[Between DC and Brussels]

The day began at 4:55am at Brad's father's house in Chicago. The night before, we went to a massive Bass Pro Shop (where I finally got a semi-suitable hat for Sierra Leone), ate dinner at Famous Dave's Barbecue (where I may or may not have swallowed a chicken bone), and returned to the home to watch Blood Diamond, a fitting movie perhaps for what we are about to do and what we are about to see.

We got to O'Hare a few hours early and got through the gate without any difficulty. As a matter of fact, the whole Chicago experience went much more smoothly than I had anticipated. The ride to the airport took an hour less than estimated, and we were able to get our checked baggage forwarded to Sierra Leone ("SL") despite having bought two separate tickets (one domestic, one international): Chicago to Detroit to DC; DC to Brussels to Dakar to Freetown to London to Chicago.

Our flight out of Chicago was about eight about eight minutes late (no problem), but our flight out of Detroit was over a half an hour late, leaving us just under an hour to take care of everything in DC. My breakfast in Chicago consisted of pizza and brownies. In Detroit, Brad and I ate a really greasy lunch. Dinner was served on the flight moments ago.

While I am excited about the adventure ahead of me, I almost feel as though I should be more excited than I am. Perhaps because the situation still seems to surreal to me, or because of some subconscious overcompensation on my part, or because of my inability to imagine the scale of what is in front of me, or even perhaps because I am genuinely confident in my abilities (or, at the very least, of the rightness of my actions), but I am not really nervous in any case. This will undoubtedly e one of the most different (and most difficult) trips of my life thus far. One way or another, it should be great.

Brad and I met Dr. Bart on the plane from DC to Brussels. Once the seat belt was turned off, we had a standing meeting at the back of the plane. I was given some reading material related to the testing, took a few notes, and returned it to Dr. Bart. Now, I will attempt to get some rest (watch a movie and/or sleep) so that I will be ready for the next leg of the journey.

Oh, during the flight thus far I have been chatting with a neighbor who spent 22 years with the US Army and is now working for NATO in Belgium. Very interesting conversation regarding careers in the geopolitical sphere, current events, and possible futures. I truly hope that I can find a career into which I can put my passions.