PREPARATIONS

My time in Knoxville is coming to a close as my preparations for Thailand are becoming more and more intensive. Almost everything is prepared for my trip back to Louisiana.

I'll be heading to New Orleans on Saturday, and will be staying with my friend Ellen that night. Then I'll stay with Katie Sunday night. We're close friends from school, and both decided to attend this trip before we knew each other very well. Her parents are kind enough to let me leave my car at their house during our stay in Thailand and will be taking us to the airport Monday morning.

Our flight leaves early Monday morning from New Orleans and will land in Dallas. We will go from there to Hong Kong with a lengthy layover. Then we will head to Bangkok from there meeting Dr. Motsenbocker, our professor, who will already have been in Asia for a couple of days.

We will be staying in a variety of locations during our three week stay in Thailand -- from home stays to campus dormitories to hotels -- extending from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. For the most part we will have internet access, so I can update the blog semi-regularly. If you're like me and would never remember to check this thing, check out the contact tab. There is a spot where you can input your email address to be notified every time I update!

Fortunately, Cody knows me so well and knew how much I longed for a camera to document my trip, and he made my dreams a reality with my graduation gift -- my first "real" camera". The second tab above labeled "Photos" will act as a little scrapbook, so be sure to check that, too! The bulk of my photos will be shared there once I start collecting them.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for all the support I've received for this trip. I am so grateful to have an opportunity like this. Both of my parents have been so encouraging -- in their own specific way -- and I really could not do this without them. As many of you know, I'm plagued with wanderlust (figuratively and literally), and I am so fortunate to have the support of family and friends as I chase it.

Thanks for caring to follow along on this adventure!

Anna Claire