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.
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