Aspirations

I decided to post my aspirations for the Peace Corps. I wrote these aspirations last March—months before I knew where I would be serving. Originally, I wasn’t going to post these; however, I think it is important to shed further light on my reasons for joining the Peace Corps since my usual answer is very short and undiscerning. In addition, I want my blog to be authentic. I want to describe my thoughts as well as my experiences because I feel that not enough Peace Corps blogs do. I haven’t done this much so far, but I hope to more once I’m actually in Madagascar.

My ultimate goal for the Peace  Corps is to serve and be happy. I can accomplish this by helping others, experiencing another culture, living a simpler life, and having an adventure. All of my aspirations fall into these categories. I hope to review these throughout my service and reflect on whether I am meeting these goals as well as a reminder of why I took this utter leap of faith.

I aspire...

· To gain patience, insight, and understanding
· To gain confidence, leadership skills, and the ability to find my own voice
· To gain cross-cultural experience, adaptability, and flexibility
· To find inner peace, optimism, and a sense of fulfillment and purpose
· To push myself and change the way I think and perceive the world
· To be humbled and grateful for this wonderful life I have.
· To gain understanding of a different community, the hardships, and the joys of being a member of that community
· To make lifelong friends with community members and other Peace Corps volunteers
· To be open to others and to new experiences
· To use my professional experience in my projects, and to grow professionally so that I can use that experience in life after the Peace Corps
· To fully integrate myself in the community, and put the well-being of my projects above my “wanted” comforts
· To be accepted into a new community despite my differences.
· To go on a true adventure and take advantage of opportunities so that if I was given the chance, I would do it all over again.
· To promote and be a part of positive sustainable changes no matter how small the contribution.
· To promote awareness of societal issues such as poverty, poor sanitation, HIV/AIDS, exploitation, corporal punishment, etc. in my community abroad and at home.
· To create a group for community members that gives them a sense of family, unity, and safety.
· To listen more than I speak and be there for someone else in need.
· To make this world a better place one small contribution at a time
· To give my host community a positive image of America
· To give my home community a positive image of Africa
· To teach others and have others teach me
· To learn as much as I can about other cultures, and to appreciate every cultural exchange
· To show others what one person can accomplish, and how much more a population working together can accomplish.
· To bring out the act of giving/donating/ volunteering in myself and others at home and abroad.
· To convince my current friends and family to support a cause in Africa
· To minimize my fear of spiders and other bugs (at least small ones)
· To learn a new language
· To travel as far and wide as I can with my given time
· To love and cherish the program and experience.
· To remember that there will be the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and no matter the situation, know that nothing lasts forever.

60 Days

I depart in the time that it takes to do the Insanity workout program! Another great piece of news is that I received final medical clearance just before Thanksgiving! I did get a message from a PC nurse asking me to send my actual lab reports-not just the results as well as the date of my panorex x-rays. Two hours after those items were sent in I was officially cleared for service.

Other updates:

I take the GRE in 2 days and cannot wait for it to be over.

Dance competition season is in full swing with a competition last weekend and another next weekend.

I’m going to Hawaii in January to visit a friend.

I say goodbye to Eau Claire at the end of January and move back to Minnesota for 10 days.

I’m an online shopping fiend. I’m surprised with how much stuff I think I need to buy in order to live with far less in Africa…