Goodbye

I quit my jobs, I sold my stuff, I moved out of my apartment, and I have started to say Goodbye. I can't believe it but the time has actually come and I am about to move to Africa and for the next two years to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. I am so excited; its all I have been thinking about. I spend my days preparing which lately has been working on French and shopping for the things I will need. I feel like I tell everyone I come into contact that I am going to Africa and have joined the Peace Corps. I suppose it is amazing to me, I never thought that when I finally made my escape from the Midwest it would be in such a big way.

I have so much going on that I still don't feel like it is real. There will be little snippets during a given day that I will fully realized that yes I will be halfway across the world in only a matter of weeks. Most of the time however it doesn't seem real and everything seems the same in spite of the fact that everything is different: No longer in my own home (staying with Mom and Bro. for a little Q.T. before I go), have no job (was working all the time and have not missed it for one second) have no stuff (was all sold off except for a few boxes). I also find my self on the internet more than I was as an undergrad.

I am not a techno friendly individual. The irony of finally learning to use the internet as more than just a digital mailbox before I go to a third world country does not escape me. Leaving the country and wanting to share my experience's with those of you who are interested was all the inspiration I needed. I suppose it is really what being a Peace Corps Volunteer is all about: teaching people what is going on in a part of the world we as Americans don't typically think about. Most people have never even heard of Benin, the country I am going to (including me until I got my assignment). Now I have the luxury of exposing people to a whole new world.

That has been the exciting part of saying Goodbye to people: teaching people about a different part of the world. Even though I am leaving I have gotten a lot of people who interested in what I am doing. It has been touching and inspirational to learn the impact I can have on others. Its funny how leaving can bring people closer together.