First in a long list of Goodbyes...

Yesterday was my last day volunteering at Boys and Girls Club in SE DC. It was very sad to say goodbye to all the little 5 and 6 year old rug rats that I have been tutoring all year. They even sat in a nice little circle and listened to me read "Green Eggs and Ham" which they usually openly loathe. I think they just thought it was cool because this time I let them each read a page, and Dr. Seuss is something they can definitely read with no problems. Although I think some of them just had it memorized. Either way, it was adorable and they were unusually well behaved.

I then had the fun task of telling all the kids that it was my last day and answering at least 15 different "why?" questions. It is always hard to tell these kids that you are leaving because so many volunteers and other people come in an out of their life and never seem to stick around, it is hard to know that you are adding to a sense of abandonment. I explained that I was moving to West Africa and showed it to them on the map. They all seem pretty impressed, especially Tobi and Ernie who moved to DC from Nigeria a couple years ago. A couple of them thought about it awhile and Siamayha piped up and asked "if I was married, did I have kids?" I laughed and told them "no, I'm too young." Tobi was contemplative for a couple minutes and looked up at me and asked "so you're going by yourself?" combined with a look of disbelief. It was actually pretty cute and funny(I mean this is coming from a six year old) and what is sure to be the first of many looks that I will get because I will inevitably fail to live up to the West African ideal of a woman - lacking the kids and the husband and all.

So it was sad say goodbye to all of them and was compounded by Ernie following me out the door and saying he wanted to come with me. I will definitely miss the random hugs for no particular reason and them all begging for help with homework, not because all of them really need it but because they want one-on-one attention. These kids are awesome and hopefully they will still be around when I move back to DC and can start volunteering again.

Old friends rock....

I had a great and slightly random conversation with an old friend the other night. I haven't spoken to him in months but that never seems to matter with our relationship. We were discussing life and the directions that it takes us as we grow up and enter the "real world" - if that even really exists. We got into the classic discussion for young twenty-somethings about what to do with our lives and our careers, to go corporate or not to go corporate. He was just so encouraging with the decisions that I have chosen in my life at a time when I really needed to hear someone say I was doing the right thing by following my heart.

I rarely feel judged or crazy for going to "play with the orphans in Africa" by my family and friends because you all are so awesome, but sometimes I get the looks from acquaintances or co-workers. The look that just says "oh that's nice, but you get no money? How will you live, what about your career, your life?" The rational side of me says that PC service is a part of my career and its true. I am doing it in part to further my career, but that is just a small fraction. I am doing it because it is what I feel called to do. Deep down I am at my happiest when I am helping others and able to let go of all the silly, trivial things that unnecessarily complicate American life. I guess I am just living up to the big bro's impression of my life as "experience centered rather than goal centered." At first I was bothered by that comment, but now I see it as a huge compliment.

My conversation with my friend reminded me of all the reasons I signed up for PC in the first place, just when I was letting all the logistical planning cloud my vision and priorities. Its so simple yet so true..."you were happiest when you were on Semester at Sea, over there helping all those people and exploring. Do what makes you happy."

So shout outs and much love to all my awesome friends and family that have stood by me throughout this process, encouraging me and supporting me through minor freak outs and major decisions. I couldn't of gotten through this without any of you and I am going to miss you like crazy. Start planning trips to West Africa now.

Side note: My grandmother just called me at work: "Do you think they need grandmothers to rock the babies in Africa?" This woman is my hero.

"What are you gonna be doing over there in the jungle?"

The above is an actual quote from a very good friend, God bless her.

First, of all. The Gambia is not the jungle per se, but it is tropical. Don't think dense rainforest with monkeys overhead, think very flat land with some palm trees thrown in for fun. They grow lots of rice and peanuts.

Secondly, I suppose I should explain a bit what I will be doing for the next two years. I have been assigned to the Education Program as a primary teacher trainer. This is not the most eloquent job title so I will explain a bit more. My job is broken down into two categories, primary duties and secondary projects.

My primary duties will be to work with a Regional Education Office that is responsible for all the schools in a 10 mile radius. I will work with this office to observe teaching methodologies currently being used in the school. Once I determine where the schools are at, I can start developing curricula and programs to best meet the needs of the students and teachers. I will work with the REO to conduct workshops to introduce new programs to enhance teacher productivity. I am also responsible for determining the availability of local education resources and figuring out a way to improve the regional resource center and encourage teachers to utilize the resources in their lesson plans.

My secondary duties are any thing else I decide to initiate that strikes my fancy and that I see a need for in my community. I think it would be awesome to do some type of empowerment program for girls and women or informal education activities for out-of-school youth - since both of these are huge issues in The Gambia. I will have to wait and see what my community needs and wants. HIV/AIDS prevention activities would be interesting for me but The Gambia has a really low prevalence rate - approximately 2% which is awesome compared to other African nations. I may throw some in just for good measure to a female empowerment program.

I can't wait to start my training so I will feel at least half way competent enough to actually do all the things I mention above. My trusty little handbook says that just the blessing of me being born at the right coordinates on the map, and thus my American education, makes me more competent than one would imagine....let's hope so.

"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards" ~ Anatole France

The trials of packing for two years....

So I figured it might be a good idea to start wrap my head around things that I will need for the next two years. While I am by no means packing for an entire 2 years (I will get the majority of my stuff in The Gambia), I need to pack enough to get me through 8 weeks of training when I have not a cent to my name. All of my stuff has to be less than 80lbs. So, I am trying to be as practical as possible - which can be hard when you start to think of all the little stupid stuff that Americans take for granted that I am going to miss like crazy. A cold beverage for example. I have been told that electricity is notoriously unreliable and in most cases non-existent. That eliminates a whole host of things right there.

As I am making my list I have realized that I own absolutely no practical shoes. I have also learned that practical shoes are expensive so it looks like in addition to shelling out for a internal frame backpack I will also need to buy some Chacos and some respectable work shoes that won't look too terribly dorky.

Also found an interesting tidbit about Gambian's attitudes towards a woman's knees. Apparently having your knees visible is the equivalent of flashing someone. I definitely don't want to send the message that I am some kind of Gambian hussy so I am trying to find clothes that will definitely cover my knees at all times. This is actually kind of hard in the American clothing market, unless of course I want to look like a total dork.

I think I am going to look pretty dorky the entire time I away - they just don't make fashion forward travel clothes. I will be a prime candidate for a makeover tv special when I get back.

Lesson of the Day: Obsolete Technology is terribly expensive. Case in point - Short Wave AM/FM radio = $149!!!

Independence Day Indeed!

I got my invitation packet in the mail from my parents a couple days ago and have been devouring it ever since. As well as any and all information I can find on The Gambia and West Africa.

I leave for state-side training July 4-6th (I don't know what city yet) and then I started my pre-service training in The Gambia July 7th. This very likely means that I will be on a plane to West Africa on my 23rd birthday, July 6th!!!! I will definitely need to have a pre-birthday celebration before I head out.

I will be leaving our nation's lovely capitol and heading back to the City of Brotherly Love June 10th. I want to get as much quality time in with all my friends and family as I can - so drop a line and we will hang out.

Boring Updates: Passport and visa applications are in the mail. Next on the list, update resume and write aspiration statement.