History repeats itself

Tonight, I am freaking stressed out about Peru.  All day really I've been stressed about it.  And it just dawned on me....this is EXACTLY what happened to me as I was trying to go to Australia.  Apparently I am hardwired to panic.

Didn't know I'm going to Peru?  Oh.  I got news:  I'm going to Peru!  For 7 weeks.  6 of those weeks I'll be teaching English for a volunteer program.

Now the problem remains....how do I afford it and get the most out of my experience.  (Isn't that always the case with travel?)  Earlier today I was depressed and resigned to giving up.  Now I'm feeling revived by kind words on Facebook, and a certain friend bringing the fight out in me and making me realize that I really do want this.  If I don't go now, I'm never going to go.  I might to vacation in Peru, maybe. But once I get that "real job"  its not like I can take 2 months off to go galavanting around South America.

**(side note:  I just googled galavanting to see how its spelled and was led to what looks to be an unbelievably awesome website called http://www.gogalavanting.com/, an online women's travel magazine that says this in its intro: "When it comes to travel, we believe people are interested in more than just the latest gear and reviews of ludicrously expensive resorts. We know that not every female is in search of the world’s perfect facial. And that people without trust funds travel too."  I firmly believe that that is an affirmative sign to go!)**

The bad news I received earlier is that the adoption agency I've been working for may not have the funds to keep me employed for much longer.  I'm pretty sure I can stay on until I leave for Peru but after that its a toss up.  The ironic part is that its all the work I've done there that has highlights just how dire things are.  Damn me, I shoulda done a shit job.  Regardless of my employment status come June, I only have barely enough money saved up to make this work.  That in itself is stressing me out, though I'm trying to remind myself that I made Australia work and that was a far larger risk.  I guess I know that I can make it work, its just a matter if I can manage to do everything I want to do.  I doubt I'll get another opportunity like this.

I learned that the biggest attraction in Peru, the creme de la creme, the Inca trail and Macchu Picchu costs upwards of $500.  And I don't have the time to search for the best deal because I should have booked it 3 months ago.  Irritated.  So I'm thinking now that I might go to Macchu Picchu for a day or two and hike a different mountain that is far cheaper.  But wouldn't that be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower?  Or Big Ben in London?  Or eating a Philly cheesesteak in Philly??  So I should just suck it up and make it work.  I might have to go to extremes, but I should make it work.  By extremes I don't mean selling my body.  More like banking on a tax return, closing out a forgotten retirement fund (again), and/or not eating in Peru.  

All for this view:

This could be me!