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…

All Forms Submitted

I have been experiencing a wide variety of emotions as I get closer to my departure date. Emotions range from anxiety, guilt, and nostalgia to excitement, anticipation, and gratitude. I’ve also begun counting down in more unusual ways: ‘Only two more haircuts until I leave. Only two more checks for rent. Only five more round trips from Eau Claire to Minneapolis.’ I’ve received several emails from the country desk and medical portal reminding me to get all my forms in by a certain date. One of the emails mentioned that my departure date is now tentatively February 10th (potentially February 9 if there isn’t a flight to Philadelphia that can get me to staging on time) instead of the 11th. This threw me for a loop. I have been constantly thinking about February 11 for the past 4 months and now suddenly I have one less day. This is of course very minor and Peace Corps is all about being flexible, but for some reason I was caught off guard.

I finally submitted all of my medical documents. This was quite a process as the doctor who did my physical exam did not seem to understand how important it was to completely fill out the forms. I understand she is a very busy person with many patients but I bothered her for three weeks and had to return the packet twice because not every box was filled or a signature was missing. For the record, I thanked the doctor and her nurse multiple times throughout the several weeks for taking the time to complete the extra paperwork. Nevertheless, all documents are turned in, hopefully filled out correctly, and then I can officially be cleared for service!

Completed medical tasks



Starting to pack!



99 Days

99 days until departure. When I got my invitation, my countdown was 221 days, and that does not seem that long ago. A friend that’s going to Ecuador in January told me that the days seem to go faster after you pass the 100 day mark. I’ve been so eager for the days to pass but when it comes down to it, I’m anxious to leave. I keep telling people, ‘I’m excited to go but sad to leave.’ I imagine the next few months will be very emotional as I wrap things up in the U.S.

My first goodbye was to my job at the nursing home—Halloween was my last day. My coworkers were so kind to get me a going away gift and a cake with the DreamWorks Madagascar characters on it. I teared up when I said my final goodbyes to a few of my coworkers and residents. There was one resident in particular that when I said, “good bye and good luck,” I had a lump in my throat. Then the resident said, “Wait, what’s your name?” Perhaps I’ll remember them more than they remember me. One of my coworkers asked if her Girl Scout troop could ‘adopt’ me. I would write letters and they would follow my adventure and send care packages. We also discussed meeting up before I go so that the troop can get to know me and put a name to a face. I’m very excited!

Now that I’m done working at the nursing home (I’m still teaching dance), I will begin checking things off my to-do list. Bigger things include studying for the GRE, shopping and packing, obtain continuing educations credits (I have 18/30 so far!) and sorting through my possessions getting rid of what I don’t have some sort of sentimental attachment to. However, my to-do list and packing list are constantly growing.

I’m slowly but surely working my way through final medical clearance. I’ve been to three separate doctor appointments so far. The first was to the travel clinic to receive immunizations. I was lucky enough to get four shots-two just below the shoulder and two in the back of the arm. Then, between two appointments, I had a full physical, eye exam, all kinds of lab work completed, and another shot. One test showed that my potassium level was just a little low so I need to eat a bunch of bananas and return to the lab for a retest. Hopefully, I can submit all the medical materials by the end of this week.

5 Months

The next couple of weeks are going to busy! Things to do: register and take the GRE, complete all 30 hours of continuing education, choreograph three dances and teach my weekly classes (I was asked to continue teaching dance despite my departure halfway through the season!), tie up all loose ends at my job, go to my doctor appointments and submit documents for final medical clearance, and spend as much time with family and friends as I can. And most of this will occur within the next 6 weeks! Due to all of these emotions and responsibilities, I decided to resign from my job one month earlier than previously planned. I was concerned that I wouldn’t have time to complete the things that are the most important to me. 

 

So far I have completed the dental aspect of final medical clearance. I had a Panorex X-ray and then mostly just a routine cleaning. The dentist and hygienist were very helpful with the necessary forms, and even emailed the Panorex right to me! Next I have an appointment at the travel clinic to get immunizations for polio, yellow fever, Tdap, and Hepatitis A booster. It feels good to get some of the paperwork done since medical clearance is largely waiting for the appointments to take place.

 

I have received an overwhelming amount of support from my friends, family, and even strangers! For example, I was at a fall festival with some friends that came to visit. We were discussing how Peace Corps may affect future job prospects, and a woman came up to us. She said, “I am a psychotherapist and a social worker, and I think the Peace Corps is awesome!” That put a big smile on my face! Everyone has been very interested in my service and wishing me the best of luck. I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family! 

6 Months Until Departure

Today marks 6 months until departure. So what have I been up to since receiving my invitation? I’ve applied for my visa and PC passport. I wrote my aspiration statement and updated resume which I needed to submit within 10 days of receiving the invitation. I’ve made a dentist appointment and will be scheduling more doctor appointments soon to work towards final medical clearance. I’ve started the Malagasy language lessons (manahoana!). I’ve read through the PC handbooks and other materials, and read many different Madagascar blogs. I've watched Madagascar youtubes, documentaries, and the DreamWorks Madagascar (I'm told this was a necessity). There is not a day that goes by in which I don’t think/talk about Madagascar. It seems to find its way into any conversation. Even then, I’m only talking about it 10% of the time I wish I could be talking about it.

The fact that I will be moving to Africa for two years still has not sunk in. I’m not allowing myself to do any shopping or packing until 1-2 months before departure, otherwise I think I would go crazy trying to decide what to bring. I’ve thought about some financial goals over the next few years, and looked into grad school and taking the GRE. I’ve also chosen a date to put my 30 day resignation notice in at work.

So as you can see, I’ve done a lot of nothing over that last few weeks. A lot of thinking but no action. It’s been too early to actually do anything-even for scheduling appointments! I have a countdown on my phone (obviously) and I absolutely can’t wait. Although I’m trying not to wish my time away, I do want the days to go by a little faster than they are.