Thoughts

Everyone keeps asking me how I'm feeling about leaving so soon, so I thought I would make a post of it:

I move to a a whole new world (<-great song by the way) in two weeks where I'll spend the next two years of my life. I have no idea what to expect and in all honesty, I'm terrified. 

I find myself sitting here in Helsinki airport in the same spot I sat in 5 weeks ago when I first began my daunting Eurotrip expedition  When I think back to all I've seen and done in such a short time, I'm in awe and don't believe it to be true. Then I think back to the first time I sat here last fall during my exchange period in Oulu and how much has happened since then. My thoughts keep going further and further back...

...then they go forward.

Life is all about taking chances and doing things that scare you. How else are we supposed to get anything out of it? By putting myself out there I have learned so much. Not only about the world around me, but about myself too. Before Oulu, I didn't know if I had what it took to live in another country. Before this trip, I didn't know if I could manage to travel throughout a continent. And now, I don't know if I can survive Uganda. But ya know what? With the help and support of my friends and family, I think I did pretty well at those first two things and look at all the wonderful things that came of it? Even things in life that don't go according to plan or are seen as 'negative' at the time can still be learned from and turned into a positive thing. 

I know that it won't be easy and it'll be unlike anything I know now, but I'm confident that my decision to go into the Peace Corps was the right one and that I will come out of it thinking the same way :)

Living in Africa has always been a dream of mine and I am very excited to have it being made into a reality so soon. I'm very interested to see what kind of experiences I will have and what lessons I'll have learned by the end of my service. They're going to be irreplaceable :)

Thanks for reading my ramblings. I mean it when I say I can only do these kinds of crazy things with your support. I really appreciate it <3

T-minus 2 months!

In case you didn't know, I will be leaving for Africa in two months! Wow. This is still so unbelievable to me! I am very excited :D I decided to make my first blog post about why I decided to join the Peace Corps because everyone always asks. Well, the answer is quite simple really...

I've always thought it sounded interesting and like a really great organization. I would always wonder if it was something I was capable of doing, but never took it very seriously. Until a few years ago when I had a professor who was in it when he was younger and he always talked about it in lectures. I had a one-on-one conversation about it with him and he really opened up my eyes. After that I started really looking into it. Last summer I realized that I needed to decide what it was I was going to do with my life after I graduated in May. Should I go to grad school? Should I get a job? ..or should I join the Peace Corps and do those things when I return? Having never lived far away from home very long, I was concerned I wouldn't be able to do it, but then I went to Finland. Studying away in Oulu last fall was definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. Having arrived there at the beginning of September 2012, I had the confidence to turn in my Peace Corps application towards the end of that same month. I had only been away from home for a few weeks, but it was long enough for me to realize that it was in fact something I was capable of doing. So began my very long application process...

TIMELINE

1. Sept 2012-turned in application
2. Nov 2012-interview via skype
3. Dec 2012-interview via phone & nomination
4. Jan 2013-turned in fingerprints and legal documents
5. March 2013-legally cleared
6. May 2013-answered final questions via e-mail
7. June 2013-RECEIVED INVITATION!!! and accepted it! :D
8. Summer 2013-doctor, dentist, vaccinations, visa, etc etc

I am soooo very excited for this next stage in my life! Of course I am nervous and going to miss everyone like crazy, but it's going to be an awesome 27 months and I can't wait :)

***This is a test***

Had this been an actual post, you would have been notified :P