Tuesday, November 8, 2011

inspiration

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

          -Anne Frank

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."

          -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give."

          -Eleanor Roosevelt

"Go out into the world and do good until there is too much good in the world."

          -Larry H. Miller

"To live for results would be to sentence myself to continuous frustration. My only sure reward is in my actions and not from them."

          -Hugh Prather

Monday, November 7, 2011

acceptance

After receiving my invitation on November 2nd, I had the option of accepting or declining.

OF COURSE I AM GOING TO ACCEPT!

I had to read my assignment description, the online welcome book (which was approximately 100 pages.  And yes...I really did read it all), and the core expectations of the Peace Corps.  Within 7 days, I had to respond.  They gave me the format in which to write it.  I inserted my name here and name of country there.  And on November 3rd, I clicked SEND!

I then get this email the next day (November 4th):


It's official!!!  Oh my gosh!! They gave me a list of things I still needed to do.  Some of them I need to get done within 10 days of accepting my invitation.  Better get on that!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

invite info

So out of the excitement of actually receiving my invitation, I realized I forgot to include any details besides the country.  So here it goes!

The program I have been assigned to is Education.  And my job title is ICT Specialist, Teacher.  It stands for Information and Communication Technology.  So that means I will be broadening people's technology skills.  Amazing!  I will be teaching either at a high school or a college.  I was also told that some people have never even used a computer, so I would need to start at that level.  It will definitely be a cultural change since this country is massive in the technology department.  But I'm am still excited nonetheless!!! :-)

My staging dates (which is basically an orientation period in the states with fellow volunteers) are June 4th-6th, 2012.

My pre-service training in Ghana is from June 6th-August 15th, 2012.  During this pre-service training (PST), I will live with a host family, learn a new language, and become more accustomed to the culture and the community that I live in.

My official dates of service are August 15th, 2012-August 15th, 2014.    :-) :-) :-)

I went around all day on Friday (November 4th) saying "I LEAVE IN 7 MONTHS!!".  It's just so amazing that I can actually say that, and I am actually going!!  I can't get over this excitement!!!

I uploaded this picture to show that at the bottom of my assignment sheet, there is a giant tear drop!  Yes...I bawled my eyes out.  Out of pure happiness and joy of course.  And yes...I took a picture.  I wanted to document it for some reason.  :-)




Saturday, November 5, 2011

it's heeeeeeeere!

I finally got my invitation on Wednesday (November 2nd)!!

I luckily didn't have to work that day, so I stayed home waiting.  So 3:30pm came along, and I was getting hopeless.  If it's not here by now, it probably won't be here today.  At this time, I decided to call the local UPS company and ask about their hours.  The guy said they usual deliver packages until 6pm.  Hmm...okay, I'll just watch a movie and wait patiently.  Around 5pm I hear a big truck outside my building.  It was a UPS truck!! OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!!!!  My heart started beating out of my chest (no joke!)  I was walking around my apartment taking in deep breaths waiting for a knock.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK


He was at my door! I had to sign for the package, and I was shaking so much my signature looked nothing like it should.  I shut the door, grabbed some scissors (because there was no way I could hulk through that UPS "plastic").  I pulled out the giant packet, opened it up, and highlighted in bright neon yellow was the word GHANA! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)



I began running around my apartment crying my eyes out saying "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!".  Mind you, I was home alone (probably best, since I'm sure I looked crazy).  I then sent out a mass text message to everyone telling them "I'm going back to Ghana!!!!".  I went to Ghana my junior year of college during May Term for two and a half weeks.  I loved every minute of it.  I am ecstatic I get to go back again!  I already know a lot about Ghana, but I am beyond excited to LIVE in Ghana rather than just visit!  Oh my gosh, I am getting uber pumped just writing about it!!!