Africa, Baby!!!

Hello!!!
Well as you all most likely know I have joined the Peace Corps and will be leaving for Zambia, Africa January 31, 2011.  My job title is a Community Education Specialist working with the Rural Education Project.  I will be gone for 27 months.  The first 3 months is for training and then the 2 years is for my service.  Hence the title 730 days in Africa (even though 27 months is more than 730 days, that number sounds nicer than what the 27 months does)  I couldn't be more excited!!!!
I guess I should start from the beginning about how this all started....

I have wanted to do the Peace Corps since I was in high school.  I think because the travel aspect really interested me.  I had been to Europe twice before and Mexico for missions trips while still in high school and the PC combined travel AND the ability to change lives.

So high school came and went and on to bigger and better things....COLLEGE!!!  I remember seeing a poster somewhere on campus my freshman year about an informational meeting about the PC.  It was held via satellite with a returned PC volunteer.  Going into the meeting I did not know exactly what the PC did but leaving that meeting I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

I always told my family and friends that I wanted to join the PC but I think they thought it would never actually happen.  Neither did I.

Time went on and so did college and before I knew it I was student teaching, graduating and had a job at the school I did my student teaching with.  While I was student teaching, I started filling out applications for teaching jobs near home and I also started my PC application.  After graduation I did not move home, I stayed to take the job as a Special Education Resource Assistant.  I hated the job.  So needless to say I quit the job mid March 2010 and moved back home.  I got a job at the best daycare ever as a Lead Toddler Teacher and continued to work on my PC application.

I submitted my application maybe at the end of March.  Even though the process has taken me almost 10 months from start to finish....I know that it will be worth it in the end.


I had my phone interview with my recruiter in Chicago, then was sent a nomination.  I was sent my nomination along with general information about where I would be going and what I would be doing.  Orginally it was the Pacific Islands and I would be a Primary Education Teacher.  They also told me my departure was for October 5 2010.  (3 days before my 25th birthday)  Then,  I was sent my medical packet-which besides the application, to me, was the longest part of the entire process.  Since I had doctors while I was away at college I had to have several items faxed from them and doctors from when I was in high school or younger that I might not have seen for several years, paperwork from them.  It was tedious but so worth it.  I couldn't manage to get my medical/dental paperwork done in time so I was obviously placed elsewhere.  Which I think is a sign...not sure for what but I believe everything happens for a reason.

After ALL my paperwork was done I had to have one more little phone interview just confirming my information one more time and if anything about me has changed.  She asked me how I felt about Africa? me: AMAZING Then, she sent me an email asking how I think I would do with daily bike rides of up to 40km? me: AMAZING
I got an email back THAT DAY saying she would like to extend an invitation for me to serve as a PC volunteer!!!!!! More information would be coming in the mail.  Waiting for that Welcome Packet to arrive was exhausting.  Once it did WOW!!! I was a kid in a candy store!!!  I cried.  Called my mom and told her where and when I would be leaving and what I would be doing and her response: Well so this is really happening!!! me: Umm yea it is!!! I then called my dad and his response to my fantastic news was: So this is really going to happen??? me: Umm yea it is!!!

I was extremely excited to send my formal email accepting my invitation to serve in Zambia.  I was equally as excited to read about my new job descriptions and read my Zambia Welcome Book!!!!  It was a little odd having to fill out who I wanted my beneficiaries to be and if I wanted life insurance at the age 25 ( I opted to HAVE life insurance while gone).
So now I am just waiting for my staging information to arrive.  Staging is basically like orientation in the states and for us to get our passports, flight information and other last minute items we might need like shots etc.  I should be receiving that information around late December early January.

So now I am trying to sell my car before I leave.  I tried Craigslist like 5 times and a friend of mine also tried it and no luck.  I know I am technologically disadvantaged but really??!?!?!?
I have put in my 2 weeks at work and they are finding a replacement lead for me and I will hopefully help her with lesson planning etc...
I think thats it for now...Stayed tuned for more updates!!!