Final Hours...

in the District... weird. Some tears have already occurred, more are inevitable. It's all so this new chapter of my life can begin. Here's to being challenged and changed!

A little emotional and I'm nostalgic, so please take no notice

Part of preparing for my time in Senegal is the inevitable series of goodbyes, where excitement for Senegal and a new adventure mix with the fact I have to leave so many loved ones back here.

Today was an emotional day: last shift at the coffeehouse, a few more WWI goodbyes, (probably) last metro ride, last African Dance class, and last time seeing some of the MTC kids.

The last shift was fine. Many regulars and newbies were very supportive and I spoke with one man who said his "wife wouldn't be the same person had she not done PC in Cameroon," which is always great to hear. Of course there were some annoyances and awkward things, but it was a fine last shift and fun and chill hanging out with them at Comet, laughing a lot. I'm going to miss that place a lot--we're a beautifully dysfunctional family, love 'em!

It was also my last opportunity for some rockin' West African dance...that is, until I get to Africa, woot! Mama Marcia was as encouraging as ever, we did my favorite dance (Wolosodon; it's about freedom and overcoming adversity), and the drums were hot! I was so happy and had a huge, dorky smile (a la my cheerleading days) the entire class and then she put me in the middle and people (some I had never even spoke to) danced for me. It was so empowering and encouraging to know that people were honoring me and supporting me in my dreams and what has occupied so much of my time this past year. I then danced and while I mildly screwed up (confusing break), I just let it go and loved it! Awesomeness. When I think about how much I feel like I've changed since I started this class a year and a half ago, it boggles my mind. Maybe it's just me, but I've felt my soul lift and been much more joyful than I was. I really love the drums and the steps and am looking forward to celebrations and ceremonies when I get in Country. As Mama Marcia said, when I get to Senegal and the drums start, "they're gonna wonder where you came from" as I start dancing.

I also love talking with people (even had a few opportunities today) to talk about why I'm doing this and what helped me make the decision. It reminds me that amidst the sadness and nostalgia of leaving, I am very excited for the new and challenging chapter of my life that it less than two weeks away...!

Almost Last Day...

Tomorrow is my last day at the coffeehouse and I am just about 60 hours away from leaving DC...and barely packed, haha! Yep...

Just a few days left in DC...

3.5 to be exact...wacky!

Thanks to all who came to the party yesterday, I really appreciate the support. Big thanks to Vicky, Heidi, and Suz for their roles in planning the party. Thanks for making me feel loved and I will take all of the encouragement with me and remember it when I am feeling lonely in Senegal. I love you guys. :)

Side Note: Last time at St Thomas and I think things with our priest ended on a much brighter note than when we first started going there. He even prayed for me and my time in PC. It was really sweet and I think we both proved we can get over the awkwardness, which is awesome! He's a great guy, even if he sticks his foot in his mouth occasionally.

2 days left at Modern Times and the packing has *kinda* started :(

Facebook Makes It Real

So, since I have finally posted my blog address on my Facebook profile, I guess this blog is officially "live," subject to being read by friends and family, or something like that...

So since it is now more than just my ramblings to myself (or is it?...), I should probably explain the purpose of this blog and what my journey and service in Senegal with the Peace Corps will be like, though in reality I'm walking in blind faith to an uncertain future...

Time frame: Well, my last day at Modern Times is Tuesday, my dad comes into town on Wednesday, and we pack me up and leave DC on Thursday morning. I will be back in IL for roughly 10 days before flying off to Staging (aka US orientation) in Atlanta early the morning of March 10. There, I will meet up with fellow Trainees to fill out paperwork, talk policies and logistics, and get vaccinated before flying to Dakar, Senegal, on March 12. From Dakar, we will take a bus to Thies for roughly 3 months of mainly language, culture, and safety training before being sworn in as a PC Volunteer. After officially becoming a Volunteer, my time commitment officially begins and I will travel off to the village that will be my home for two years. After spending some time in my village and assessing the needs, I will receive more specific technical training in order to help me become a more effective Volunteer. Over my two years of service, I will get together with fellow Volunteers as possible to plan community events and workshops, receive more training, travel, and help train new Volunteers and Trainees. Since everyone keeps asking me, I may or may not be back in the US during my two year commitment...if it is able to be worked out, it will probably be sometime during Summer 2009, roughly halfway through my term of service.

