Before I Set Off

(don't mind any typos)

It's 4:44 a.m. and I've been preparing for my adventure in Guatemala for weeks now. (Let me tell ya, it wasn't all fun and games....actually, there weren't any fun and games, just paperwork, hoops to jump through, bills and house cleaning. I'm not up because of adrenaline that's for sure.
I suppose I value writing about my pre-departure mood/attitude more than I do sleeping in my bed one last time--it's ok, my bed and I have an abundance of memories of snoozes past.)

I suppose I should feel excited, but honestly...I don't. Perhaps when I step off the plane or eat my first Guatemalan meal I'll feel it. I think I'm still waiting to speak those first words in Spanish or to meet my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers....Up until that moment, Peace Corps (PC) is just an opportunity on the horizon--not yet something that is actually happening to me.

So why am I going?

The really, really, really short version: ever since I had my first original thought as a person I knew my life would be spent outside the U.S. It just isn't for me. (I do expect to finish my service with a better appreciation for the United States after two years on the outside however : ) I suppose my hope in going into the PC is that work and experiences in Guatemala will show me what type of education I need to pursue in order to be "useful." Right now that could be anything from law school to med school to international policy or relations. Clearly I need some help narrowing it down! Hopefully time in the PC will help me determine what area (medicine, economics, policy, etc) has major needs and give me ideas for how to get an education and resources to fill that specific type of need.

At the same time, I almost feel like a little kid at the doctor's office, wincing and looking away as the nurse prepares to stick the needle in my arm...just waiting. I know my idealistic (and some might say naive) outlook has to be normalized at some point, but waiting to figure out just how it will happen and what it will feel like..... Well, it's necessary but not something I'm looking forward to.

But that's slightly depressing. Let's talk about what there is to look forward to!
going on an iguana hunt
eating iguana
saying embarrassing things due to ill placed or incorrectly translated words in Spanish
getting a cat or dog
hiking a volcano
learning how to sew/weave
setting up my own house
learning a new language
seeing what kind of electricity exists in my town
watching myself try to stay out of a fight the first time someone treats me like an inferior little woman
being a giant
getting some new jewelry
making new friends
things being cheaper lol


Just in case you were wondering, here's what the next 6 months will look like-
Jan 4-5th Orientation with other PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) in D.C.
Jan 6th Leave for Guatemala!
January-March Language, culture and job training for three months in Santa Lucia Milpas Altas (between Antigua and Guatemala City, elevation 7000 ft!) For these three months I'll be living with a host family.
End of March -I'll find out where my permanent placement is in Guatemala and move there. Again, I'll live with a host family for three months.
May-I'll be able to find my own housing, whether that's with another family or by myself or with another volunteer or a local...who can know : )


In March I'll be able to start my job!!

So these are my introductory, pre-departure feelings and a bit of information.
I'm sure future posts will have more exciting content!