.wfp.org.za/)! I don't know a whole lot of details but it sounds like I will be working on their Young Women's Project which is mainly about empowering young women in poverty living on the wine farms. And the office is in Stellenbosch, where I studied last year! I seriously have been smiling ever since I opened that email! I don't think it could be any more perfect for me. So now I am trying to find cheap airfare (pretty much impossible), get all my visa requirements together, and find housing. I will leave in June and the internship runs July-December! AHHHHHH - I already started a packing list, that is how excited I am.