Originally posted by U2LA:
I'm selfish and dont want you to leave the country. Can't you do something noble and giving but that keeps you around??? I will be so worried for you! I am happy and sad. Is your decision final?
lol, Camillo. You are too sweet. Honestly, everyone, your kind comments and concern really touches me. But this really is something that I'm serious about. I was able to go to a Peace Corps informational meeting last night and in addition to getting more info, I was able to chat with an alumni and recruitment person and ask a lot of questions. The more I learn, the more I am certain that this is something I want to do. It looks terribly challenging and will most likely entail a lot of blood, sweat and tears, not to mention culture shock and loneliness, but I almost feel like I've been preparing for that my whole life (most of you that know me will know that I spent 13 years in a cross-cultural environment and went to boarding school etc. for most of my growing up years.) For the first time in a long time, I find myself feeling that I might be able to be useful and there might be something that little me could do to help.
So anyways, as it stands now, I am still working on finishing my application. Once I've completed it and sent it in, I will go for an interview and if that goes well and they think I will be a good candidate, they will send my paperwork on to Washington to see if my skills/personality will fit somewhere they have a need. I'm stating my availability as beginning in summer of 2003 (since I'm planning to be in Europe from Aug. to April starting this fall), so it's good that I've started the paperwork now, I guess. Depending on a lot of factors (my interview, my medical clearance, etc.) I may or may not be accepted. But I hope I am.
Now my next big hurdle....telling my parents!
They're very used to my independence and tendency to make decisions and tell them later, but I'm sure this will come as a slight shock. However, as I think back...they both told their own parents that they were planning to move to Indonesia to live in a jungle at about the same age I am right now, so perhaps they will understand after all.
-sula