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I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while I have no excuse other than I've been busy working. Oh well, hopefully these two posts and lots of pics will make up for it.
So when I think about people writing the annual “Christmas letter” I think of people with families: 2.1 kids, minivan/suburban, parents with good careers plodding along, the kids doing well at school and looking forward to getting their report cards. On the other hand I also think of my wonderful grandparents; updating everyone on the progress the highlights of their retirement and making a point of any other important accomplishments from the children or grandchildren. Now me in my mid twenties I have begun my own and weather this is a good thing or not time will tell.
Let me think about this past year well at the beginning I was fretting about weather Peace Corps (PC) was going to take me or not and then where I was going to go. I was also planning my escape of Havasu if I didn’t get the greenlight and offering myself to grassroots development. Where was I planning to escape to??? Well Connecticut, New Mexico and Colorado were looking very promising because of the grad schools. All I can say is I’m glad I’m not in grad school cause seriously I’m still not ready to go back. After getting my acceptance to PC and then getting assigned to Philippines I was planning my departure from the first “real” job I ever had.
My dad got remarried and this was the second marriage in my family within 6 months (Tucker and Vix in October ’06). It was beautiful and of course dad had to be goofy writing us kids a note, sticking it to his butt and flashing us during his vows. Beck’s was sooo cool about allowing me to pick out my dress; my first little black cocktail dress (that probably won’t fit anymore L). I can’t remember the cake being cut but I’m sure it was beautiful, actually I cant remember Tucker cutting his cake either; I must have had a really great time at both weddings!!! I’m a sucker for a good time.
Leaving CPS was bitter sweet. It was a really tough job but so rewarding. I still wonder a few times a week where my kids are now. One of my favorite parts about my office was I could walk into my boss’s office and express my frustrations and what seemed catastrophic issues about my clients and he would listen patiently, take his time and process with me. No issue was too big or without a solution and he always had time to chat. I also got plenty of direction from my coworkers when I needed it.
Then I had to go and say “goodbye” to America; at least that is what my dad said. Between March and May I think I was home for a total of a quarter of the time off and on. I had a great chance to visit Lake George when the lake was still frozen and the town was still in hibernation. I ran my first ½ marathon – 13 miles (26 km) and I can still feel the inability to walk for 3 days after. I attended my best friends wedding in the Dominican Republic with my sister’s future mother in-law who is totally fun. I got to taste what the weather would be like in the Philippines yet I was too dumb to realize it at the time. I drank fabulous cosmopolitans at 10am brunch with Aunt Peg, my beautiful sister Courtney and wonderful friend Tawnya in a little bistro in New York.
Actually leaving in May was surreal and having Dad and Beck’s drop me off in L.A was really comforting. Pre Service Training (PST) was really tough and a totally loaded schedule. This was the most intense emotional rollercoaster ride with my 3 site mates and trainers; all I can say is looking back it really sucked!!! Being in it you wondered every night if you could do another day and every morning you willed your body out of bed and to work another day. Picture this: you cannot catch up on sleep, you start language at 8am till noon and start tech at 1:30 till whenever it gets done but lets not forget our infusion of culture sessions. Then you are supposed to study or work on tech projects. By 7pm you are so physically and emotionally exhausted there is no way! Every language lesson was valuable and most technical sessions were too but still it was crazy. I think no matter where you are or what PST you are in you feel totally overwhelmed and that is “normal” if that is even possible.
On August 3rd we swore in at the U.S Embassy in a beautiful ceremony. From there all 60 of us dispersed to our sites and we were officially split up. My new family was broken apart and I was an official Peace Corps with a button ;-). I started work at my site that Monday with Flag Ceremony at the regional office bright and early at 8am. Since arriving at site I have instigated day camps, helped educate high school students on HIV/AIDS, tried in vain to teach English and so much other cool stuff. I have had the opportunity to see some of the jewels of the Philippines including Bagio, Segada and Boracay. Philippines has so much to offer in the area of natural beauty it would be a mistake to not visit (this is my only advert to visit :-).
This year has also had some tragedy that has affected my life and those in my family. I lost 3 of my family to cancer. Uncle Martin left us last December, my beautiful cousin Casey took his place amongst the angels this past August and my always inspiring, fun-loving aunt Peg went to visit and take her place beside my mom in late November. Being far away makes me treasure the family and close friends I have back home and how important it is to make everyday count. I treasure all the letters I received from Peg since I have arrived especially since she was supportive of me being here.
