It was March 20th at around 4:00 PM. I had just gotten done with a pretty nice run at URI's campus gym. After turning into the locker room and starting to change, I decided to check my e-mail. Refreshing my iPhone feed, I saw the subject line that I had been waiting 10 months to see: Peace Corps - Invitation! My heart stopped. I had already been sweating, but I swear my sweat started sweating. I clicked open the e-mail and saw this:
I had been invited to served as a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer in Namibia. After a few obnoxiously loud onomatopoeias I asked what the average person would ask, "Where the hell is Namibia?" Shirtless, sweaty, and still in the middle of the locker room, I typed 'Namibia' into Google. It was about 5:00 PM when I realized I had been sitting on the same bench for about 45 minutes. Learning every thing I could about this country would become my primary goal for the next 4 months (not the best timing with final exams approaching).
But my excitement was so raw. I felt so privileged to have been invited to a position that combined so many of my passions and interests right out of college (economic development, language, travel, and cultural immersion). It'd be difficult to call it my dream job because, with it being a strict 2-year commitment - that would be unsustainable. But it is definitely my dream. And now its a dream realized. In 21 days I'll be leaving for staging. I'm so excited for the eventual lessons, challenges, growth, and adventures I'll experience. I'm excited to meet my fellow invitees. I'm excited, hopeful, anxious, and curious. I'm a mixed bag of emotions. But mostly I'm grateful. Grateful to have been given this opportunity to live and work in such an amazing part of the world.
