Holidaze

December, month full of birthdays, pretty lights, cookies, and lots of classic Christmas movies!

Don't get me wrong, I'm still counting down days, but I'm glad I'm in the states for one more Christmas. 

Soon enough I'll be packing my bags for Fiji! I try to squeeze this little tidbit in to at least one conversation a day. What can I say? I'm excited, and the words "Fiji," "Peace Corps," and "Mozambique"have simply become a part of my speech pattern.

Here's some catch-up of recent happenings:

December 11th, was my boyfriend's birthday over in Fiji! I sent this package a few weeks ago, and it has yet to arrive. I hope he has as much fun opening it as I did wrapping it!

To whittle away time, I've taken up knitting again!

And I ran my second ever half-marathon! Coming in at a time of 2 hours and 23 minutes! 20 minutes faster than my last one!

I hope to do another in March!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

This time next year I'll be Christmasing' in Africa!

Give Thanks

Its easy for me to be so focused on the exciting future I have ahead of me that I sometimes overlook the simple things in my day to day life. I am thankful, not only on Thanksgiving, but for all the things that make my life wonderful each and every day.

-my wonderful boyfriend (#1 on my list!)

-my long awaited invitation to Mozambique

-skype (in all its glory, dropped calls and all)

-a warm bed (and how extra comfortable it feels in the early morning)

-amazing and supportive friends

-loving family (even when they get on my nerves)

-my health, and the health of those I love

-a job (even if it is boring)

-arizona sunsets

-the beauty of the internet which makes learning Portuguese for free and long-distance connections so easy

-smiles and laughter (especially that caused by said friends and family)

-cozy socks 

-and tea

Happy Thanksgiving

Fiji Holiday

My Fiji tickets are booked! Yay!!!!!

The bright side of not leaving till May: I get plenty of time to visit Fiji!

{photo creds: Max}

Coastin'

Finally, there are less than 200 days till I depart for Mozambique! I cannot wait until that number drops to double digits (by single digits I will be dying of excitement). 

I'm finally starting to be comfortable again with everyday life. In the last two and a half months I moved back home, started a new (and boring, oh so boring) job, said a tear-filled "see ya in 3 years" to my boyfriend, and basically lived each day just so I could cross it off my calendar. I felt like I had taken a huge step backwards in life. This wasn't how I expected my Peace Corps journey to be. I originally expected to have left by now (a year after I applied). My delayed departure delayed my life.  I've always been ambitious, but I feel like I'm missing out on exciting things and accomplishments by moving home to save money. Its hard to get over this feeling of just waiting, the feeling that my life won't begin till my departure in May.

Maybe its the holidays speaking, but days are becoming more enjoyable. I'm focusing more on getting the most out of this extra time I have with family and friends. Weeks are moving faster, weekends especially. There are dates I'm looking forward to besides just May 28th. I feel like I'm learning to enjoy the mundane, because life is made up of these boring times too.

A few weeks ago, when the boyfriend was sent to his new site, I went through a sort of epiphany. His site was very rural; only getting cell service after a 15 minute walk up a hill. Long story short, his phone ran out of minutes and he had no way of contacting anyone. He was completely disconnected from everyone outside of his small village. The following night he had a deathly asthma attack. He seriously considered giving up then and there and coming home. For the time being he has been in limbo at a hotel in Suva until Peace Corps can find him a new site closer to a hospital, just in case.

During this time we both reconsidered our desire to do the Peace Corps (especially doing it separately). As much as I'd like to say Peace Corps is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wouldn't give it up for anything, I can't. Despite how long and hard I have worked to get to this point, I am not on my own anymore. I have someone whose life is intertwined with mine.

That was a rocky week. We are coasting now, moved along by the ability to skype every night while he's in the city. I don't quite know how we got up from that low, but I think we're both set and more committed now to our own peace corps' journeys. We made it through the first rough patch; the first real batch of homesickness, and came out better and stronger. Ups and downs are part of Peace Corps' life, but they are a part of any life and learning to ride out these waves will be invaluable once I, too, am living the Peace Corps roller coaster.

