Well, here I go. Applied to Peace Corps in June 2009, interviewed and nominated in August, went through the health clearance (not a cake walk at 48 years!) and was getting ready to go somewhere in West Africa in August 2010. I delayed it because of work obligations, but am now officially invited and on my way to Senegal in March 2011. Have given notice at work, and am starting to let everyone know. I have been the director of two adult day health programs and an Alzheimer's Resource Center in Eureka, CA for 12 years. We just finished a major capital campaign to build a state of the art Alzheimer's Day Care and then Governor Arnie removed all of our Alzheimers related funding last year. Funny, there are still people coming to us every day needing help after being newly diagnosed. But then, California is all messed up.
Believe me, if the Peace Corps is ever something you think you want to do, I suggest doing it in your 20s. Ah, when all I owned fit in the back of my Toyota pick up truck! Those were the days! Now, I own a home, have pets, a serious job and lots of stuff (though a lot less stuff than most people I know!) It is taking quite a bit of organization and dedication to plugging away at all the loose ends I need to tie up, but I think I can, I think I can...If it weren't for friends, coworkers, family and my community, who all want to see me succeed, I would be a much finer basket case than I am already. March 7 is my staging date, and that leaves me just over 3 months to get everything as best as I can before I have to just let go and leave, trusting it all will turn out okay.
I have been doing alot of reading, about Senegal, about PCVs in various African countries, about the role of a Health Educator, about Malaria and dysentery (ok, not about that last one.) and am brushing up on my french. Other than that, thinking about what I need to bring with me and then planning to put half of it to the side. Thinking about saying good bye to alot of people I hold dear and sometimes wondering about what I am getting myself into. I know that 27 months generally goes by quickly - the last 2+ years certainly have - but they say PC is a life changing experience so it will be challenging both going in and of course coming back home. My hope is that my "years of experience" (something my mom always said she had whenever I asked her how she could do something so fast when I was a kid and now yikes! I am saying it too) will help me stay as balanced as possible and perhaps be a resource for the younger folks going in. I am not sure I could have done this when I was 20 something, but I am so fortunate to have the second chance now.
For now, I will keep going to the gym, keep tossing stuff I don't need or want, saving my pennies and spending time with my friends, family and pets til I board that plan! Anyone out there will helpful suggestions, let me know.
