"If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough."

Quoted from Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, at Harvard University’s 360th Commencement Ceremony, stolen from the Peace Corps Facebook group. 


I'm making friends with people that I'm going to South Africa with already!  There are 60 or 70 of us going in July, and we're beginning to find each other on Facebook and through blogs.  I'm excited that I'm not really going "alone" anymore! 

I have like a bajillion things to do before I leave, including selling my truck and making sure I have everything I need to pack to SA and storing or selling everything else.  Kinda busy, but I'm loving it!

I'm going to SOUTH AFRICA!!

You cannot imagine how excited I was to open my Peace Corps invitation.  My roommate had told me that the letter arrived and I rushed from home to Lexington today to open it.  I was jumping around and giggling like a school girl when I read South Africa. 

South Africa.  I'll be a Resource Specialist in South Africa for the next two years.  I'm still going through the paperwork and the information, but I know that I'll be working with 2 or 3 schools to help overhaul the countries educational system.  Apparently, teachers there are overworked and overwhelmed with the new system and outcome-based curriculum so I'll be providing resources, encouragement and support for the teachers, students and administration.  Keep in mind that I've just graduated with an Engineering degree and have no idea about education.  My younger sister, who just graduated with an Art Education degree, listened to me describe everything said "Wow, I'm much more qualified for that than you are!"  And it's true!!

My assignment packet says I'll be living with a host family but have my own bedroom.  That is exactly the ideal situation!  I'll have my own space but a family to practice the language and help me adapt to the culture and village.  I'm so excited!!  I'm reading up on Wikipedia and blogs now to help prepare myself for the adventure. 

But I've missed an important detail: when?  I'm staging (finishing paperwork and orientation) on July 5th of this year.  I've been waiting for a year to get into the Peace Corps and now July seems like so soon!  So soon and so exciting! 

I'm in!!

I spoke with a very nice woman at the Peace Corps Placement Office yesterday, and she said that I'm approved for service! She's currently looking for me a job, a placement that fits my skills.  As you can probably guess, I'm thrilled!

In other good news, I finished and submitted a 5 page paper for an engineering class this semester.  I finished everything for my senior design to turn in tomorrow.  And I only have an online final exam to take on Thursday and I'll officially be finished with college!!  It's been a long time coming, I'm glad it's finally here.