After some contemplation and actually being able to come up with a cool name (I hope), I decided to give my Peace Corps service its own blog. So head on over to The Wanderlust Homebody to keep track of my latest adventures. Who knows, I may end up blogging over the summer just to make it feel like I'm actively moving towards my departure. For those of you who are my facebook friends, I'll post a new link to the blog as I get closer to departure.
Au revoir!
April 27, 2014
April 22, 2014
Flexibility: A Must for Any Peace Corps Volunteer
I should be writing about now to tell you I've received info about staging and have booked my tickets. But when I signed up for this process I knew I would have to be flexible and sometimes do things in unexpected ways. I just didn't expect that to start before I had even left.
Last week Wednesday the desk officer for Cameroon called me and all of the other Youth Development Volunteers asking if anybody would be willing to depart in September as a health volunteer instead. Initially they had issued invitations for as many posts as they had open. However after issuing invitations they decided, for the security of PCVs, to close some posts in the northern part of Cameroon because of an increase in activity with Boko Haram (pretty bad guys for those of you who aren't familiar with them).
We had 24 hours to think it over, discuss it with family, and get back to our desk officer. After making a pro and con list, crying a little (I had been so excited to be a youth development volunteer), and discussing a lot, I decided that this could end up being a great adventure and would certainly expand my skill set even more than if I had been a YD volunteer. So my new departure date is September 10th tentatively. Of course this means I will come back a few months later (unfortunately too late to start grad school September 2016).
A special shout out to my parents and my boss. If it wasn't for their support (my parents being willing to let me live with them for a few more months and Deb for being willing to tear up my resignation letter for now) there is no way I could have agreed to change my departure date. I also get to keep volunteering with Literacy Volunteers (thanks Tahlia and Sue!) and get to stay involved with Relay For Life in my community!
I can't say I'm not disappointed because I am. I'm also a lot more afraid than I had been because I don't have a background in health and honestly wonder if I'll be up to the tasks required of me. But I'm no less excited about the people I will meet, the chance to do a little bit of good, and the skills I will develop.
Last week Wednesday the desk officer for Cameroon called me and all of the other Youth Development Volunteers asking if anybody would be willing to depart in September as a health volunteer instead. Initially they had issued invitations for as many posts as they had open. However after issuing invitations they decided, for the security of PCVs, to close some posts in the northern part of Cameroon because of an increase in activity with Boko Haram (pretty bad guys for those of you who aren't familiar with them).
We had 24 hours to think it over, discuss it with family, and get back to our desk officer. After making a pro and con list, crying a little (I had been so excited to be a youth development volunteer), and discussing a lot, I decided that this could end up being a great adventure and would certainly expand my skill set even more than if I had been a YD volunteer. So my new departure date is September 10th tentatively. Of course this means I will come back a few months later (unfortunately too late to start grad school September 2016).
A special shout out to my parents and my boss. If it wasn't for their support (my parents being willing to let me live with them for a few more months and Deb for being willing to tear up my resignation letter for now) there is no way I could have agreed to change my departure date. I also get to keep volunteering with Literacy Volunteers (thanks Tahlia and Sue!) and get to stay involved with Relay For Life in my community!
I can't say I'm not disappointed because I am. I'm also a lot more afraid than I had been because I don't have a background in health and honestly wonder if I'll be up to the tasks required of me. But I'm no less excited about the people I will meet, the chance to do a little bit of good, and the skills I will develop.
January 17, 2014
Drumroll Please...
As some of you may have seen on facebook in the past couple of days (or if you are stumbling across this blog from another source maybe not) I have received my invitation to...CAMEROON! My first thought was "I'm going to to a country shaped like a peacock!" (Seriously, look at a map of Africa, you'll see what I mean.) Seriously though, I'm thrilled to be going back to Africa and hoping to use some of my vacation time to go to Dakar and visit family/friends there. Insh'Allah. It would be great to see all of them when I'm feeling homesick which I know I will. I'm interested to see how my experiences in Senegal differ to what my experience will be in Cameroon.
There is so much to do over the next few months and a whole lot of paperwork. Immunizations, health records, visa applications, passport applications, loan deferral paperwork, aspiration statement, update my resume, and write my resignation for work. SO MUCH PAPERWORK! But it will all be worth it for something I've wanted to do since I was in the fourth grade.
One of my classmates' cousins came to speak to my class in fourth grade. She was a RPCV from Nepal. That day when I went home I couldn't stop talking about it. I honestly don't remember not wanting to be a Peace Corps volunteer. It involves two of my favorite things, volunteering and travel.
I will be a Youth Development Volunteer which I am thrilled about. It will be a great stepping stone towards what I want to do post-Peace Corps working with youth in conflict areas. My responsibilities will include health education and empowering young girls in my community.
I promise my posts will start to be more organized. But this chaos reflects the state of my mind right now. haha.
TTFN!
There is so much to do over the next few months and a whole lot of paperwork. Immunizations, health records, visa applications, passport applications, loan deferral paperwork, aspiration statement, update my resume, and write my resignation for work. SO MUCH PAPERWORK! But it will all be worth it for something I've wanted to do since I was in the fourth grade.
One of my classmates' cousins came to speak to my class in fourth grade. She was a RPCV from Nepal. That day when I went home I couldn't stop talking about it. I honestly don't remember not wanting to be a Peace Corps volunteer. It involves two of my favorite things, volunteering and travel.
I will be a Youth Development Volunteer which I am thrilled about. It will be a great stepping stone towards what I want to do post-Peace Corps working with youth in conflict areas. My responsibilities will include health education and empowering young girls in my community.
I promise my posts will start to be more organized. But this chaos reflects the state of my mind right now. haha.
TTFN!
January 14, 2014
Here's to another adventure!
I submitted the last of my paperwork today to Peace Corps' placement Office which means that very soon I shall find out my next destination. I have no idea where I will be going but I can honestly say I'll be going there with no reservations and a whole lot of anticipation. I'm going to jump off of my Senegal blog for Peace Corps so stay tuned!
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