It is with much excitement that I officially announce that I really, really am going to the Seychelles at the end of June for six whole, entire, straight uninterrupted months. With even more nervous excitement, I am officially announcing that I will be blogging about my preparations to depart the country here on this lil' bloggy website thing. Then, once I am settled in the Seychelles (pronounced like "say-shells," not "seech hellies" which you are probably thinking) I hope to continue this blog to keep all three of you updated on my whereabouts and activities in a place I like to call "paradise." But much of that will depend on my access to internet there, which at this point is one of the many questions you probably don't have, but I sure as hell do. To answer a few of them, here are the basics...
Who: ME!! Just me, myself and I
What: Marine Conservation Divemaster Expedition volunteer program with a company called Global Vision International (GVI). While Global Vision International sounds a bit like that fictional company created by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in Stepbrothers and GVI does sound a bit like a bowel obstruction, I assure you, it is a very reputable company based on that one website/blog I read before sending off my check to secure my spot
Where: THE SEYCHELLES!!! Oh, you've never heard of it? Probably because it is an archipelago of 115 small islands located approximately 1000 miles from nowhere, in the middle of the Indian Ocean near the equator. It's somewhere north of Madagascar, east of Tanzania/Kenya/Somalia, west of Indonesia, and south of the Middle East. Also where William and Kate spent their honeymoon on a private island. Oh that is Seychelles? Yes, yes it is. And I am moving there.
When: Program dates are June 30 - December 15 2012. I'll leave a few days before, and come home a few days after
Why: WHY NOT? No really, why not? I love the ocean, have always wanted to live abroad, I've dreamed about visiting this magical Seychelles place since I was 15 and well, why the hell not? Adventure used to be my middle name until my mother changed it to Eleanor. Also, I love scuba diving but never make the time for it, so instead I'm just going to sell everything and move to a tropical island where I can scuba dive every day, while collecting valuable data about the local fish and coral reefs for the marine research institute. I'll also be learning skillz that might come in handy for a new career to be determined over long walks on the beach and coconut drinks. No really, one of the first things they teach you is how to crack a coconut so you can drink the coconut water and eat the meat - gotta survive in paradise somehow!
How: By taking many chances, facing many fears, selling lots of things, working many hours, saving lots of money and as a wise Bon Jovi once said, livin' on a prayer.
Four months from today, I'll be on my way.