Greatest Invention Ever!

Let there be Skype!

Fijian Update

Some big news from my soon-to-be-official Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji....

His final site is Namarai Bay!

This is where he will be living and working for the next two years.

They are building him a traditional Fijian house called a "Bure." It is essentially, a structure of pounded bamboo and local grasses. He'll have no electricity, but will be getting solar panels to charge lights and his computer. 

Its a pretty remote place and unfortunately he's been told that the cell service there is questionable. He will either get service, or he won't, but until he actually gets there we won't know. We're trying not to worry about it till we see how the situation is.

He is currently spending his last night with his host family before heading out for his last week of training in Suva (one of the bigger towns/cities). He will get hot showers and quality American time with other volunteers before he's dropped off in Namarai Bay and on his own. By Friday, he will be officially sworn in and no longer a trainee.

Meanwhile

Time. 

I'm frustrated with it. Its strange how I've spend so much of my life wishing for more hours in a day to get things done and suddenly wishing for less. I feel guilty for wanting time to speed by. But really, I am leaving for the PEACE CORPS in 217 days. I hit submit on my application over a year ago. I am past the point of impatience for my departure date to come already.

I'm normally such a go-getter, a live-in-the-moment type of person, but for the time being, I'm kinda stuck in limbo. My future is much more exciting than my day to day life and its hard to focus on the now. I continually daydream about visiting Max or Mozambique. My American life pales in comparison.

BUT there's not much I can do about Time. Its just kinda there and continual ticks at its constant steady pace. In the mean time I plan to keep busy (my not so secret ploy to make time fly).

Between now and May I hope to:

-run a half-marathon in December (maybe a full in April)

-study for and take the GRE

-work work work

-learn Portuguese

-and fill my remaining hours with volunteering, friends, and family

Time doesn't make the long-distance stuff any easier either. I try to always be honest about my feelings in this blog because I know other volunteers or future volunteers may be searching for long-distance advice as well. I try to stay positive (despite all my complaining in this blog, I'm really quite a glass-half full person), but at times its tough and when I'm feeling really down, writing it out helps.

My life is continuous ups and downs now. I'll be fine one day, but then find out that Max can't call tonight, or realize that I still have so many months till I leave. It's just hard; really hard to be separated from the person I love most in the world. I want to share and hear every detail of his day and my day, but sometimes he only has a few minutes to talk which is rough. Enough to say a quick "I love you" or "Good night". He is busy as a trainee; his schedule is packed and with the time differences and lots of rain in Fiji, finding time for him to call has been lacking the past few days. I miss him, a lot. The worst part is that this isn't exactly going to get easier. I said that I was training for a half-marathon, will long-distance relationships are like a marathon as well. Its hard at the beginning we're only 1.75 months down the 27 month total and that's not including the additional separation with my service. I don't see us quitting, but I'm already struggling, not with keeping up the relationship, but with general feelings of sadness and longing for him and we've barely begun.

Right now I am cheering on the sidelines while Max has his 8 month head start. I just really really miss him and its tough knowing we'll still be separated for 2+ years.

Senga na Lega

Senga na Lega: It means "no worries" in Fijian. The first time I heard this, I, of course, had to continue the classic tune from the Lion King. Its no surprise that Fijians have a phrase to match their laidback island lifestyle!

The boyfriend, ie: Max, continues to enjoy Fiji and I was finally able to procure some pictures!

Max is a kid magnet everywhere he goes!

Just hanging at a waterfall, no big deal ;)

I don't think Arizona even has the ability to contain this many shades of green!

Relaxin' in Paradise

Gracing a Rugby tournament with his presence

In less than two weeks, Max will learn where his final placement will be and then on November 1st he will be officially sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer! 

I'm proud of him. Although I often complain of my time stuck waiting for my own departure in the US,  he's struggled through ups and downs as well. Sure, its Fiji, the so-called "posh corps" of Peace Corps, but being separated from home and those you love can be tough too. Food is different, culture is different, and its hard to ever really feel comfortable when you have so little control over your immediate future. It'll be exciting to see where he's placed; there's a rumor he may be sent to an outlying island.

