One month until it's GO TIME!
Oh boy, so May 30th of 2013 was the Peace Corps application deadline for serving in 2014. It is now January 24th of 2015 and I will be on my way to Miami, FL on February 24th for the Staging Event and then to Panamá on the 25th to start the intensive pre-service training.
Adding up all the time from when I started filling out my application to finally closing in on go time, it's been more than a year! This process teaches the workings of bureaucracy, how to have
more patience and determination, and on top of it all, stepping up and making huge life choices.
Not many people just decide one day to apply to work as a volunteer for 27 months of more in a country completely unlike their own. And then, not many of those people that apply even get the opportunity to do so.
So far, I am extremely proud of myself, and I haven't even started PST yet, nor have I even been inducted yet! There is no doubt in the world that I am completely but calmly freaking out, as it takes a certain confidence and strong field experience to be ready to teach communities how to better conserve their environment. But hey, I got this far, so I must have done something right to show the PC
that I'd be a good candidate to serve as a volunteer. HOORAH!
For those of you who don't know much about me, I am a dual citizen of France and the US. I speak English, French, Spanish and Italian and very much plan on perfecting many more languages in the future. Yes, so I have travelled a lot on my own, mainly Western and Northern Europe, making my way around by couchsurfing, WWOOFing and volunteering at Pride and Music Festivals. So far, I have lived in the US (CA and CT with my family), Canada (Lennoxville for University), Spain (Alicante for one year on exchange) and Norway (Oslo for 5 months to work). But what am I passionate about besides language and travel? All creative forms of expression that build culture; film, music, cooking and art... and then there's soccer too. More importantly, there are human rights that are thrown under the bus more than they are protected and in effect.
Getting back to GO TIME though... Since i'm only a month away from my departure date, I'm getting to the point where everything I do, I keep thinking how much I need to appreciate it even more because I won't have it again for a long time. Like what you may ask? Just about everything. Running potable water, a flushing toilet, 24/7 Sonos playing Pandora and 8tracks, walking around the house comfortably in pjs and/or naked all day, 24/7 internet access, taking the car out for a spin
, cooking whilst dancing with my mom, drinking a nice ginger beer or cider with my dad, hugging my parents several times per day... the list never really ends.
I plan to write this blog fairly regularly (depending on internet access) in order to inform you all about what I am up to in Panama. All I ask of you is to please stick by me. Send me a letter or write me an e-mail, share ideas and stories and spread the love, happiness, passion and strength. Please do not hesitate to do so, okay!?
Cheers my friends,
-Steph
CEC Panama, 2015 PCV