A Very New Beginning

As most of you who are reading this post know, I will be moving to Madagascar for 27 months to serve as an education volunteer in the Peace Corps!! My nerves have been on edge for the last month and a half as I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions usually ranging from serious anxiety and nervousness to occasional stints of fleeting excitement. Despite this, however, I have envisioned myself in the Peace Corps for the past several years. Even before I was actually old enough to even consider the application process. I would play those online personality games which told (supposedly) how good of a match I was to a "typical" Peace Corps experience. I find this hilarious now, considering the fact that I have been reminded over and over that there is no such thing as a "typical" Peace Corps anything. Everyone's experiences are different, apparently.

So, I apply last September and pray (literally) for an education assignment in Latin America, anywhere in Latin America. After all, I was a Spanish minor in college and have pretty good Spanish language skills. Despite this, I was promptly assigned to West Africa. Ok, I can deal. My interviewer said that since I had learned one language, I could learn another. True, very true. So, I enroll into French 101 my final semester of college and break out my little sisters Rosetta Stone, French Edition and start studying. However, after I had convinced myself of the amazingness of being in West Africa for 2 yrs, I get my invitation kit and it said Madagascar. It was not exactly Latin America or West Africa; but, once again, I can deal.

This brings me to today. I am a bit slow with all the websites and internet stuff. When I started college ( this was back when only college students had Facebook), my roommate ( Robyn!!) threatened to set up my Facebook account for me if I did not do it myself by the Spelhouse homecoming that October. I must have been the only person without one on campus. Anyway, so I leave for staging in Washington DC in 2 days and I am just beginning my Peace Corps blogs. This blog is meant for me to relay to my family and friends back home what is going on in my life in Madagascar. I want to share my experiences with all of you closest to me and even those who may potentially be considering the Peace Corps for the future. I hope this blog helps all of you to feel closer to me and me to you as well. As of right now, I am super excited to begin my Peace Corps service and to meet the other 40 or so people in my training group.