We are able to communicate almost daily (though I'm still figuring out the cheapest way to do this) and it is great to hear about his days. Stories of rats falling from the ceiling, crazy thunderstorms, cliff jumping, bucket baths, rugby, the paradise-type views around every corner. We drag out our conversations never wanting to be the first to hang up. We talk enough to capture our days together, but its not quite the same as being with each other.

Time is my greatest adversary at the moment. Luckily, it continues to drag on no matter what you do. A considerable amount of time stands between now and when I can visit Max, an even larger chunk between me and Mozambique, and years between now and when Max and I will be living again in the same country. But pass it will, albeit at a glacial pace. I'm just impatient with waiting and ready to get started on an adventure of my own. But "Senga na Lega," no worries, life will continue and each day is an opportunity for an adventure in itself!

The Price of Love

Relationships in general are expensive. Dinners for two, movie dates, concerts, gifts....love doesn't have a price, but the money sure seems to disappear more quickly! Long distance, even more so.

Email/Skype: free but not accessible at moment

Text to Fiji: $0.03

Call from Fiji to US: $0.18/min

Text Fiji to Phoenix: $0.19

Letter to Fiji: $0.48

Call from US cell to Fiji: $0.50/min

Call from US landline to Fiji: $3.51/min

Package (small padded envelope): $12

Package (8x10 padded envelope): $18

Package (small box): $24

Stuff in packages (candy, mac n cheese, magazines, cookies, Halloween goodies): variable

Roundtrip airfare Phoenix to Fiji: $1150

That day I get to have my hollywood airport reunion moment: Priceless

What brings up this post? Well, lets just say I made a huge tiny mistake. I foolishly used my landline phone to call Fiji all through the month of September not knowing the rate because it had the best connection and fewest dropped calls. Long story short, the phone bill was nearly twice the cost of roundtrip airfare!

Luckily, I was able to get it reduced by backtracking to an international calling plan, but its still a lot of money that could have been spent elsewhere!

Wake Me Up When September Ends

It has finally been a month....1 month and I am still in Phoenix, the boyfriend is still in Fiji. But we have made it this one month, which I count as an accomplishment. I don't know about anyone else, but September is my least favorite month of the calendar year (December is top...birthdays and Christmas can't be beat!). Every other month seems to have something going for it, but September, nothing, nada. Its bordered by the beginning of the school year and Halloween. It always seems to crawl by only to be forgotten.

October though, October feels positive. Pumpkin spice lattes, boots, and Hocus Pocus; October has reasons to get excited! 

Every morning I woke up excited to cross off another dragging day.

Any other Peace Corps volunteers looking for advice about long distance relationships: its not easy. The first month is crappy, plus it was September so double crappiness. But we're figuring it out. We talk on the phone almost daily. I'm able to text him for 3 cents a text. Though its expensive for him to text back, these one-sided conversations keep me sane. Knowing that I can tell him things throughout the day makes me happier and makes his absence not quite as pronounced. We are committed to staying connected, whatever it takes. International calling is expensive, but I would pay anything to hear to his voice everyday.

Its just weird that I haven't actually seen his face in a month. Unfortunately, I won't be able to visit till February :( The Peace Corps doesn't allow visitors during training or your first 3 months at site. February cannot come soon enough!

 But its exciting to know that all the experiences I get to hear him gush about will be my experiences, in some way or another, once I get to Mozambique! Plus I have tons of time to save up for more plane tickets to Fiji and learn some Portuguese! Tchau! (Goodbye!)

The countdown has begun...abeit a little early. 235 days to go!

Happier Than a Camel on Humpday! INVITATION!

Oh happy day!!

It finally happened! I opened up my email yesterday morning to find "Peace Corps - Invitation!" sitting in my inbox.

......drumroll, please........

I will be going to MOZAMBIQUE! 

