Wake up 5:30 a.m. to make 8:30 a.m. flight (at least I got more than four hours of sleep, which was nice)
Find out 8:30 a.m. flight is cancelled. Why? I don't know.
Call Sato (on hold less than an hour!)
Booked on afternoon flight
Closed eyes
Tapped heels
"There's no place like Washington. There's no place like Washington."
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Day One ... or Why I Can't Wait To Join The Peace Corps!
Wake up 5 a.m.
Arrive at Springfield at 7 a.m.
Find out second leg of flight (Chicago to DC) is cancelled
Rebooked out of St. Louis at 5:50 p.m.
On hold with SATO Travel for more than one hour (didn't talk to anyone)
Rebooked out of St. Louis at 12:40 p.m.
Drive to St. Louis
Rebooked to 11:56 a.m. flight
Got on plane (finally)
Sat on plane for 30 minutes
United Airlines cancels all operations into and out of Washington Dulles
Get of airplane
Call SATO Travel (on hold for an hour)
Talk to someone!
Booked on 5:45 p.m. flight for Monday
Get hotel room
Call United
Find out I was automatically rebooked to 8:3o a.m. flight
Called SATO
...
...
...
Opened Bag Number One to find out can of Off bug spray popped open and messed over stuff...
Arrive at Springfield at 7 a.m.
Find out second leg of flight (Chicago to DC) is cancelled
Rebooked out of St. Louis at 5:50 p.m.
On hold with SATO Travel for more than one hour (didn't talk to anyone)
Rebooked out of St. Louis at 12:40 p.m.
Drive to St. Louis
Rebooked to 11:56 a.m. flight
Got on plane (finally)
Sat on plane for 30 minutes
United Airlines cancels all operations into and out of Washington Dulles
Get of airplane
Call SATO Travel (on hold for an hour)
Talk to someone!
Booked on 5:45 p.m. flight for Monday
Get hotel room
Call United
Find out I was automatically rebooked to 8:3o a.m. flight
Called SATO
...
...
...
Opened Bag Number One to find out can of Off bug spray popped open and messed over stuff...
The Big Day
12:20 a.m. and I'm still up. Finished everything tonight and still had time for beer and euchre. Hopefully my flights won't be delayed tomorrow. Can't believe it's finally here!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
One Week
Not a whole lot going on, just didn't want to board to get stale. Things are winding down now... or heating up depending on how you look at it I guess. In less than a week now I'll be working for the U.S. Government. My biggest project this next week is packing (which I'm sure will take more than one try) among finishing up a couple books, watching TV and some movies, a little shopping, getting some last-minute fixes on the internet, going out to eat, visit friends and all that other stuff. Can't forget packing, though!
For anyone interested, check out http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com where you read other PCV blogs from all over the world!
For anyone interested, check out http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com where you read other PCV blogs from all over the world!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
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!
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!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Nothing? OK.
So, not much feedback from that last post. Just wanted to give a minor update here. I'm currently packing up my Nashville home and will be moving back to the greater Manito Metropolitan Area for about 2 1/2 weeks.
Other than that not much has changed. Still excited, still rooting for the Bears on Sunday!
Reminder -- going away gathering February 10 in Manito. Email me, call or leave a comment if you need directions or details. Anyone and everyone is welcome -- Bring your friends -- The more the merrier!
Also for those who have been asking, I have posted my African mailing address in a previous post. This will be my address until the end of April when I will likely send my new address via email, as posting specific locations of volunteers tends to be a no-no with the Peace Corps. Count on an absolute minimum of two weeks for letters, probably longer and definitely longer for bigger packages. Padded envelopes tend to ship faster and be treated better than boxes from what I hear. And start sending stuff now, as it will take time to get there and I have less than four weeks now!
Other than that not much has changed. Still excited, still rooting for the Bears on Sunday!
Reminder -- going away gathering February 10 in Manito. Email me, call or leave a comment if you need directions or details. Anyone and everyone is welcome -- Bring your friends -- The more the merrier!
Also for those who have been asking, I have posted my African mailing address in a previous post. This will be my address until the end of April when I will likely send my new address via email, as posting specific locations of volunteers tends to be a no-no with the Peace Corps. Count on an absolute minimum of two weeks for letters, probably longer and definitely longer for bigger packages. Padded envelopes tend to ship faster and be treated better than boxes from what I hear. And start sending stuff now, as it will take time to get there and I have less than four weeks now!
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