Good to Go, Sort Of....
Everything's done now. Completed. Paperwork sent in. It only took me about a week to finish 5 minutes worth of work, but it's been sent in, airfare bought, done deal. Whew.
Recently I've been obsessing over other people's blogs and websites about different Peace Corps experiences, as well as the Peace Corps experience in Chad. All of the sites have been created either by returned Peace Corps Volunteers or those currently serving in their respective countries. To my surprise I have been able to find a few good sites about Chad. They're very informative and helpful accounts written from first-hand perspectives and many of the journal entries are written very well. They often vividly describe individual experiences including the daily happenings of village life, trips to the markets, the hell that is Chadian transportation, and how things work in general. Many of them also have expansive photo galleries, which are always interesting. Three of the sites I've run across concerning Chad have been put together by Volunteers who will still have a year left of service when I arrive, meaning that I will most likely meet all of these people I've been reading about. That could be a bit strange; I think I'd feel like a groupie for some of them because I know SO MUCH about their experiences thus far and could tell them all about themselves without ever having met them. They've been able to keep up their own sites, albeit somewhat infrequently, but they've nonetheless kept it going, as I hope to do with this blog. We shall see....
Now on with the shopping and the packing preparations. So far, via internet, I (or my mom) have ordered and subsequently charged to parentally paid credit cards: solar-powered battery charger for Ipod and cell phone (for use if I am in an area with cell phone coverage, that is), 2 LL Bean rolling duffles, crank-powered flashlight and shortwave radio, 'Chad is Rad' t-shirt (available here), firestarter, cool and comfortable Eastern Mountain Sports pants that convert to two different lengths of capri pants as well as full on pants by a snapping function, and a camp shower. I can almost assure that there will be more to come, you know, just for last minute excitement. And that's just the mail-order stuff. You wouldn't believe how impoverished my own parents will be after totaling up the costs of the stuff we haven't ordered, but simply bought in stores. Ugh, thanks Mom and Dad.
As for clothing, I know I will be able to buy much of what I need in Chad at the markets, but my mom has graciously taken it upon herself to sew about a week's worth of wrap-around skirts from very pretty fabrics that she found. Thanks, Mom. I also have a set or two of very nice and very conservative cotton shirts. Now I need to go buy about 50 pairs of underwear and 30 bras and I'll be all set!
Everything is sort of all coming together. Slowly, but definitely surely. I'm beginning to have more time to think about the immensity of the whole situation a bit more these days. Although it hasn't fully sunk in yet (I don't think it really will until I actually get there), I'm beginning to feel more apprehensive about having to say so long to so many people that I'd rather not. That will be the hardest part; but then again, think of the reunions we'll have....
Recently I've been obsessing over other people's blogs and websites about different Peace Corps experiences, as well as the Peace Corps experience in Chad. All of the sites have been created either by returned Peace Corps Volunteers or those currently serving in their respective countries. To my surprise I have been able to find a few good sites about Chad. They're very informative and helpful accounts written from first-hand perspectives and many of the journal entries are written very well. They often vividly describe individual experiences including the daily happenings of village life, trips to the markets, the hell that is Chadian transportation, and how things work in general. Many of them also have expansive photo galleries, which are always interesting. Three of the sites I've run across concerning Chad have been put together by Volunteers who will still have a year left of service when I arrive, meaning that I will most likely meet all of these people I've been reading about. That could be a bit strange; I think I'd feel like a groupie for some of them because I know SO MUCH about their experiences thus far and could tell them all about themselves without ever having met them. They've been able to keep up their own sites, albeit somewhat infrequently, but they've nonetheless kept it going, as I hope to do with this blog. We shall see....
Now on with the shopping and the packing preparations. So far, via internet, I (or my mom) have ordered and subsequently charged to parentally paid credit cards: solar-powered battery charger for Ipod and cell phone (for use if I am in an area with cell phone coverage, that is), 2 LL Bean rolling duffles, crank-powered flashlight and shortwave radio, 'Chad is Rad' t-shirt (available here), firestarter, cool and comfortable Eastern Mountain Sports pants that convert to two different lengths of capri pants as well as full on pants by a snapping function, and a camp shower. I can almost assure that there will be more to come, you know, just for last minute excitement. And that's just the mail-order stuff. You wouldn't believe how impoverished my own parents will be after totaling up the costs of the stuff we haven't ordered, but simply bought in stores. Ugh, thanks Mom and Dad.
As for clothing, I know I will be able to buy much of what I need in Chad at the markets, but my mom has graciously taken it upon herself to sew about a week's worth of wrap-around skirts from very pretty fabrics that she found. Thanks, Mom. I also have a set or two of very nice and very conservative cotton shirts. Now I need to go buy about 50 pairs of underwear and 30 bras and I'll be all set!
Everything is sort of all coming together. Slowly, but definitely surely. I'm beginning to have more time to think about the immensity of the whole situation a bit more these days. Although it hasn't fully sunk in yet (I don't think it really will until I actually get there), I'm beginning to feel more apprehensive about having to say so long to so many people that I'd rather not. That will be the hardest part; but then again, think of the reunions we'll have....
posted by Catherine | 8:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home