It is amazing how some people.....

It is amazing how some people leave such an impression on you, it influences the course of your life.  With 10 days until PC departure, one of my high priorities was to meet with a former Loyola professor of mine.  Well, we just had lunch, and I was reminded of how a single person can unexpectedly make such a difference in one's life.  She taught "Perspectives on Life and Death", which I took during my final semester at Loyola.  Conveniently, it also became the semester of decisions for me as I discerned my desire to volunteer after graduation.  Looking back, I can safely say there were elements of that class and of her teaching that help me now to understand the underlying motivations behind my PC decision.  Being a Theology and medical ethics course, I gained a deeper understanding of what theological reflection really means, and discovered it does not necessarily mean needing to join a faith-based volunteer organization.  To the contrary, theological reflection is one of many sources that one can consult in the process of making an ethical decision.  And there is no reason I cannot consult my theological background when making decisions in a primarily Islamic country like Morocco.  It is one of my many reference points for forming opinions and making decisions.

This professor taught me a lot, and the clincher was introducing the class to Paul Farmer and his works around the world....and teaching us that we don't need to all go out and "be Paul Farmers," but that there are a million and one opportunities to do something, anything, that will aid in the achievement of social justice throughout the world.  

Finally, on the last day of class with her, she told us something that I have in turn referenced in every Peace Corps application and essay.  We cannot be cynics until after we are 70 years old.  Now is the time to think we can change the world and to go out and try.  AMEN to that. 

So yeah, lunch was great, and talking to her just rejuvenates me in my Peace Corps preparation.  

And by the way, I am almost packed, YAY!    I am not quite sure yet why the PC recommended bringing items like a shortwave radio, sticky tack, and incense, but hey, why not?  :)

It's getting more and more official every day.......

As I am sitting in gate H13 at O"Hare airport, staring out the window overlooking one of the worst winter storms Chicago has seen this year, I have decided that now would be a fabulous time to begin my Peace Corps blog.  I leave in less than a month, and I feel like it's getting more and more official every day.   

Here, I will attempt to summarize a year of stress, excitement, and anticipation.  Last January, as I contemplated whether or not I would apply to the Peace Corps, I finally came to the conclusion that I may one day regret the decision to go, but I KNOW I will regret the decision not to go.  

I finished my application (18 pages) in April, and interviewed in May.  My recruiter thought my background in Spanish, French, and Arabic would make me a perfect match for the Morocco program.  The only problem was it being a Health program.  With a promise on my part to gain significant health experience over the next 8 months, he nominated me to leave for Morocco in March of 08.  

Over the following 6 months, I worked on obtaining my medical and dental clearances, which proved to be more of a hassle than I ever imagined.  For example, I was asked to provide a personal statement explaining the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up needed regarding an eye infection I had 1 1/2 years ago.  I mean, come on!!!

On January 3, I received a phone call from a lovely lady in Washington DC informing me that I was medically cleared and that she would send me my official Peace Corps invitation the next day.  

This forced me to face a whirlwind of issues from leaving my apartment to quitting my job to arranging for travel plans to visit family in Palm Springs.    

So here I am, one month later, receiving information from the Peace Corps basically weekly, and I'm finally feeling like I will actually be leaving soon.

I will be in Philadelphia March 1-3 for Staging.  From there, my group of invitees will fly to Casablanca, Morocco.  We will spend 4 days in Rabat, the capital, where we will no longer be invitees, but trainees.  Training lasts until mid-May.  At that point, inshallah, (God willing) we will be sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers!

Couple random facts about Morocco and my expectations in general:

-The infant mortality rate in Morocco is 38/1000.  Compare that to 6/1000 in the United States

-The literacy rate is 52.3% compared to 99% in the US

-I need to "re-learn" how to eat.  Most food is shared from a common dish, and it is inappropriate to eat with the left hand (it is considered unclean).........and of course I am left-handed

-Moroccans are famous for their hospitality, and as a guest in a Moroccan's house for dinner, it is not unusual to share a 3 hour long meal, and then take a nap together afterward.  

-Most rural towns are Berber towns.  Their first languages are Berber dialects, not Arabic, so I will probably learn a Berber dialect as well.  

-I believe I will be working directly for the Moroccan Ministry of Health, and my activities could range from promoting women's health, to training traditional birth attendants, to developing hygiene and sanitation programs, to holding immunization fairs, to educating primary school children on basic health.

Any questions, feel free to ask!