Projects: My official Peace Corps assignment in my Invitation packet "Preventative Health Educator" for the Rural Health Education Program. According to the PC website, my assignment is "Health and HIV/AIDS," while an email from PC Placement earlier this week generally described my program as "Public Health." Whatever the title is does not matter, because basically it could involve HIV/AIDS, general health education, maternal and child health education and workshops, or whatever. The goal is to work with local community health liaisons to work towards capacity building and overall improvement of healthful practices by community members. It's a very vague invitation, but that's ultimately desirable because it allows me to work with my host community to develop a program that is needed and hopefully effective.

Contacting me: I will have occasional internet access, but will not know how frequent it will be until I am In Country (another PC term, meaning "in Senegal"). I plan on posting here when possible, sharing stories, emotions, frustrations, and praises, as well as talking about the work I'm up to and how you can get involved. I have posted my mailing address from March-May 2008, when I move to my village and receive a new mailing address (P.O. Box basically). You can send me mail (standard letters are $.90, I believe), care packages (I will keep a running list here of things one can send my way), good thoughts, and prayers. ALSO, I will have a cell phone, so you can Skype me! While I will not have frequent internet access, cell phones are big in Senegal and Skype-ing to a cell phone is not nearly as expensive as a regular call. The world is becoming so small, much to the benefit of the PC.

Well, that's all I will post for now. Always feel free to post any questions you may have for me and I will try and respond in a timely matter. In the near future, I will also post more about the PC and general info on Senegal. Until then, I have just a few more days in the lovely District of Columbia. Time for some sweet nostalgia...

Time is Getting Close...

I leave DC in 8 days, for 9 days in CL...People, this is getting serious (and super exciting!). I have TONS to do, beyond what I am able to realize and think about at the moment, but I have hope that most of my time in CL will be spent shopping around, at the gym, seeing family, and visiting SEAS since I don't really know anyone else around CL anymore. Almost every minute and meal of my last few days in DC has been planned out (or at least feels that way) and I need to start packing since Katie is coming down on Friday to take some stuff--mainly stuff she wants like my free weights, espresso machine, and purses, as well as books and other mementos.

Tomorrow is my last night closing, though I still have a few more shifts, but it's something big...wow, I'm such a sentimental sap. Keep in mind, however, that a customer asked me if I was new and someone else's replacement this morning...No, not so much...

Open Mic Lovely Farewells

So tonight was officially my last Open Mic Night at Modern Times. My last day isn't for another week and a half, but I'm scheduled next Friday during the day rather than Open Mic, which makes me sad, but it will be ok. Maybe I will drag Katie along to hang out and listen to it next week when she's in town, we'll see. Maureen made an announcement about it and then sang a song for me and at the end, they started singing "Happy Trails," which made me laugh a lot. They're good kids over there and I really appreciate their kind words, smiles, and laughter. The energy they brought almost every Friday made me almost forget I was at work when I could be out on the town, or something like that...

Here's some pictures from Open Mic tonight...
Some of the kids towards the end of the night (ie fewer people and singing campfire-style)




A leaf, though definitely not my best...but the only latte pic I took tonight.

Two Weeks

Two weeks from right now I will be out of DC, back in Illinois, just a week and a half from Staging. Whoa!

Big Step!

My ticket to Staging (US Orientation for those not familiar with PC jargon) has been purchased!! I called SATO Travel (PC travel agency) right after my MT shift. My flight from O'hare to Atlanta is Monday, March 10 at 6:27AM! Whoa!

Also, I fly out of Atlanta on a direct Delta* flight to Senegal on March 13 and my African adventure begins! Woot woot.

*Par my experience, Delta = Don't Expect Luggage to Arrive...hopefully the same thing will not happen as the last time I flew Delta and they lost my luggage...

DC, oh DC!

I am constantly reminded by how small DC actually is... My entire weekend proved this as I ran into past coworkers and classmates I hadn't seen in ages at one party where I never would have expected to see them. Then the following day at Tryst, ran into others I had seen or just met at the party, not to mention other friends I hadn't seen in almost a year while getting coffee with a friend I hadn't seen in another few months. Yesterday at the coffeehouse, I ran into a WWI volunteer and then today I ran into a Group Workcamps friend on the metro (coming back from African dance!) whom I hadn't seen since June 2004 when his crew visited us in Racine, WI. It's one of those weeks...


