Jump off the plane!

With just one month left to go before Staging, I'm beginning to feel those hits of nervousness a little more often. But, they are still surrounded by mountains of excitement! I have a huge list of things to do; Though, most of the important things like prescriptions and student loans are well underway, so I think I have little to worry about. I just need to remember that everything I need is in Togo! (its ok if i forget anything.. i can just be creative or figure out how to get it there) I just need to go to Togo! (haha..i still crack up everytime i say "to go to Togo").

I am so excited, happy, and relieved. Ever since I found out about the peace corps, I've wanted to go and now it is finally happening! And beyond that, it seems like I have the exact position that I was hoping for! I'll be working for Community Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention (CHAP) program, which works a lot with education in terms of (obviously) health and HIV/AIDS, and (not-so-obviously) nutrition (yay!), diarrheal disease, malaria, and possibly this most interesting parasite called the guinea worm. My official title is "Public Health and HIV/AIDS Education Technical Advisor" (i thought it was a super long title too..haha) Of course, so I hear, this description is very vague and my position will be whatever I make of it. So, right now, I'm straddling this uncomfortable fence; I want to have expectations, but at the same time don't. I instinctively want to prepare myself so that I can know whatever I need to know to be most beneficial and easily adaptable and fit into the community.. haha which sounds funny saying because there is no way i am going to fit into the community; I'm white, blond hair, blue eyes, freckles. But regardless, I want to "culturally" fit in, make friends, etc.. it will be an interesting experience :)

I'm excited to be in a completely new life; it's that thrill-type of excitement, almost the feeling I had jumping out of an airplane..now who wouldn't love that?! Of course I'm going to miss everyone sooo much, and the only reason why I hesitated in my response to the Peace Corps invitation was for that reason. But, that's what this blog is for! and the many letters that I plan to write (and receive...cough cough..that's where you come in).

so, i suppose I will make a list, since I am a list-maker, and this is the list:
things I'm nervous about: not knowing french well and being unable to learn french fast enough, not being "good" enough, like in terms of my job there, not knowing enough or not knowing how to do things, not being what my community wants me to be... also, I'm not necessarily *nervous* about missing my fam/friends, but i am nervous that the specific feeling of missing them will make me do something irrational, like go home.
things I'm super excited for: the unexpected, all these new things (bucket showers, learning languages, learning what Togolese care about, learning what they think of health, what normal life is for them, learning what they think of Americans), starting fun activities (i talked to a peace corps person who started a yoga class in her town that continued even after she left...and a PC person organized a marathon...which seems like it might be a little hot to do in Togo...), meeting other Americans who are crazy enough who want to go to Togo (haha), working with other ppl in Togo, meeting Togolese ppl, meeting ppl in general, overcoming super challenges (like superantigens!..sorry.. science humor)

So, anyway, this is my first blog post ever; I hope it was entertaining. Actually, not really, I am just procrastinating on the last immunology final paper that I need to write and watching the office. I had a long day at work, a long day after work doing peace corps things, and the immunology paper is just looming over my head. I am just ready to go... I feel like I am running through mud (haha...I actually just had a race through the mud) trying to finish everything before I go. It is funny to think of myself in Togo. I am sure, if I read this blog entry in Togo, the whole immunology/the office situation will seem so surreal to me (oh, I will miss the office...and immunology).

So, here it goes! Let's jump off this plane! Off to Togo!!