Last Wednesday, over a year and a half since I applied, I (finally!) got my Peace Corps invite! I'm going to Senegal to work as an "environmental education agent." There is a 1-day orientation in Philadelphia on March 9th, then it's off to Thies, Senegal where 8 weeks of training will commence. I'm excited, scared, anxious, and have a whole range of emotions which change every day.
The application process involved a nightmarish amount of paperwork, writing, poking and prodding, and waiting. If I thought for just a moment that these things were over, the invitation proved me wrong... I now have a whole new and exciting (?) list of forms, essays, errands, and so on. I've also been overcome by a wave of motivation to get ready to turn my life upside-down, which I'm sure will fizzle, but I'm taking advantage of it while it exists. The two major themes have been enjoyment of here and now and preparation.
Here and now - taking advantage of the things I anticipate missing most:
1) Friends and family. This phase isn't yet in full swing, but soon the whirlwind of visits will ensue.
2) Kissing my dog, lots of hikes, tours of the most exciting places in town: Jax and the pet food store (tours also include tail wags and making cute faces so as to convince every employee to give her treats). Horse and chickens also fall into this category, although the chickens don't get kisses or walks.
3) Cold weather. It was -5 when I came to work on Tuesday and hasn't been much warmer since. Now, that's not cold by say... Alaska standards, but it is cold enough to freeze your nose hairs into tiny icicles with one inhalation. I'm trying to appreciate it. Trying.
4) Gym! As many visits to the CSU gym as possible without causing myself regrettable soreness. Yoga and other classes start next week.
5) Food. Fort Collins has oh so many delicious places to eat and I'm making sure to tour them all. This is also related to the anticipation of not having much income over the next couple years.
6) Water and its by-products (read: beer). Again, bless you Fort Collins.
Preparation:
1) Selling/giving away/ throwing out the majority of my clothes, textbooks, and various sundry items.
2) Cleaning. Everything. Ugh.
3) Practicing French so as to be able to do the basics.
4) Self-defense tidbits from friend, Kenyan, and professional badass, Frozy.
5) Ordering, planning, and brainstorming about what to bring and what to live without.
6) Did I already mention the stack of PC paperwork?
7) Probably about a million other things that I haven't yet realized I need to do.
So that's that. I'm working for another 3-ish weeks, then I'll be a full-time future volunteer.