Good news and bad: GRE today, not so happy...looks like I will be retaking it in Senegal (bad news but oh well). Here's the good: my Staging Kit arrived in CL with info for how to get to Atlanta and I've been hearing more over facebook and through blog stalking from fellow future trainees. Last week was a week of dread for leaving my jobs and DC, but this is a week of excitement. I can almost promise that since next week is my last at the coffeehouse, I will probably have a very rough one, let's be honest...

Soon I will post more about what I will be doing (in theory...) and about Senegal, I promise...

Kinda, Almost, Not Really Yet Goodbye Party

Tonight was "officially" the Modern Times Javi/Christina Housewarming/Bethany Going-Away party...which is a little weird since I'm definitely working an intense amount of hours in the next two-ish weeks before I officially high-tail it from this 2 horse town we call Washington, so I wasn't quite prepared to be thinking about it as my going away party (esp since I didn't know half the people there...). I thought that I might get a little emotional, but since it really hasn't yet sunk in that I'm leaving, I didn't. In time, I assure you... But...it was fun and there were pinatas and a killer dance playlist courtesy of DJ Manimal. Really, all that's needed for a good MT party (going away or not) in my mind would be a dance party, some wine, and my faves. I love those kids, they are rockin' and fantastic and I have a new key chain that describes my time at MT..."What?" haha

Goodbyes without Windows

Tomorrow is my last day at the office, continuing with the good-byes of the next month or so of my life and closing an important chapter in the past year. I've already started losing sleep over the prospect of leaving the office and the coffeehouse, both places that I love where I've met people who have become so important in my life at a time where my life and the post-college transition could have been way crazier than it wound up being.

Women for Women International is an amazing organization (check them out!) and I truly feel blessed for having been part of the organization. Though life as a Data Entry Clerk was occasionally quite monotonous, there were amazing aspects like reading and editing the stories of our women in the field. I felt a connection with them which really put my life in perspective. I made some great friends who embraced me and my dancing insanity and made me enjoy life in an office way more than I ever thought possible. I don't know what I will do next Monday when I don't have to show up at the office, though hopefully I will start working my way through the list of things I need to do and see before I leave DC in just about 3 weeks (what?!?!).

The Sponsorship Department is going out to hang out and celebrate my departure as well as another's, which will be fun but bittersweet. This weekend is also the MT housewarming/me going-away double party even though I have a few more weeks left, but the thought of having to think about leaving both jobs in the same week gives me a lot of anxiety and nostalgia all at once, so I'm not really thinking of it as a going-away party.

Edit: Today was an incredible and bittersweet last day at the office. Everyone was very kind and supportive--there was a party for us at the office and then margaritas as a team and everyone was full of well wishes. It was weird to clean out my cube (though I cleaned out my old cube last week before the move...), turn in my last time sheet, and actually get a lot of work done amidst goodbyes and laughs with coworkers.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and well wishes today, they are very appreciated. Here's to God bringing us back together at some point in life, sooner or later.

Baby Steps...

Well, here I am...finally starting my Peace Corps Senegal blog and rejoining the blogging world for the first time since studying abroad (I don't think it was called blogging when it was just your basic Xanga back then...). This blog will account, to the best of my abilities, my preparation leading up to departure as an Invitee, training as a Peace Corps Trainee, and my two full years of service as a Peace Corps Volunteer (which I don't actually become until probably April or May when I officially swear-in). I am not a blogger by nature, though I like writing my thoughts down, so this will be a mixture of my work and adventures in Senegal, as well as my cross-cultural adjustments and realizations. I will try and update it as much as possible in Senegal, but have no idea as to how often I will have access to internet to update it but I hope to keep it more updated than the emails I plan on sending as well.

Please pay no attention to spelling or grammar mistakes, not to mention my famous run-on sentences, especially once I arrive in Senegal and begin language training and speaking/using multiple languages while posting in English.

Soon I will post information on Senegal so people can start learning about my future West African home and the adventure that awaits me in just over a month!