Lots o' Lists

For those of you that know me, you know that I compulsively write lists, whether they are to do lists, packing lists, lists of books to read, music to download or movies to see.  So it shouldn't come as a surprise that I want to post a few lists now.


People keep asking me why I am doing Peace Corps.  Why, why, why?  Well, the answer isn't short, and eventually people's eyes start to glaze over when I keep droning on and on about all the reasons why I want to serve.  So, for all those people that didn't quite keep up or for people that still don't know exactly why, below is a pretty comprehensive list of why I'm giving up the luxurious American life to challenge myself abroad.  There's no real particular order here, so don't think just because somethings are listed first mean that they are more important.

• To serve, any way possible, in a community that wants development help, and hopefully make a small difference.
• To be an example of a positive, optimistic American.
• To be able to bring home all the experiences I will have abroad.
• To be an example of an independent, educated woman in a country where not all women have the same opportunities I do, and which I usually take for granted.
• To be immersed and experience life in a culture completely different from my own.
• To learn another language.
• To become more familiar with and explore the grassroots development techniques.
• To potentially figure out what I want to do in the future.
• To make new friends, whether that's fellow Peace Corps volunteers or Ugandan community members.
• To gain skills that I will be able to use in the future.
• To have fun.

Also, let's keep in mind that in the upcoming 27 months, there's going to be highs and there will definitely be some lows.  If you catch me at a low point, it would be helpful to remind me of some of these reasons instead of suggesting to come home, for example.  It might not cheer me up immediately, but it's exactly what I'll need to hear.  I thank you all in advance for being supportive of my Peace Corps service!

My other list today is of the goals I hope to accomplish in the Peace Corps.  The list kind of repeats itself, but hopefully not too much.

• To make some kind of positive impact in my community.
• To successfully integrate into my Ugandan community and be as culturally sensitive as possible at all times.
• To perform my job as best I can.
• To be a positive example of Americans.
• To accurately relay back the Ugandan culture and my experiences abroad.
• To celebrate the small things and keep a positive attitude.
• To maintain my relationships from back home.
• To cultivate new relationships.
• To learn Luganda, the language spoken in Uganda.
• To explore my options for after Peace Corps, and maybe study for the GRE or the GMAT.
• To learn how to do a push-up.
• To continue running, biking and yoga.
• To memorize some Robert Service poems (here's one: http://wordinfo.info/unit/2640?letter=C&spage=26).
• To maintain my blog.
• To keep a correspondence with an American classroom.

If anyone has any other suggestions for some silly goals, I'd love to hear them.  I think all of these goals and reasons will keep me accountable and on track.  I know Peace Corps won't be easy, but these lists will hopefully keep me motivated when the going gets tough or hot or tiring.

Only 12 more days until Staging (kind of like orientation) in Philadelphia.  I'm getting really excited with only a touch of anxiety.  A current volunteer told us incoming trainees to stop worrying about packing (believe me, I'm trying!) and to stop counting calories.  So, with that advice, I'm off to get a Sprinkle's cupcake.

4 weeks and counting...

So, despite all my belly aching, I am going to try my best to keep a blog while I'm abroad.  While I am mostly writing this for all my friends and family, I am sincerely doubting how many of you will keep up with it.  Especially my mom, considering she can't figure out how to delete her emails from gmail (no offense mom, love you!).  However, in the last few months, I've been reading up on a lot of other Peace Corps volunteers' blogs, and I'm realizing just how valuable they can be to other potential or incoming volunteers.  Plus, I guess it will be interesting to see how my blog comes along- obviously I'm new at this.

Anyway, to get on with it.  If you haven't figured it out yet, I'll be keeping this blog because I'm going into the Peace Corps in FOUR WEEKS!  I'm leaving on February 8, 2011 to go to Philadelphia first.  After a day of ice breakers, Welcome to the Peace Corps, and fun shots and pills for our immunizations, we'll be leaving on a jet plane on February 10.  The short 15 hour flight to Johannesburg will eventually lead to the 5 hour flight to Uganda.  Where's Uganda you might ask.  Well here's a map for the geographically challenged.

Once we arrive, we will begin in country training immediately for 10 weeks.  I'll be living with a host family while trying to absorb as much information as possible about the language, which is Luganda, technical skills for my job, health care and cross cultural awareness.  I won't know where my exact placement will be until around the 8th week.  Even though I know training will be absolutely crazy and busy, I'm looking forward to finally being there and meeting all the other trainees.

Essentially, all my packing is done.  Peace Corps gave us a nine page list of suggested items.  Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed initially.  It took me a while to figure out what exactly I would need from that list, and I'll just have to find out if I was right.  All the current volunteers were really helpful along the way, and they say we can pretty buy anything once we get there.  Except bras and underwear.  I was told to bring 30-40 pairs of underwear!

As for my last four weeks, I hopefully will spend them relatively stress free.  And hopefully learn a few phrases in Luganda before I go.  Here's how you say hi, so you all can learn with me today: Ki kati.  A little bit different than French, I know.

Also- I plan to eat lots of frozen yogurt (obviously before I leave.  My mom thought it sounded like I was going to the land of frozen yogurt or something).