Ohhhh, goodies!

Well, I'm beginning to feel like I have a pretty good handle on purchasing things for Malawi.  Most fun and ridiculous purchase so far is a huge hard suitcase.  Figured this option would be best to protect my goodies I will bring as well as eventually serving as a piece of furniture for my future home.  I had the choice of pink, gold, some ridiculous color that only has a name when pared with colors like "macaroni and cheese," and silver.  I opted for the silver one, of course (sorry for those of you who wanted to see me lug a big pink Pepto Bismol suitcase through Africa), with a brand name Jeep (I've never heard of it besides the brand of a car).  Kind of fun I can put on my pack list "Jeep - Check."  Mom wanted to test it out by standing on it...told her "you break it, you buy it!" and decided instead to keep her money.

Amongst some of the obvious things like shirts, pants, socks, makeup, and underwear (mom always told me to bring extra pairs!) I'll write a brief list of some of the top notch things I'm investing in or finding around the house:

Camera/travel tripod
Solar charger
Leatherman
Lamp (hand crank)
Head lamp
Rain suit
Sleeping Bag
Hammock
Bungee cords
Short wave radio (not sure yet?)
Tent
Flashlight
Sleeping pad
Water bottles
Eye drops (for potential eye infection)
Vitamins
Hiking boots
Mirror
Sunglasses
Sewing Kit
Writing paper
Journals
Calendar
Computer (still debating this one...)
Spices
Seeds
Pressure cooker
Cutting board
Constellation book
Dictionary
Field guide
GRE study material

Of course more miscellaneous stuff, but I wont bore you with things like umbrella, bed sheets, and cold medicine.  I sure hope I can fit it all!  Still needing to buy some comfort foods I know I will enjoy, like a jar of peanut butter and another one of Nutella.

It is quite a challenge to figure out what is most important to bring and what things I will be able to pick up once I arrive there.  Some of what can be so nerve wrecking are the unknowns, and the things that no one can answer for me until I experience Malawi.  Simply through this process of applying for the Peace Corps I am learning about patience, how to organize and prepare myself for the unknowns, how to decide things for myself regardless of others opinions, and (maybe most important) to trust my instincts.  Seeing as I've learned this much so far, I can only imagine what awaits me in Malawi.

At any rate, 26 days left in Denver and I'm doing my best to make the most of them, see all the friends and family I possibly can, eat all the yummy foods I know I wont get in Africa, enjoy warm showers and running water at my disposal, speak English with anyone who is willing, and enjoying the snow.  Sushi, ice cream, movie theaters, here I come!

Staging in Philly

With each day, all of this is becoming even more of a reality.  I received my staging information yesterday and called PC today to book my flight to Philadelphia on February 25th.  It's a little bit weird to have definite date set of when I will leave Denver.  At times, it hardly seems real that this is all happening...  Mom and dad may come out to Philly to see me off, and possibly have some chances to meet other PCV (Peace Corps Volunteers) and maybe parents.

A few weeks ago I was stressing myself out, and I feel like I'm doing it again.  Last time was about all the unknowns of what I will be doing, people I will be going with, what to bring, etc.  This time I'm stressing about making sure I get everything I need/want to bring with me to Malawi.  It seems like there is so much to do between packing and meeting up with friends and family.  Amdist the stress, I'm also doing my best to appreciate and enjoy where I am and what I have right now.  Presumed comparisons of USA:Malawi - Warm shower : cold bucket of water; electricity at my fingertips : candles; food with flavor :  food with dirt (maybe some fried ants too); email : snailmail; refrigerator : block of ice....er, puddle of water?  I'm doing my best, but it is quite weird how with just about everything I do, every place I go, all the comforts I have....I cant help but think "Enjoy it!  You wont have it for a while."

This is all an adventure I have electively signed up for, and I am looking so forward to serving!  Although somedays I do ask myself if I am crazy and how I ever came up with this idea!  It will be an experience of a lifetime!  So bring it on, big man.

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 :)

PC Application Timeline

Applying for the Peace Corps is pretty extensive!  Lots of waiting, usually in anticipation.  I was quite lucky though with my turn around of application to departure.  Typically it's a 6-9 month process, sometimes longer.

• June 6, 2009 - Application submitted online
• June 18 - Received financial packet (i.e. how to take care of loans, finances, etc.)
• June 24 - Packet returned to PC
• June 30 - Phone interview; nominated for Agricultural Science program (somewhere) in Africa!
• July 9 - Received medical packet (blood tests, getting cleared by my doctor from past surgeries, health physical, eye doctor appointment, endocrinologist appointment...busy!)
• August 7 - Medical packet completed and returned to PC
• August 25 - Medical cleared!
• September-November - Lots of waiting while traveling overseas....checking website to see if there was a status change....emails to dad weekly if anything had arrived in Denver from PC....
• December 10 - Received more paperwork to fill out in regards to my past Agricultural experience
• December 17 - a.m. Paperwork emailed back; p.m. Received email inviting me to Malawi!!
• December 22 - Official acceptance of invitation (Happy Birthday to me!)
• January 12 - Went to U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany to apply for a PC passport
• January 20 - Staging information received!  Off to Philly in a month!
• February 6 - stiiiiiiill packing!  And spending lots of time with friends and family.

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February 25 - Depart Denver for staging in Philadelphia
February 27 - Depart the U.S. to Malawi