At Long Last

Can I digitally jump up and down with excitement? If that were possible, I would be doing that on this very screen! Even though I already called the Peace Corps office to accept my invitation, I had been waiting for a couple of weeks to actually receive the physical invitation in the mail. The mail room was probably getting pretty tired of me showing up begging for my package. But yesterday, not only was the sun shining at long last, but I received my invitation packet! This means I have more information than before, and I can start working on my aspiration statement, visa and passport issues, and my resume!

I'll give you a peek into packet. My orientation dates (location TBA) are Sept. 8 & 9, 2007. My pre-service training (in Morocco) will be Sept. 11 - Nov. 26, 2007. And my dates of service will be Nov. 26, 2007 - Nov. 30, 2009. I will be a small business developer.

I'll summarize the program goals for you:
GOAL 1 ~ Business Skills Enhancement/Acquisition - working with rural artisans to help them develop business skills
GOAL 2 ~ Organizational Skills Enhancement/Acquisition - organizing the workers and teaching them organizational skills
GOAL 3 ~ Life Skills Development/Empowerment - helping them help themselves so they can carry this knowledge on through generations

And of course, since I'm doing the Master's International program, I'll be working on my master's thesis throughout my time in Morocco. Don't forget, I'll also be working on my French, Arabic, and a Berber dialect (possibly Tachelhit).

Yesterday was a great day not only because of the sunny weather and my invitation arriving in the mail, but also because my friend Jamie came to visit me! I hadn't seen her since we studied in France together. It was so nice to see her in the States (especially because she lives in the far away land of Minnesota right now). We recalled our travels to Ireland and England, as well as our many adventures in Rennes and Paris, France. I will always cherish those memories as a time of personal growth. After all, I went to France a Republican and came back a Democrat!