Countdown to Staging

September 16th is getting closer and closer and as that date nears I have been thinking a lot more about my decision. It freaks me out that I am moving out of the country. I have traveled out of the country many times, but never moved. When I was going on vacation I always knew I would be back shortly and although eventually I will come back, I know it will be a long time. Everything that I consider "normal" is about to disappear and that is weird to me.

Part of me wants to stay to be a part of my friends and families life. I have a new cousin, my grandparents are aging, my friends are getting new jobs and graduating and I am going to be missing out on a lot of things. But I have to remind myself that this is my life and I have the right to make my own decisions. No one gets to live their life for me or tell me where they want me to go. It's my choice and my life and the Peace Corps is what I want. I am ready to go, but I can't help to think about all the things I am leaving behind. This departure is coming at a perfect time too. I have graduated college and I have no one and nothing holding me back. I am ready to take things as they come.

I have been talking with a lot of my fellow Peace Corps friends and they assure me that they are having the same thoughts. We are scared about everything, but wish we were leaving sooner. We are nervous about what to pack, where we will be, the language, our host families and etc. It's such a weird emotional time that I am ready for it to be over with and on my way.

I anticipate to have my best and worst days in Peru and I know there will be days I am ready to pack my bags and come home and there will also be days that I never want to leave. Around the date that I leave it will have been one year since I turned my application in and I am ready for this journey to start. I can't wait for all my new experiences to start. I am walking into this with an open mind and heart.

For those that I am leaving behind, sorry this is what I want. I hope to see you when I get back and I wish you the best. I am not just doing this for me though, I am doing this in hopes to make a teeny tiny difference in someone's life.

What do I plan to do when I get back? As of now I am searching for grad schools alllll over the USA. I am eyeing a few schools in NYC, one in D.C. and one in Michigan. Not sure where I will end up, but a Master's degree is in store. Then I have no idea what comes after that. I have plenty of time to think about it. I will also probably be dealing with this too: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/24/cultural.reentry/index.html

Yay! Sorry if any of this sounded depressing. I just have been thinking a lot lately as departure is sooner about how crazy all this is. For a conclusion though: Yes I am ready go. I couldn't be happier with this decision and I can't wait!!! :)

More packing chaos

All my North Face stuff finally came in and I won't lie, it felt like Christmas ripping open the boxes. Although these aren't the typical items I would ask from dear ole Santa, this year's Christmas won't really be typical either! Now I will go on and inform you that the backpack I am wearing in that picture does expand to be almost twice my size....which makes it even funnier. Since the last post I have bought/received a few more items to take with me which obviously caused more packing chaos. Right now I have kinda stopped packing for Peru, but started packing for my last minute vacation! (as if Egypt wasn't enough ;)

Next stop: Philadelphia, New York City, Washington D.C., Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia, Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta! Whew. It's gonna be busy, bot good. Who doesn't need a good ole' East Coast/American History vacation with all their friends before they move out of the country for a few years?

pack pack packing away

These last couple days I have really been focusing on getting ready to leave. I have added to my packing pile I have named Ernesto. Also, I finally ordered a few items on North Face I will need. I ordered a hiking backpack, raincoat and some rain pants. I mean after-all, don't all Peruvians wear North Face? :)

I am packing my rain boots I got from Target. Needless to say, I am doing my best on not getting soaked. "The Resolve Jacket is a mesh-lined, waterproof, breathable, seam-sealed jacket equipped for hard play in the worst weather." Hard play and worst weather is a pretty durable sounding combo. Follow along and we will soon find out. I think the rainy season is coming up!!

My raincoat:


I already bought an awesome duffle bag that will roll or you can pack like a backpack. The duffle and hiking backpack are going to be my two checked bags and then I bought a small normal backpack for my carry on. (I am only allowed 80lbs for my luggage) I also have been out shopping for some new clothes to take. It’s going to be turning into Summer when I arrive so I am getting t-shirts and tank tops that are going on sale here because it is about to be Winter. I am buying a new Netbook laptop to take and other than that I am done for buying things. My iPod is broken so I am probably going to have to get one of those too. It’s not that I need a lot of stuff to take, it’s that the items I do need happen to be really expensive. Oh well, I am just going to consider it my Christmas and birthday presents for the next 2.3 years.

I finally finished all my paperwork PC has sent so far. I should be getting another lump in the mail pretty soon and then once I finish that I should be done until staging in D.C.

I have started to make friends with a lot of the people going with me. We have a nice little Facebook group and we have been talking about all our hopes, dreams, fears and etc. I think we are going to be a pretty fun and interesting group. Right now we are trying to plan some fun things to do outside of training. Peru 15 is going to be epic...that's right. Epic.