My official title is "Community Health and Organizational Strengthening Worker" (quite the mouthful!). I will be working with local non-govenmental organizations to improve health outcomes by assisting them with training and systems strengthening techniques as well as improving HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support problems/programs. It may be office-based, community/field-based, or more likely, a combination of both. The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese from when they were originally a Portuguese colony back in the day. Since its similar to Spanish, I should be able to pick it up no problem. (Can't get cocky too soon though, I'm sure my Portuguese will be slow and caveman like for the first year)

The only let down is that I won't leave till May 28th. Having started this whole application process last September, I had my hopes set for a sooner departure date. I was originally told I would leave in August of 2013, then by March of 2014 at the latest. Well, May is a bit further than that, but I can't do anything but take it when I've put my life on hold for this for so long.

Once that magical date comes upon us, I will finally be starting this amazing adventure. I will fly to Mozambique with a crew of other shakingly excited Peace Corps Volunteers. The first 10 weeks I will live with a host family while I go through intensive language, cultural, technical, and safety training and then I will be placed somewhere in country, connected with an organization and on my own for two years. The Peace Corps is often called "The hardest job you'll ever love" and I believe it! 

I'll be updating more with history, culture, and info on Mozambique as I'm sure to be hoarding all the information I can find! Plus, whoever reads this blog gets to look forward to hearing about the struggles of packing two years of my life into two 50 lb bags!

And quick boyfriend update: He's loving his host family and boasts about the gorgeousness of Fiji whenever he can. Phones and texting are a God-send! Although I wouldn't trust their mailing system; he hasn't reported receiving any of my hugs lately. Really though, there are ups and there are downs, this sums up Peace Corps.

Almost a year from submission to invitation, but the waiting isn't over yet!

Love > Distance

So...it has officially been one week since my wonderful and amazing boyfriend ventured forth to Fiji. I never really considered what an emotional toll that long distance relationships take until I realized that I was in one; a 2+ year one. This week has felt almost like a year in itself as days seemed to crawl along. Its hard to suddenly not be able to make comments, tell jokes, or hug the person, my best friend, who was always at my side. 

BUT, it is getting easier. I am beginning to feel much more at peace with everything and think logically again without tears. Yes, I miss him. Terribly. I always will until we are finally reunited for good. But we both chose to do the Peace Corps. We knew what we were getting into, and, yes, these next couple years won't be quite as fun because there will always be something missing, but we have these opportunities to grow as individuals and to grow in our relationship.

He has a phone and for now we get to talk at least once a day. It doesn't feel like much, but I relish these calls. Texting is even an occasional occurrence, at least while I'm still here in the states. And, supposedly, Skype might be a possibility in the future! These next 2+ years are going to be different. I can't allow myself to worry if our relationship will survive, though all the statistics are against us. I just have to focus on the now. I know that we are strong and that we are us. Comparing our relationship to others offers nothing. Whatever happens, will happen, but we are going to do all we can to stay connected!

TTFN

Yesterday, the love of my life left for his own Peace Corps adventure in Fiji. If I could, I would have dived into his suitcase along with him, but my own assignment will come along soon enough. I'm so proud of him and so excited to see what Fiji has in store for him. His undeniable friendliness and loud (it really is loud!) laughter will sure open up many doors despite language barriers. I'm going to miss his hugs, laugh, and jokes for a while but, hey, I guess I have to share him with the Fijians for a bit.

Its a weird feeling, being left behind. Normally, I'm the one traveling, not staying in the states. I know he's not leaving me forever, but its hard to say goodbye for two years, especially when my own future is up in the air right now. Of course, I'm already browsing plane tickets to visit him at the end of December; four months can't be so bad. He's told me that the other trainees are "right up my alley"which only increases my excitement and anxiety for my own placement and start of service. Hopefully I get some news on an invitation this week (fingers crossed)!

Progress!!!!!

Medical Pre-Clearance...Finally!!!! Yay!!!!

After being stuck in pre-clearance for so long, I'm finally moving forward!

Summer Lovin'

 Fantastic news last week, not for me, but for my wonderful and amazing boyfriend.

HE'S BEEN INVITED TO FIJI!

