The Countdown

We're less than two weeks now from the time I officially become a Peace Corps trainee! About two weeks ago I received information on my Staging. On February 25 I will fly from Springfield to Washington, D.C. where the fun begins. Then on the 27th, we board a non-stop flight from DC to Johannesburg, South Africa (15 hours, 10 minutes). A layover February 28 in J'burg and we're off to Lilongwe, Malawi on March 1.

In case anyone is curious, my list of things to buy is getting shorter and the items are getting smaller, though not necessarily less important! I'm still excited, but getting a tad bit more nervous. I just have to remember a few things though -- like the fact that I'm looking forward to the challenge of the Peace Corps, and lots of other people have done this before me. Like many things in past and future, I don't expect to be easy. But if thousands of other people can do it, I can do it.

I met with a Malawi RPCV today who had lots of great information. We talked for two hours, and I'm sure I could have gone for at least two more. There is just so much information to share and questions to ask that everything is almost overwhelming and thinking of everything you want to know about can be difficult. One thing I thought I might share is this: Depending on how unlucky I am some posts on this blog may not be for weak-stomached readers. Part of life in the Peace Corps is getting sick and getting parasites. (No, I'm not looking forward to that part.) There are so many things that we Americans have never been introduced to that learning to deal with them is part of the adventure. And they say you'll be surprised what the human body can handle. But it still doesn't sound fun. I've heard other volunteers' stories and it can get pretty freakin' gross sometimes. If everything else I write bores you, that should provide a tiny bit of entertainment, I suppose. Though I hope I don't have any of those stories to write about and I only can tell about my friends' experiences.

By the way, if any of you were wondering what RPCV means, it's "Returned Peace Corps Volunteer." Peace Corps if full of acronyms and abbreviations (PCV, PCT, RPCV, COS, ET, CD, APCD, and many more). Sharing them with family friends almost feels cliche -- kind of like keeping a blog during the experience has almost become cliche. But this is stuff that will help you understand all I talk about during the next two years.

That's all for now, I suppose. Thanks to all who came to the going away shindig, to all who sent regrets and everyone else for their support so far. Two weeks to go!