Dreams...they do come true!

Not to put all my eggs in one basket as I am still two months away from when I could possibly leave... But after speaking with my placement officer and getting the questions such as: How is your family support, where are you in terms of safety and precautions, what have you been doing to live the life of a volunteer, really everything that they should but after the phone call and a check with legal my placement officer emailed me the most amazing news, I did the happiest happy dance I've done in years:

Hi,  

I checked with the Legal Eligibility  Office and was informed that your ticket was/is not a problem. So, I am clearing you for Peace Corps service and issuing you an invitation to serve in a Peace Corps health assignment departing for the Pacific Islands September 4th .  However, there is one condition.  I will need a final transcript that has the words “degree conferred” and the date by the first week of August at the latest.    

Your invitation should arrive in 5-10 business days.  After reading through your invitation materials, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.   Otherwise, please follow the detailed instructions in your invitation packet on how to accept your invitation.  

Thanks for the information regarding your address. I suspect that our mail room will not be too keen about sending a packet to an addresses in Ghana without numbers.  Therefore, I would be inclined to use the P.O. Box address, as it seems a bit “safer” if you will."

seriously can't believe this...

Sometimes I really do wish I was a crier. I feel amazing. I know it's all speculation and things could happen to make me not be apart of it but... Im on cloud 9 right now so I'm just thinking about all the positives. I probably won't be too crazy until I'm on that plane over and have fully be swore in after training to know that everything is real, but until then I'll be in my dreamland just happy to know that my dreams are coming true. <3 thank you everyone for their support. It's been an amazing ride just to get this far. I love you daddy, my life would mean nothing without you.

PLACEMENT OFFICER!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhh omg!

I just received this email:

Hi,  

Greetings from the Peace Corps Placement Office.  My name is B and I am your Peace Corps Placement Officer. I believe that you are overseas now; however, I would like to arrange a time for a final interview for Peace Corps Suitability. Please let me know a number where you can be reached and a time this week (or next) when you are available to speak for 30min or so. I can call internationally, and am usually in the office from 8:30 AM EST through 5:30 PM or so.

  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.



Then we confirmed to talk Wednesday evening after I get done with my after school club I have here in Ghana!! Ohmygosh!! I'm so excited!! I'll keep you posted for more news!!!!

Peace Corps, Peace Corps, Peace Corps :)

It's taken me a while to update because well... I did have some complications with my grades unfortunately but I got really lucky and found an online Developmental Psych class at the University of Florida through their Flexible learning department. It's all set up and I'm just working on submitting my final projects now while I'm in Ghana. Yay for my last class as an Undergrad!! It's amazing how one mistake can feel like the end of the world one day, then a great life lesson the next. I'm sad it's postponed my assurance with the Peace Corps but I'm really privileged to have such a supportive father to assist with my bigger mistakes that cost me. 

But bad news aside I talked to my pre placement officer and am passed preliminary review!! I'm not sure how well off that makes me but I can only pray that it means I am headed in a good direction!! It's a little difficult living in a small village in Ghana and trying to be patient with all this down time. I can only hope my trials in Ghana will prepare me for a more successful time with the Peace Corps. 

Something funny I did realize is that, it's okay to be nervous about living in a developing country. I was really excited for my time in Ghana but then realized a lot of the experiences I'd have and wasn't sure I'd be ready for them. Bucket baths, power outages, limited Internet access, no air conditioning, different foods, constantly being reminded I'm a foreigner, limited wardrobe, lots of downtime, slowing down the go go go attitude, all of that. And yet, those are some of the easiest things I've adjusted to, if not real problems at all!! 

I think the biggest difficulties I've overcome were missing my family, talking to my friends everyday, not knowing if I am making a lasting impact, evaluating my worth to the community and certainly how uncomfortable I can get when I'm not in control of the situation and can't express how I feel in their language!! But even with all that to think about I can only say, I am so glad my time in Ghana is what it is because it has prepared me for so much. I won't lie and say I don't get down on myself but most days I think how happy I am here and wonder if I'll ever want to leave. I've read so many Peace Corps blogs that I'm starting to understand what some of them are talking about. I'm glad too because it's made me understand how committed I am to joining the Peace Corps and how I know it's the right avenue for me because of the personal journey it has taken me through already with the application process. I really want to do whatever I can to make an impact, understand more cultures, put myself out there and initiate change as much as I can!! 

My time in Ghana is amazing, and I'm so thankful to all the people that helped me get here. Crossing my fingers for good news with a placement officer soon!! Thanks for reading!! Good luck to you if you're going through similar struggles.