Just a few weeks away...

The last couple days its really hit me just how fast the departure date is approaching. Only 3 weeks left! I honestly cannot wait to go, but I also am recognizing the enormity of it all. When I say 'see you later' to everybody its 2+ years til 'later'. Also, am I crazy? My first real teaching job and I'm going to do it in a completely foreign culture, possibly in a different language, with limited resources, and 50 students to a class?? Yes, I think you have to have a dose of insanity to join the Peace Corps.

I've been so preoccupied with my impending departure that I seriously forgot that my birthday is in just a few days. Normally you're aware of it and you at least look to see what day of the week it falls on, but I hadn't even thought about it til my mom said something about it. Kind of shows you where my mind has been. (Oh, it's Wednesday the 31st. The 23rd anniversary of my birth)

So I arranged my flight to get me to staging. I fly out of Detroit at 8:30 AM on the 19th and head to Philadelphia. I can't wait for staging. To be with people who have gone through the same process as I have, for as long as I have, should be a lot of fun. Staging basically consists of meeting the people you will go through training with and some pre-departure culture and safety training. Also the joy of receiving a buttload (literally?) of shots.

The final 3 weeks: I've got a farewell/birthday party, spend a week in Kalamazoo, and figure out how to pack for two years and still keep it under 80 pounds. That might prove challenging...

The country of brotherly love?

My staging kit arrived in the mail today. I found out that my staging will be in Philadelphia so I need to call SATO Travel right away to arrange a plane ticket to get me there. The kit also included the itinerary for the few days I will be in Philly, and the flight plan that will get me to Kenya. It appears I will fly out of New York, make a pit stop in London, and then straight to Kenya.

I was sooooo glad, and very relieved to receive the staging kit. There's always that doubt at the back of your mind that you forgot to do something, or the Peace Corps doesn't like you anymore and they just decide to let you go. And you keep waiting and nothing happens. So getting this kit was comforting that everything is still a go.

I'd also like to thank all my loyal, diligent friends who have checked this site almost religiously all summer long waiting for it to be up and running. A special thanks to Bradley Morris aka "Boomer" aka "Biscuit" for somehow getting this site working even though he is in Cameroon, Africa.

Kenya Believe It!?

It is official. I leave for Kenya September 19. Thus begins
my two year three month adventure. Am I nervous? Not really, just
really anxious. And I realize I have A LOT to do before I go. And
I'm a procrastinator.

Some specifics: I will be teaching high school math in a community
school. The first three months are training, including learning
Swahili and getting culture and safety training. Based on the
training the Peace Corps will pair me up with the assignment that
suits me best. Then it is two years of service.

I'll update this site as often as I can while I am over there, but
they made it clear that internet will not be nearly as accessible as
it is in the U.S.

Also, the site is still being worked on so such things as the
"evidence" tab (aka the photo gallery) and "misc" doesn't really give
you much. These should be remedied by the end of the month, as the maintainer is currently in Africa.

(A note from the future: the "misc" tab would forever be in a state of limbo ... but at least the evidence tab flourished.)