This is it...

Wow... I can't believe I'm writing my last post in the U.S. for a while. I have so many emotions I do not even know how to express them! Of course I'm very excited, but very nervous, a little scared but so so ready to begin this journey of my life!

Unfortunately, I was not able to see everyone before I left, and I am so so sorry to those of you I missed. Please do not take that to heart! I definitely wanted to spend time with everyone, I just did not have enough time! For those of you that I did see...you know that I really pushed myself thin...a little too thin. But, that's ok!

I'm in Philly right now! After my first day, I am officially a Peace Corps Trainee...which I will be for the next 3 months until I'm sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer in July! I am so excited about these next few months... everything in me says that it's going to be great! Also, there are 52 other volunteers going with me! We all have a lot in common and I'm sure will become great friends soon!

I am sooo tired...like my good friend called it...I was up all night packing, although I really did try not to...  See below for a pic of all of my luggage. Which, by the way, is Completely overweight, length...over every kind of restriction the airline can place on baggage, I sure did neglect to pay attention when packing. Lol.

But anyway, I can't wait to update you all on all of the great things going on in Guatemala! I truly am blessed and thankful that God has charged me with this task! I am also blessed to have so many of you supporting me and motivating me through this journey of my life! I learned today that I will definitely need you all throughout my Entire 2 years of service, so Please send me facebook messages, emails about what's going on, letters, care packages... whatever your heart desires! Can't wait to start my Skype dates!

Love you all,
Shantrice

Some of my wonderful friends met me at the airport!

Love you guys...

Mom saying goodbye..

Welcome to Staging...

My beautiful flowers...thanks guys...

Me and all my Expensive luggage!!!

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!!!

I've had some really great times with all of you and I'm truly going to miss you! You've made me laugh, cry, and most importantly, feel very very special. I am so blessed to have you all in my life!

I just wanted to Thank you all for taking the time to say good bye! I appreciate it more than you know. Thank you for your support, words of wisdom, and love!

I can't wait to make more memories with you when I return in July 2013!

Part I: Daiquiri Factory

 Part II: Mood Lounge

Part III: Ladies' Event at Dip n Dab

Family Celebration

Work Celebration

How lucky am I!

I am so blessed to have a wonderful group of friends and family! I am thankful for you all. Preparing for my departure has really shown me how blessed I am. I am taking the last few months to spend time with all of my loved ones.  I have done some great things: Trip to New Orleans; Valentine’s Day girls’ weekend; spent time in Warner Robins with my brothers Alex and Austin; had Sister Day with Shanese; went to the Little Grand Canyon and Little White House with my God-father; had date night with my brother Kristopher and saw Stomp and the Adjustment Bureau (must see!) with my Sorority Sisters. Mind you, this all happen in the month of February (minus Date Night w/ Kris and Stomp)! Needless to say, I have been very busy spending time with everyone!

March has even more excitement in store! I’m preparing to go on a cruise to the Bahamas with a group of friends (there will be 10 of us)! The following weekend is my Going away celebration with friends.  We are planning a weekend filled with lots of laughter, fun, and partying! And finally, the last weekend in March is my Going away celebration with family. I am so excited to see all of my loved ones and friends. I hope you all can make it to at least one of my festivities. You are very special to me and I will definitely cherish the memories we are making, especially while I’m away for 2 years.

Well, I’m off to get some more things done for my departure. I’m still shopping for clothes and other items, I’ve moved on to preparing financially, student loans, taxes, etc.! How exciting…

Love Always,

Shantrice

2 months left...

A lot has happened since late December, when I received my invitation kit. I have to admit, once I got the news that I was being sent to Guatemala, I wasn’t immediately excited. I mean, I had heard of Guatemala before, but I didn’t really know much about the country. Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise! My first reading assignment was the Guatemala Welcome Book. I eagerly read the book within hours!  Guatemala has had volunteers since 1963, over 4,500! Volunteers work in all types of sectors, including agriculture, youth development, small business and municipal development, as well as health (my sector).  This is what it states about the program I’m working in:

Rural Home Preventive Health

Volunteers in this project work with the Ministry of Health and teach rural families about health and simple technologies that can improve family health conditions. Volunteers work directly with families and community groups to build technologies such as improved cooking stoves, water systems, and waste treatment facilities (e.g., latrines).

Sounds just like my kind of work, doesn’t it? Lol….

I was also happy to learn that being a vegetarian is “not difficult” but this is mostly in the poorer areas … since eating meat is more likely to occur with the wealthy. However, they do serve meat during special occasions, so I’m going to have to figure out how to remain a vegetarian, especially when participating in those special occasions. Wish me lots of good luck with that! =)

Let’s just say, this is going to be the biggest challenge of my life! I more so concerned with learning the language. I remember how much I struggled in college taking classes. The language is spoken so fast! It seems that I’m still trying to figure out the first sentence when the person speaking is on the fourth sentence! Awww… but I’m confident I’ll get it with no problems. It’s nothing like immersion, and also the fact that your survival depends on learning the language…

I’ve just bought my luggage, I’m roughly down to 2 months left and boy is it getting hard. I’ve already started saying goodbye to people. I have to admit, it’s been much easier than I thought it would be. I keep reminding myself of the adventure I’m about to embark upon and all of the excitement! So, that’s what keeps me going. Knowing that this is one of my dreams, I’m just embracing all of the positive …

Until next time...

Love,

Shantrice

3 months left!

In 3 months today, I will begin my Peace Corps service as a Volunteer in Guatemala. I am very excited but extremely nervous! Leaving my family for 2 years is the hardest part of this journey/adventure. However, I will make the best of these next 3 months and spend as much time with them as possible.

Also, within the next 3 months, I need to regain my Spanish speaking skills I learned in college! Although I will have an intensive language training in Guatemala, I want to start now and have a good foundation to build upon once I get there. Keep your fingers crossed! LOL

I am creating this blog for my family and friends. As you know, I am horrible about keeping in touch in the US. But, I hope this will keep you abreast to what is going on with me while I’m away, while also forcing me to update you all. This will definitely be an interactive forum for us to keep in touch. So please, please, please participate! Send me your questions and comments so I’ll know what you want to know about my new life! Of course I could just ramble on and on about what I’m doing, which I’m sure I will. However, it would be an even better experience, for the both of us, if you contribute as well.

Well, I guess that’s enough for now. I’m off to start a packing list, study Spanish, ask as many questions as I can to those who have served in the Peace Corps before me, and enjoy you all while there is still time left.

Thanks for reading! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Love always,

Shantrice