FAQs

I've been answering a lot of very similar questions lately, so I will try to dispell a few myths today. It's also been brought to my attention that 'formatting sucks', and that 'all the cool kids use bullet points.'

Since it's been pretty well-established that I am so far from 'cool' that bullet points aren't enough to save me, I feel secure in using them without looking like I'm trying too hard.

• I leave on 2 March, 2009. That's really soon, I know.
• My official position is 'community health volunteer.' I'll serve in Morocco's Health sector (other sectors in Morocco include Small Business Development, Environment and Youth Development), but just what I'll be doing will be established upon arrival.
• Monday and Tuesday, 2-3 March, will be spent in Philadelphia getting poked, prodded, looked over and taught how to keep myself safe whilst abroad. I'll also get to know my stage (pronounce stah-j) mates and probably realize that I've forgotten to pack a few crucial things.
• My vaccinations are pretty minimal, and the most exotic one on the list so far is rabies (for the dogs that run wild on the bled, or countryside).
• Yes, I am excited. I am also nervous, anxious, scared to death, and overwhelmed. But mostly, I'm excited. :)I know only one other person in my stage (there are approximately 60 people heading to Morocco with me), and she happens to work with Boyfriend at The Restaurant. I plan on calling her tonight, and am sincerely hoping that she tells me that we're on the same flight to Philly.
• My first two months are dedicated to round-the-clock training. I will be living with a host family at night, and training with approximately 5 other volunteers during the day.
• I'll be up in the High Atlas Mountains for my training, though I do not yet know where my permanent site will be.
• I do not yet know where my permanent site will be. Sorry, folks.
• I have an address and can accept letters (but no packages) while in training! Comment or email me and I'll pass along the address.
• I will probably buy a cell phone after I'm settled, but I'm pretty sure that Skype, email and snail mail will be the best modes of communication for those that are still Stateside.
• I plan on coming home once, entertaining my family once in Morocco, and taking a few side trips (especially to Istanbul... right, Gulay?), iA.
• I get two days of vacation per month that I can put under the mattress until I'm ready to use them.
• What I'll be doing after Peace Corps depends entirely on the state of the economy. Ideally, I'd like to get a job, get settled somewhere and start paying off my student loans before jumping back in to academia for graduate school, but I don't want that job to be at Wendy's again. I'm planning on taking Morocco one day at a time, and crossing that bridge when I come to it.

That's all I can think of at the moment, as far as questions I answer every day. I'm sure someone (Brother, I'm referring to you here) will remind me of the points I forgot, should one arise. :) I'm also willing to answer any more questions that might come up, provided you're really, really nice to me.

As far as the rest of today, I'm heading back to school for what could be the last time this afternoon. Saturday is my going-away party, and Sunday will bring me back to The Island, where I will contine to wonder where all of my time went.