Yep, my boyfriend is also applying to the Peace Corps. We'll be living thousands of miles away for over two years. (Even longer now that my departure date has been delayed) Because we're not a married couple, we can't serve together and will most likely be living on opposite sides of the globe. Its going to be incredibly difficult, we knew this going in. The statistics of maintaining a state-side relationship are grim. Lots of relationships fall apart and lots of PCV's start relationships with each other, but I've never heard of two Peace Corps Volunteers being together while serving in separate countries. Ours is a unique case, since we're both volunteering, neither of us will be left behind living a disproportionately different life in the US. Communicating regularly might be difficult with unreliable or nonexistent internet or phone service. We may only get to visit each other once or twice a year, if that, but we've committed both to each and to the peace corps and are prepared to get these wild adventures started!

The application process is different for everyone and I'm lucky enough to be able to look in on his as well as mine. I feel like I'm almost going with him because I get to read all the extra info they send him! He applied in October (1 month after me), interviewed in December, was nominated in January, legally and pre-medically cleared in February and invited at the end of April. He leaves for staging on September 3rd and leaves for Fiji September 5th. He will be working as a community health empowerment facilitator teaching and reducing the presence of non-communicable disease.

We met while both volunteering for the International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS last year in Chennai, India and have been together ever since. I have four more months with him before he embarks on his peace corps adventure. I will miss him terribly!  At least I get to visit him in FIJI!

Don't be deceived by those smiles. 24 hours after this pic was taken we were both violently hit with food poisoning.  That sugarcane juice is the culprit.

LIMBO

Not the fun “see how low you can go” kind, but the awful stuck between a time and a place kind.

Yesterday I received an email from the health placement desk. The excitement fluttering in my chest at receiving a potential invitation from the peace corps quickly changed to profound disappointment as I read the true content of the email.

My departure date is being pushed back to January, February, or March of 2014. This is because the notification date for my nomination has passed and I have yet to pass pre-medical or legal clearance. I have to respond within two weeks letting them know whether I want to continue or have them withdraw my application.

I have no clue why pre-medical clearance is taking so long for me! I submitted everything the day after I received the email requesting it. Every time I have contacted the Peace Corps asking about where my application was in the process I was always told that I was awaiting pre-medical clearance which they process based on departure date. 

 I had called the Peace Corps LA Regional Office two days ago and was informed that my application was in the legal clearance stage. I thought that perhaps I had passed pre-medical without an online update, but I guess not.

I am just caught up in a sweep of disappointment right now. An extra four-plus months isn’t the news I was looking for, but I know that the Peace Corps process takes time. Now its just wait, wait, wait. 

A Watched Pot Never Boils

Long time no blog.

Its been a while since my fantastical trip teaching in India last summer and this blog kind of dissipated as that trip ended. To catch you all up to speed I left India in August meeting up with some of my best friends in London for a week before returning to the US where I spent the fall of 2012 finishing up my last semester of college. 

For those of you who don't know, I applied for the Peace Corps in September and am awaiting (very impatiently) to find out where this next adventure will lead me. All the speculation and anxiety is driving me nuts!

Because I know there are other prospective Peace Corps hopefuls out there scraping for any information they can find here is my timeline from application till now:

September 30^{th 2012}- submitted application

October 24^th- email from recruiter that not all of my references are in

November 28^th- email asked to fill out health extension form about health experience

December 4^th- emailed about scheduling an interview

December 19^th- interview

December 28^th- email from recruiter that he is still working to place me in a program

January 4^{th 2013}- request for medical forms about kidney stones for medical pre-clearance

January 7^th- submitted medical pre-clearance forms

January 8^th- NOMINATED for Peace Corps: prospective departure date of August 2013, sector health

January 26^th- received legal packet in the mail

January 27^th- sent out fingerprint clearance cards and background check information

March 6^th - emailed the health placement office checking in on my application

     They responded that my application was still in pre-medical clearance

March 15^th - emailed the medical office asking about my application

      They responded that I should hear something in April

Now its April. I know I can't be placed till I get past pre-medical clearance and legal clearance both of which have been at a standstill since February. My internet searches of when other prospective volunteers are leaving is not enough to curb my curiosity!