Ready.. Set.. Adventure! Here I come South Africa!

Hello backers!

Thank you for your incredible support! This lab-note is a BIG update about my upcoming BIG Move! I have been busy checking all of the boxes and finally, I am ready to move to the opposite side of the world!

This past Saturday the long-awaited Study Visa finally arrived! Woo!

 

Blam! Now I am ready to start the adventure! I fly out of Seattle on July 29th! Ah!

 

I have received the funding you helped me raise and I am investigating the best ways to get it into South Africa. Apparently one can live on $8,500.00 a year in SA (at least I will be!), so you can imagine how epic it is to have raised $5000.00! Thank you!

You can expect more updates once the adventure begins and I can put the funding to use!

Below are a few pictures from some of the fun activities I have been doing since the crowdfunding campaign finished:

 

In order to get the Visa, I had to travel to LA and submit the materials in person at the West Coast Consulate.

 

I attended a WSU Skagit Valley Experiment Station Field Day.

 

I met and briefly hosted a South African—Darryl [right], a PhD student at FABI. Patrick [center] also hosted him while he visited Corvallis.

 

Backpacking Jefferson Wilderness, Oregon.

 

Weekend Bicycle Touring!

 

 

 

I spent some time on the Puget Sound! My favorite place on earth (so far)!

 

 

Marys Peak truffle raking with my friend (and Backer!) Dabao Lu! Thanks Dabao!

 

Orchids of Marys Peak, Suislaw National Forest, Oregon

 

Free Bike Repair at the Corvallis Farmers Market!

 

Willamette Valley Berry Picking

 

See why this is such a BIG move? Certainly hard and sad to leave such a great home and life. 9 days left on American soil!

Here's to getting out of my comfort zone! Ill keep you updated so you can grow right along with me! Thank you!