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