I don’t think it has really hit me yet that I am leaving everyone and everything for 2.3 years. I am very excited and honestly I wish I was leaving next week. Right now though I am focusing on saying my goodbyes. It frightens me that some of the goodbyes will most likely be permanent due to the status of the individuals health. I do know that I am probably going to be having plenty of visitors so that makes it a little easier. My cousin Erin takes trips to Peru all the time so I am most likely going to get to see her and my best friend Lee will be coming to visit sometime. My parents are also going to come and visit. If they could all spread out their visits over the 2.3 years that would be great. I would always be expecting a visitor! Haha.

My hiking backpack:















My rain pants:















And now for my packing pile, Ernesto:







(a little fyi: the rug, basket and cd's are not going with) I get so stressed with this packing. I start to do add more and then re-arrange and then I just end up getting an angry mix of frustration and stressfulness and I leave. Eventually I am going to have to face Ernesto and show him how we do things.

Well it's starting to rain right now, kinda makes me wish I had my raincoat to go run and perform hail marys about Peru.

Thank You

I feel that it is necessary to at least write a post saying thank you to the people who have supported me during all of this. I started this process just about a year ago and never thought I would be leaving this soon. I am so excited about Peru. I have been talking to others on facebook who are going with me and I know that my decision in serving is exactly what I want.

I want to thank all my friends and family. This has been a stressful and intense process and without you all I don't think I could have done it. My professors (Prof. Keel, Dr. K, Prof. Alligood and Prof. Quarles) have encouraged me the whole way and not to mention, reminded me how my resume will sparkle. They are the best professors at MTSU and opened my eyes to many topics that pushed me to do great things. Without their encouragement and excitement I'm not sure I would have been able to keep going.

I have to thank my best friend Lee. He is the best friend anyone could ask for. He has listened to me talk about anything and everything PC for the last year and bless him for not killing me. Lee is always there for the good and bad and ups and downs. He has supported me from the start and is already planning a trip to come and see me! Lee is my backbone and it will kill me to have to leave and be so far away from him, but I know when I return it will be like I never left.

My family was not thrilled about this idea when I first told them, but they have supported me. They don't want to see me leave, but I think deep down they know I will be doing good things and bettering myself and others along the way. I love them all and I hate to leave. My parents are excited for me and scared too, but at least it's good to know that they want to also plan a trip to see me and hopefully try to get me home for next Christmas.

I want to thank my manager at Victoria's Secret, Salleye. Salleye has also listened to me go on and on about PC and she also wrote a recommendation letter too! She was great to work my schedule around when I needed too and I know she will be anxious to hear what I get myself into while in Peru. Many of the VS girls were supportive and kept me excited about going. My old boss at the radio station, Mark, and his family have also been beyond supportive. Mark wrote a reference letter too and has been a great friend.

The people above are the ones who have always been there for me and have been there for it all. I love you all and please keep in touch. I also want to say thank you to the people who comment on this freakin blog and make me feel like someone is reading it. Haha. There have been over a thousand people along the way who have encouraged me and helped me out in this process and if you aren't mentioned, thank you.

Invitation in the mail

I am proud to say that this gringo is headed to Peru in September! Whoooo hooooo! My invitation arrived today and I couldn't tear it open fast enough. The picture above is my life now. It consists of nothing but paperwork. The problem is I don't really understand how to fill it out, when it's due and how to turn it in. I think I will just go to bed (or attempt to sleep) and then look over it tomorrow. I need a breather. I thought packing was going to be bad, but now I have this AND packing. Needless to say I am sure this next month will fly by. I thought I would have all the time in the world, but now I see my availability getting smaller and smaller. Time to prioritize!

PC Timeline: Update

January 2009-July 2009: Think about applying
July 2009: Started application

September 29ish, 2009: Submitted application

October 15ish, 2009: PC calls and says I am not a competitive applicant and language skills would help

March 15ish, 2010: I call PC and update them on my life. (I enrolled in Intermediate Spanish 2 at MTSU and have been volunteering at new places) They say yipee let me send your info on to the next step

Early April 2010: Recruiter calls to schedule interview
Mid April 2010: Interview is a success. He will call if there is placement for me.
April 27, 2010: There is placement and I am nominated for Africa in the Health Extension leaving in September.

May 1, 2010: I get my nomination letter in the mail and schedule medical exams for June 2...medical package is on the way!

June 21, 2010: Mail medical exams
June 29th: Medical Exams received and I have dental clearance

July 27,2010: Receive medical clearance
July 28, 2010: Call from PO and get an invitation for Central/South America instead with a leave date in early September!

Total Change of Plans

So I got called by my placement officer today! I am officially invited to the Peace Corp!!!!!! Now for the big news, it is no longer Africa. It is a Central/South American country leaving earlier in September! From my research I think it is Peru!!!!!!!! We will see. Now for a new blog name!!!