Days 2 and 3 involved getting ourselves safely to Kigali–an adventure by itself. Our bus was about an hour late getting to Philadelphia. Then the driver wasn’t really sure where he was going so he was on his phone both as a GPS and texting. There were a couple of close calls where he tried…
Tag: Peace Corps
Saying good-byes
Fact: good-byes are the worst. For more months than I care to remember, I’ve been preparing for departure. Preparing to say my good-byes to a life I’ve spent the last few years carefully crafting. All the government required paperwork, the new purchases that are a *must-have* [like a nifty head lamp], and setting up Lucy and…
Packing for Peace Corps | Rwanda
Let’s begin with: I HATE PACKING. AND SHOPPING. AND WAITING. Add to it that I have already done this once when I thought I’d be heading to Madagascar [Read Every. Single. Thing. I packed for Madagascar] in February. When I thought I’d be heading to Madagascar, there was an above average chance that I’d…
Tick Tock
Tonight I had dinner with one of my best friends and as if often the case, we got around to talking about my upcoming plans. The immediate [I leave in two and a half weeks], the intermediate [I want to go to NP school when I get back], and the distant [I’d like to get…
Peace Corps Update
When I share with someone that I’m joining the Peace Corps, I get one of two reactions: “OMG, how long is that? TWO YEARS! How can you afford to do that? What about work? What about your house? What about [fill in the blank]________________?” This exclamation is often accompanied by a facial expression of…
‘Shit-hole’ countries–where exactly is that
I am headed for a shit-hole… that is if one listens to the current president. This presents somewhat of a dilemma because why would one voluntarily give up life ‘in the best country in the world’ to go live and work in a ‘shit-hole’ country? Call me crazy I guess. Some of these countries are…
A new beginning
Quick synopsis: The Great Sickness of 2018 happened, and I didn’t leave for Peace Corps | Madagascar on February 25 as scheduled. A bit of background: In 2005 I became a pediatric respiratory therapist and have been working in health care ever since. I became a registered nurse in 2015 with the goal of choosing a…
Answering the basic questions
Every aspiring journalist knows what the five W’s are–it’s essentially a how to for writing. Who, What, When , Where, and Why. If you can answer all those questions, then you’ve got an effective story. So let’s begin, shall we? WHO I’m Michelle and until the end of May, I’ll be hanging out a my…
Answers to the most frequently asked questions
I’m in the medical/legal clearance stage right now so I haven’t told a lot of people I’ve been accepted to the Peace Corps until it’s a go, but the ones who do know definitely have questions. Question 1: What exactly is the Peace Corps? John F Kennedy established the Peace Corps was established in 1961….
What it costs to join the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is a volunteer job and although So how much does joining the Peace Corps really cost? The answer to that question will vary for everyone depending on what country you will serve in (do I need a visa?) and what tests/exams the Peace Corps deems it necessary for you to have. It…