Swallowing the Pink Pill

I took my first malaria pill at approximately 1145 this morning, and am waiting patiently for the side effects to kick in. Reading the side of the medicine bottle and the novel of literature that the travel clinic handed to me, I'm expecting loss of hearing, temporary blindness, nausea, loss of my wits and possible headaches, with a slight chance of death. But don't worry, all of these are necessary just in case the twelve kinds of bug spray I bought doesn't fight off that one mosquito that might have touched another mosquito who may have had malaria.

Hi, my name is Siobhan, although in the DR I am known as Sabrina due to a language barrier and practical joke gone wrong. Most of you reading probably know who I am, but I'm also hoping to rope in a few blog suckers who may not, so I'll do a quick intro. I am 22 years old and a recent graduate from Saint Michael's College, top 5 best places on earth. I left with a degree in psychology and elementary education, and a strong urge that at the age of 22 I did not want to be in a full time career. I wanted to live my life, be open to adventure and be where my heart truly lay. That place, was in the Dominican Republic. I had volunteered there twice in college, and had left a large piece of my heart behind both times. In about two weeks I am going back to reclaim those pieces of my heart, and work alongside the organization, and people, who took it in the first place. Chances are I won't gain my heart back, but will instead leave another whole piece behind. It's a risk I'm willing to take, just like those malaria pills.

I will be blogging on as regular a basis as I can from the mountainside of the DR to keep you updated with my adventures. I will do my best to entertain, be witty, sarcastic and at times ridiculous. I will also balance this with a healthy diet of tears and drama. I am, after all, a 22 year old emotional girl. I don't have many expectations for this trip, as I want to go in open to receive anything. I know I love the place and the organization, and I know I want to be there. I don't know what my routine will be on a daily basis, how exactly I will communicate in my broken spanish, what it will be like to live in the DR on a long-term basis, or where I can find the best chocolate bar. And I'm good with all of that.

Because, you see, the benefits outweigh the risks, just like with that pink pill- it would suck to die of malaria on my first day. I know I'll fall in love with a new aspect of the country. I know I'll learn things about myself and others that I hadn't even known I needed to learn. I know I'll leave a new person open to new things. And I know I'll need sunblock. If it means that I have to cry along the way, feel homesick, be frustrated, or have a temporary loss of vision and hearing, thats okay. I'm as prepared as I can be, and ready for the unexpected.

This is my journey, and I'll take whatever comes with it. Follow me, and I promise I won't let you down.

Wishing you a happy new years eve,

Sabrina