Heading home

Tomorrow I will be leaving Nashville to head back home to Chicago. All of this is a little bit surreal and I can't believe that in less than a month I will be heading out on a flight that will take me to a whole new world. Yesterday was my last day of work at The Campus for Human Development(a non-profit, rooted in faith that serves the homeless of Nashville) and a pretty sad one. Most people rejoice at the idea of having a last day and never having to turn back to a job that was mindless, boring, not challenging, etc... but I truly enjoyed my job. It's interesting place because it is impossible to be an employee and not feel like you're part of a family. We have celebrated milestones of obtaining housing, staying sober, or asking and seeking out the help for sobriety, we have bonded together during times of sorrow when we have lost a member to the streets or a relapse. There are times of frustration, anger, sadness, joy, and happiness, and through all those times, there is someone whether employee or participant(the term that is used to for the homeless we serve because they are active participants in the services provided) that is there to share it with you. It's hard to think about the participants that I have met and formed relationships with over the year will no longer be active parts in my life, I'm scared for what may come to them (life on the streets isn't easy) but I know there are people working at the Campus that will make sure their lives are a little bit easier, that they will experience love, hope, and redemption for each day is a new one and with each new one there is another chance to make change.

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. " -Matthew 17:20

Are you nervous?

Am I nervous? Hmmm... honestly not really nervous more anxious then anything. I have been waiting for this opportunity for what seems like forever, i'm excited to partake on this journey or next chapter in my life. As each day passes, I anticipate this upcoming experience, daydreaming about all the things I will do, learn, and the challenges I will overcome. My mind is running in a million and one directions and one of these days I will be able to focus enough to accomplish some things on my to-do list. I have 6.2 days left at work, 1.5 weeks in Nashville, about 3 weeks at home with my mom and friends, and even though I had since March to get things together, I didn't want to do anything too soon seeing as nothing is guaranteed until i'm on a plane heading to Africa.
As I slowly prepare for this 2 year adventure, I think about all the things that i'm actually prepared for and all the things that i'm sure will be a major challenge. I know i'm capable of teaching(Thank you Vandy/Peabody!), I know I have the capabilities to be empathetic towards those i'm around, I know that I will be able to accept the good with the bad and the people that come with both, I know I will be able to open my heart to those around me and care about them as if I known them forever(Thank you Mom), I know I will be able to practice patience and flexibility being ready for anything at any moment(Thank you Brandon, Chris, and Nick), I know that I will be able to be a good listener along with being able to open up and trust(Thank you Tabatha and Joe), I'm capable of believing there is still innocence in this crazy world(Thank you Briauna and Shaun), Capable of relying on support and providing it(Thank you friends).
I'm excited about this journey and more excited that I will have you(or maybe not) experiencing it with me.

Where in the world is Malawi?!

57 Days to go!!

Since many of you only heard of of Malawi because Madonna adopted a baby from there, here's some more information about the place i'll be calling home for the next 27 months.

Malawi is a small country, about the size of Indiana, in southeast Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north, and Mozambique to the east.

It has a sub-tropical rainy season(Nov.-May) and a dry season (May-Nov.)

It has an estimated population of 13,931,831 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected about 900,000 people are living with AIDS.

It is about 80% Christian, 13% Muslim, and 7% other

I will be living 8 hours ahead of CST.

Chichewa is the officially language, an spoken by about 58% of the population.

The GDP is $800 in comparison to $45,800 in the US. (Thanks Jeff, now I sound smart)

It is known as the "Warm Heart of Africa" for the happy and peaceful people.

If you have more specific questions feel free to ask!

Where i'll be when..

Just so you know..
I'm in Nashville until the end of August. My last day of work is the 29th, my friend is having a Labor Day/Farewell BBQ on the 30th and i'm driving back to Chicago the 1st. Spending the 10th til the 15th in Portland (with the twin) and back to Chicago until the 26th. I hope I get a chance to see everyone before I leave :)

2 months and counting...

My departure for Malawi is exactly 2 months from today. Do I feel like i'm prepared? Not at all. Although I know I am mentally ready for this challenge, I feel like since I have 2 months I have plenty of time to get everything ready but at the same time the past 4 months since I found out about my invite to Malawi have flown by. I've started purchasing things I need, slowly but surely paying off my debt, and patiently waiting for my last day of work, my move back to Chicago, and eventually my departure for Africa. To give you a better idea of the process that I went through to get here, here's a timeline of happenings from the first time I submitted my application.

Mar.2006-->submitted application to become PCV
Apr.2006--> Received a letter from the PC stating they were freezing my application because my intended departure date(6/2007) was over 9 months away.
Late September 2006--> resubmitted application
Oct.2006-->Interview with PC recruiter
Nov.2006-->offered a nomination to become a PCV, the rest is dependent on medical/legal/dental clearance
Dec.2006-->take the steps to get medical clearance; become legally cleared
June 2007--> Finish paperwork from optomotrist
July 2007--> Medical paperwork comes back; have to redo some blood work because the doc ordered the wrong test
Sept.2007-->Finish paperwork for dental clearance
Nov.2007-->update expired pap smear due to PC 1 year expiration policy
Dec.2007--> Medically/Dentally cleared
Mar.2008-->Received call from Placement officer wondering if I could speak any romance languages...only to find out the program I was nominated to in July was for a french-speaking western Africa country. Needless to say, I'm not heading that way.
Late Mar.2008--> Received invite to Malawi for Sept. 2008

Now i'm just waiting to get shipped out. Sometimes it takes longer for individuals and sometimes it's less, but it all depends on how quick you are about getting the things they need to them.

More will be posted soon...