The beginning is in sight....

Hello everybody and welcome to my first blog, personally I've never been a blogger but I'll try just about anything once, and also think it will be a great way to let my friends and family in on my life as a Peace Corps volunteer. So here I go.

Well, first off I should explain a little on why I have chosen to become a volunteer. I was fortunate enough to have been born in a country where basic needs are not only met but exceeded. On top of that resources are available to all. Unfortunately, for millions around the world that is not the case. So to better appreciate the fortunes in my life I have chosen to serve for 2 years for the Peace Corps in Costa Rica.

This has been an ongoing process that I have been striving at for quite some time now. 2 years ago during a Spanish class at Oregon State University a guess speaker spoke to our class about her experience as a PeaceCorps volunteer, and that got the thought rolling. After much thinking, reading, and a couple more PeaceCorps presentations I decided to apply. After completing the application process and interview I received the news that I had been nominated to serve last April. It wasn't until the beginning of December that I got the actual news that I had been invited to serve and that is when I learned I would be serving in Costa Rica. I was told a few days before in a phone conversation with a placement specialist that my Invitation was in the mail, but I did not know the country I would be serving in. So when I opened my Invitation kit and immediately saw the words "Buenos suerte en Costa Rica" in handwriting at the bottom of the first letter, I became even more excited. I would have been satisfied and relieved with an invitation to any country but this was my 1st region of choice and having received a Spanish degree at OSU I fell like it will be beneficial to have some knowledge of the language prior to arrive. I wouldn’t call myself 100% fluent by any means, but I will be able to get by much easier than if I didn’t speak Spanish.

So here’s my timeline….

-March 9th I fly to Washington DC for a staging event where I will meet the other volunteers that are headed to Costa Rica as well.
-March 11th our flight will depart for Costa Rica
-March 11th - May 29 I will be in San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital for Pre-Service Training
-May 29th – May 30th, 2011 are my actual dates of service.

So now you might be wondering what I will be doing in Costa Rica. Well, I do not know exactly so I’m not going to lie to you. My job title is Community Development Volunteer in the Rural Community Development Program. A lot of the info I have received is fairly broad, but here is one quote out of my Assignment Handbook that describes the focus of the RCD program. “Our program focuses on communities with the lowest human development indicators in Costa Rica and we work with local community partners to help them exercise a greater role in raising the standard of living and improving their lives through these three goals”;
1: Organizational Development
2: Increasing economic opportunities in the rural areas
3: Enhanced education

So after training I will be sent to a rural town of around 500 people. And that will be my home for the next 2 years. I will have very limited access to communication in my town but periodically I will try to venture to a larger city with an internet café to update this blog thingy. And during training I should be able to find access to internet as well.

I’m super excited and stoaked for this opportunity but at the same time, I’m going to miss A LOT of things. So here’s a quick list-

-My friends and family (I have the best of both, you’ll know who you are and mean the world to me!)
-My dog Lucy (who’s sitting right next to me right now)… Lol, I could be the only person in the world that could miss her because she’s a little crazy, but I love that damn dog and I’m really lucky that my parents will take her in.
-Portland!!!
-SNOW!!!!
-Camping
-Dirtbiking
-Rafting
-And basically all other adventures that I like to get into

Well, I have rambled on enough, anyway I’m leaving in just about a month and probably wont update this till I’m actually in Costa Rica and hopefully have something new and exciting to say. So until then, Cheers!!!