Is this actually real?

It's August 28th. Wait, what? What happened to summer? The two and a half months since graduation have flown by. It's been a whirlwind. Fall is starting to peak its head out now, though. Many of my friends have left for college, there's a chill in the air, and the leaves are even starting to change. But it still hasn't fully hit me that, in less than two weeks, I'll be leaving for EIGHT months. I'll say goodbye to my family, friends, house, pets, bed, cell phone, and laptop and embark on an incredible journey around the world. What lies ahead for me still seems like a fantastical dream, but reality is slowly starting to kick in. Primarily when it comes to that dreaded P word...packing.

For the last few weeks I've been attempting to accumulate the equipment and clothes I'll need: a backpack, water filter, new camera, first aid supplies, etc. But now I can't ignore the fact that it's crunch time. Today, I pulled out everything that I want to take with me and made sure it fit in my backpack...I'm actually quite proud of myself for this. Even having done that, I still wonder if I'm bringing the "right" things. There is a delicate balance when it comes to packing, and I envy those who possess the skill to obtain that elusive paragon. I want to get by on as little as necessary, but then again, I don't want to be missing things that I'll need. It's helped so much that alumni from last year's program have been answering our questions on a facebook discussion thread. I've picked up some really helpful tips, and have concluded that there are a few things I need to get still-- stuff sacks, casual shoes that look nice but are good for walking (do they even make those?), a light jacket. Other than that, I think I'm pretty set. I'm trying not to worry too much though, because I can always send things home or have things sent to me.

I've also been trying to squeeze in as much home as I can into my last few weeks. I'm eating my way through a list of my favorite homemade meals and restaurants, trying to spend as much time with family and friends as I can, and doing other various things that I know I won't be able to do for a very long while. It's hard for me to even imagine being away from home for so long. My parents, brother, friends, dogs, cats, sea monkeys, bed. Frankly, I'm nervous and a little bit scared. Having said that, I am-- to put it bluntly-- freakin' excited for what's to come. I looked back over the country briefings and program overview, and cannot wait to immerse myself in every vibrant culture and meet countless amazing people the way. My goal is to use this blog to post updates so I can share all of these experiences. I hope I don't disappoint.

Until next time!

Love,

Eirann

My Mission

As the end of the school year—and long-awaited graduations— draws near, high school seniors like myself have the future on their minds. Most are occupied with thoughts of college, dorm life, and next year’s classes. I, however, have decided to take an alternate route this coming fall. After graduating, I am deferring my admission from Williams College for one year to participate in Thinking Beyond Borders—an international gap year program.

Along with fifteen other gap year students who have applied and been accepted to the program, I will be travelling the globe for eight months, learning about social issues, discovering other cultures, and becoming more aware of the world around me. With Thinking Beyond Borders, I will travel to Cambodia, Costa Rica, and Peru; study environmental conservation in Ecuador, sustainable agriculture in India, public education in China, as well as public health and the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. I will accomplish this through service learning projects, homestays with families, work with grassroots organizations, seminars, and discussions. On my return to the United States, I will then a compose a presentation of my experience to share with various educational and philanthropic groups while spending time in Washington D.C. and New York City, meeting with representatives from organizations such as the UN and the World Bank. This, hopefully, will allow me to comprehend the greater scheme of things around me—to understand the economic and political issues that are hindering parts of our world from developing and causing so much conflict and despair.

I believe that this opportunity will prepare me for college and every other experience that lies ahead of me like nothing else could. Having the chance to help the world and its people, while at the same time discovering what truly interests me, is simply invaluable. As a result of my year abroad, I will become a more alert, more aware citizen of the world.

So far, I have obtained $20,000 for this program through scholarship funds, but I need to raise an additional $20,000 in order to participate. However you can help—donations, travel tips and advice, positive thoughts, or a referral to anyone you think may be interested in assisting—would be tremendously appreciated. Thinking Beyond Borders is a non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductable. Keep in mind that any investment you make will contribute to an experience that will change not only my life, but the lives of others as well.

If you have any questions or would like to know how to donate, please let me know. For more information about the Thinking Beyond Borders program, please visit their website at www.thinkingbeyondborders.com.

Thank you!

Eirann

eiranncohen@hotmail.com