Well here I am, 5 days away from embarking on my next big adventure. It has been one heck of a roller coaster getting here after getting my nomination only 6 months ago. There has been a lot of paperwork, Dr appointments, and having my Uncle Tom driving me around Charleston, SC looking for the county jail to get fingerprints done for a background check. Truly, an adventurous 6 months! And here I am, only 5 days out and the reality of leaving my home for 27 months is hitting me. It has been a tremendous amount of preparation getting to this point but I know I will never be fully prepared for this next adventure and to me that is an appealing aspect. The unknown. Not knowing where I will be or who I will be with a week from now is really exciting! But challenges I face of getting to know new people, learning a new language, and jumping from place to place are terrifying in their own way. However, I know I can get through that. The ideal of living life in the moment is a necessity; leaving all your baggage behind and being open to a whole new world is the only way to go about a trip like this.
With that being said, I am really gonna miss everyone back home. It has been great to see all my friends and family over the past few weeks. And in the process I have had a lot of fun whether it be jet skiing up at camp with my friends or partying at John and Gina's wedding this past weekend. It has been a great few weeks to relax and say goodbyes. These goodbyes have been hard to say but at the same time they make me excited for this next adventure with the Peace Corps. It is weird to think that I will miss almost 3 football seasons (Go Giants!) and 2 baseball seasons (Go Yanks!). The fact that I will be 25 by the time my service is over. But 25 isn't that old.....right? Oh well, I have plenty more difficult goodbyes in store and then it is off to Miami next Tuesday. And in just 2 more days I will be placed with my first host family somewhere in Paraguay and thus begins my 10 weeks of intensive training to become an Environmental Educator, and language lessons in both Spanish and Guarani. It's getting real!
Good luck!! I know it is going to be an amazing and life changing experience for you. And 25 is not that old. What's really crazy is that Alex will be almost 3 when you get back! I will be thinking about you all the time, I know you're going to be amazing! Take care of yourself, be safe, and update this whenever you happen to get a chance!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!!! I look forward to hearing about your experiences as an Environmental Educator. I am sure you will hear the name Paulo Freire often during your 10 week training. He is a very important Brazilian Educator who worked with adults in Sao Paulo Brazil. You may find his writings helpful when developing your programs and working with the community. His insights helped me in my service in AmeriCorp and will be even more relevant to your service to the people of Paraguay. May God Speed and Guard you on your journey.
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