Well everyone, I love you, I miss you and I hope you are enjoying the amusement park we call life. Thank you for being my rock while I’m far away.
Let me think about this past year well at the beginning I was fretting about weather Peace Corps (PC) was going to take me or not and then where I was going to go. I was also planning my escape of Havasu if I didn’t get the greenlight and offering myself to grassroots development. Where was I planning to escape to??? Well Connecticut, New Mexico and Colorado were looking very promising because of the grad schools. All I can say is I’m glad I’m not in grad school cause seriously I’m still not ready to go back. After getting my acceptance to PC and then getting assigned to Philippines I was planning my departure from the first “real” job I ever had.
My dad got remarried and this was the second marriage in my family within 6 months (Tucker and Vix in October ’06). It was beautiful and of course dad had to be goofy writing us kids a note, sticking it to his butt and flashing us during his vows. Beck’s was sooo cool about allowing me to pick out my dress; my first little black cocktail dress (that probably won’t fit anymore L). I can’t remember the cake being cut but I’m sure it was beautiful, actually I cant remember Tucker cutting his cake either; I must have had a really great time at both weddings!!! I’m a sucker for a good time.
Leaving CPS was bitter sweet. It was a really tough job but so rewarding. I still wonder a few times a week where my kids are now. One of my favorite parts about my office was I could walk into my boss’s office and express my frustrations and what seemed catastrophic issues about my clients and he would listen patiently, take his time and process with me. No issue was too big or without a solution and he always had time to chat. I also got plenty of direction from my coworkers when I needed it.
Then I had to go and say “goodbye” to America; at least that is what my dad said. Between March and May I think I was home for a total of a quarter of the time off and on. I had a great chance to visit Lake George when the lake was still frozen and the town was still in hibernation. I ran my first ½ marathon – 13 miles (26 km) and I can still feel the inability to walk for 3 days after. I attended my best friends wedding in the Dominican Republic with my sister’s future mother in-law who is totally fun. I got to taste what the weather would be like in the Philippines yet I was too dumb to realize it at the time. I drank fabulous cosmopolitans at 10am brunch with Aunt Peg, my beautiful sister Courtney and wonderful friend Tawnya in a little bistro in New York.
Actually leaving in May was surreal and having Dad and Beck’s drop me off in L.A was really comforting. Pre Service Training (PST) was really tough and a totally loaded schedule. This was the most intense emotional rollercoaster ride with my 3 site mates and trainers; all I can say is looking back it really sucked!!! Being in it you wondered every night if you could do another day and every morning you willed your body out of bed and to work another day. Picture this: you cannot catch up on sleep, you start language at 8am till noon and start tech at 1:30 till whenever it gets done but lets not forget our infusion of culture sessions. Then you are supposed to study or work on tech projects. By 7pm you are so physically and emotionally exhausted there is no way! Every language lesson was valuable and most technical sessions were too but still it was crazy. I think no matter where you are or what PST you are in you feel totally overwhelmed and that is “normal” if that is even possible.
On August 3rd we swore in at the U.S Embassy in a beautiful ceremony. From there all 60 of us dispersed to our sites and we were officially split up. My new family was broken apart and I was an official Peace Corps with a button ;-). I started work at my site that Monday with Flag Ceremony at the regional office bright and early at 8am. Since arriving at site I have instigated day camps, helped educate high school students on HIV/AIDS, tried in vain to teach English and so much other cool stuff. I have had the opportunity to see some of the jewels of the Philippines including Bagio, Segada and Boracay. Philippines has so much to offer in the area of natural beauty it would be a mistake to not visit (this is my only advert to visit :-).
This year has also had some tragedy that has affected my life and those in my family. I lost 3 of my family to cancer. Uncle Martin left us last December, my beautiful cousin Casey took his place amongst the angels this past August and my always inspiring, fun-loving aunt Peg went to visit and take her place beside my mom in late November. Being far away makes me treasure the family and close friends I have back home and how important it is to make everyday count. I treasure all the letters I received from Peg since I have arrived especially since she was supportive of me being here.
Well everyone, I love you, I miss you and I hope you are enjoying the amusement park we call life. Thank you for being my rock while I’m far away.
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