Everything has a beginning

And so it begins...or many things begin. Please excuse the blog in the beginning, I'm new to the blogging and it may take some time until I get things streamlined and going the way I want them to. I'm starting this blog to help keep everyone updated with my ventures.

I had been cleared for placement in December 2009 but was nominated to leave in September 2010 to go to Sub-Saharan Africa, so I knew I would have a bit of a wait to hear from them. As time passed and September came closer I was getting more anxious, the Peace Corps says they will contact you 2-3 months before you are supposed to leave with your official Invitation. They only require a minimum 6 weeks notice before leaving. I was reading Peace Corps Journals on a daily basis trying to see if anyone else was being contacted by their placement officers to leave in September. I figured early on that I was probably going to Mozambique but as time drew closer I thought that Tanzania might be an option as well, both leave at the end of September.

Last Wednesday afternoon I finally received my much anticipated email from my Peace Corps placement officer. I should say she sent the email at 2:40pm and I didn't check my email until about 8pm. I had been too busy in the afternoon and evening to check my email. I really couldn't believe that I actually had the email after waiting all these months. She had asked me a couple last minute questions before wanting to send me my Invitation. From what I've read this is standard protocol, just to make sure you are still interested in serving. When I was looking at the email I just wanted to respond to everything with OF COURSE I WANT TO GO JUST SEND ME MY INVITATION!!! I figured that wasn't the best and addressed the couple questions she had and sent it out the next morning. A couple hours later I get the reply:
Hi Derek,
Many thanks for your prompt and thorough reply.
Based on this information I have granted you placement clearance for the Africa Science Education program. Congratulations!
I will issue your invitation packet to you today so you can expect to receive it within the next 2-3 business days. As I mentioned, the packet will include information pertaining to your assignment, country and specific dates of service. Please be sure to read through the required readings before contacting our office to officially accept your invitation.
I think you will be a strong asset to this program, Derek, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the invitation soon.
Congratulations and welcome to Peace Corps!

So there it is after all this time and stress, my Invitation is in the mail. I couldn't have been more happy and excited. I know that I'm either off to Mozambique or Tanzania, just not sure which one yet. So I'm gone either September 27th or 20th, respectively. I was hoping to receive my big blue packet this weekend but now I have to wait another day or two until it comes in with all the details of where I'm going.

In the back of my head I always knew that I would have a lot of things to get in order before I can leave and there wasn't much I could do until I had an Invitation. Didn't want to start buying supplies if I wasn't sure to leave. Now I feel like I'm in cram mode. So many things to do and so little time. I already have started to find the couple most important things for traveling, good pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat. Went to Gander Mountain and someone there was very helpful letting me know what I need to get for my type of adventure. Gander Mountain doesn't carry the items I need but the manager I was talking to was telling me what I need to get and where to find it all. Once I get a packing list from the Peace Corps that should help me find the other things I need for the next few years of my life.

Expect another update in a couple days once I finally get my Invitation. I feel like my new life is sitting in a big blue packet somewhere between the capital of the Untied States and the capital of Buckeye Country.