Peace Corps decision

Hello to everyone who is following my blog :)  I am heading off to Malawi, Africa in about 38 days (but who's counting?)  First I have to conclude my 4 month Europe and SE/Asia tour, leaving Wiesbaden, Germany next week.  It's been a great ride here and I am sad to leave, but thrilled for my next adventure in Africa.

"Wow, big decision to join the Peace Corps!" some of you may be asking, thus I would love to share with you my reasoning.  It may seem all over the place, so bear with me.  I graduated from the University of North Dakota in May 2008 and worked miscellaneous jobs for the year following (cake decorating is at the top of the "fun" meter, along with interior design/construction work).  I did not have much direction (what do you do with a degree in History and minor in Visual Arts?!) and continually became unsettled about what I wasn't doing with my life.  In college I developed a deep love for the environment and animals and desire to make some sort of impact on our planet.  I joke I had a "mid-twenties crisis" with trying to figure out what to do with my life.  My brother Scott graduated from graduate school in May 2009, and through him I met and chatted with some of his classmates who had spent time in the Peace Corps.  I had a lot of questions but was intrigued with the idea of spending extended time in a foreign country.  I read through a blog of one PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) who served in Morocco while doing some research on my own, still not totally sure if this was a fit for me.  But i thought “if I don’t apply, I don’t even have the option!”

June 6, 2009 my application was submitted, and thus began the extensive process discovering if I qualified (those of you who have applied or served know what I'm talking about!).  I received packets of information I had to fill out and send back...had an interview at the end of June nominating me for Africa in Agricultural Science program (both my first choices...I was lucky!)...received my medical packet for medical tests, appointments, doctors notes, and more...  With each step I thought "they sure are not making this easy!"  And in each stage the effort I was asked to put forth (i.e. all the money spent on medical tests as well as time writing and filling out paperwork), became increasingly challenging.  But the more I went through this all, the more I felt that serving in the Peace Corps was fitting for me.

In mid September I departed to Europe for a 4 month tour around Europe and SE/Asia...and to wait to hear anything from the PC on my placement.  I had a blast expanding my horizon and learning more about myself than I ever imagined.  Visiting Cambodia was probably the most eye opening, it being the furthest from my comfort level and a taste of what I might see in Africa.  Mid December, surprise!  More paperwork to fill out and send back to determine whether or not I was qualified for the position in which I was nominated.  December 17, 2009 I received an email offering me a position in Malawi for the Environmental program.  I was thrilled!  I'd waited all this time to find out where I was going....and I'll be honest to say I had to look it up on a map.  It's such a weird feeling receiving news you've been waiting 3 months for, only to sit there and say "do I really want this?"  I sat with the butterflies in my stomach for a few days, and officially accepted my position on my 25th birthday.

I cannot be more excited and thrilled for this experience of a lifetime.  It's been quite a ride, and although I had doubts and questions through the process, I feel more at ease and comfortable each day.  Being a tourist all my life with traveling (thank you United!)  I look so forward to immersing myself in a beautiful culture, teaching others while allowing them to teach me.  I have wanted to travel to Africa since I was a child and having this opportunity to live there is absolutely unreal and exciting.

I will do my best to keep a blog of my experience for those of you who are interested.  I cannot make any promises of how often it will be updated, seeing as having internet access is about as slim as having running water there.  So letters will always be appreciated, and will be responded to :)  Thank you to all who have been so supportive along this process, and to my family for not thinking I was too out of my mind!  Let the journey begin :)