So the day has finally arrived and I am starting my Peace Corps
adventure. I have been talking about doing this for years and actually
planning it for about a year and a half! I filled out the application in
March of 2012 and didn’t find out I was going to Mozambique and what I’d be
doing there until the end of March 2013. Within that year, my time
planning for the PC (Peace Corps) was filled with lots of forms to fill out, a
2.5 hr phone interview at the end of January 2013, and A LOT of waiting to hear
something. A week after my interview I was given a nomination for a
program in Education tentatively leaving in September of 2013. Yes this
is the only information I had, and it was given with the unofficial slogan of
the Peace Corps (at least in my opinion) “Please
keep in mind that this information could change”. I then had more waiting
and at the end of March I was finally officially Invited to serve in Mozambique
as a English Teacher Trainer, with a tentative stating (orientation) date of
Sept. 24, 2013 and a flight arriving in Mozambique on Sept 26th, again given
the “these dates could change until you get the official email”. After
this invitation I had lots of medical forms and appointments, so the Peace
Corps basically would know everything there is to know about me!
I am now on my way to Philadelphia for
staging. I have managed to fit about
80lbs of checked luggage divided between 2 bags, plus a carryon and my
purse.
The hardest part of this process
so far has been packing. Honestly I am an awful packer, I usually wait until
the last minute (started a little earlier in this process but not much) and
completely over pack. At least I made a
very comprehensive list of what to bring, but now looking back, didn’t really
look at it when I was actually packing… ooops!
It honestly is what caused me the most stress and nerves. Trying to figure out how to fit everything I
thought I’d need into these 3 bags was tough.
I ended up taking out a lot of clothes and a few other things I wasn’t
sure I’d need and figured I could get here.
I hope I don’t regret any of my last minute cuts. O well, I’m sure I can figure out a way to
live without them over the next 2 years.
Well I think that’s enough of my boring details
for now. I just want to say thank you to
everyone for an amazing last summer filled with lots of time with friends and
family, got to partake in the annual girls weekend in Waupaca, see BEYONCE in
concert with my best friends, go to one last Iowa Hawkeye tailgate, be a part
of one of my best friends’ wedding and so much more! It was the perfect summer
before this next big adventure.
As my title suggests, one of the objectives of
this blog is to let my friends and family know how I’m doing… because as most
of them know I am awful at keeping in touch in the states, can't imagine how I'll be when I have unpredictable internet and electricity.
I figured whenever I had internet, I’d post and everyone would know I
was still alive J!
