Peace Within

I'm joining the Peace Corps!

It's official. I've broken the news to my parents and friends, and have set a move-out date with my roommates. I'm doing it! I'm finally doing it!

After much (MUCH) deliberation, after many sleepless hours and a countless amount of soul searching, I sat down and FINALLY starting filling out my Peace Corps application.

tingles!

The application process takes a while. It's like a final exam, this thing. I need to find records and official docs about myself that I didn't even know I had. Also, after I turn it in, I need to do a complete medical and dental checkup and give them the results and wait for a "pass" grade. ooftah. All the websites online say that the paperwork is the worst part, though, so I'm ok with the hassle :)

Wait, what? Why? Are you asking me why?

Well, it's a lot of things really. Most importantly: it's time. My job is ending in December and that familiar tug is pulling at my belly. Do you know the line from Beauty and the Beast, when Belle is running up the hill? If I remember correctly:

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can stand."

The first time I heard that line I was a wee girl in the 4th row at the movie theater, and I cried. Not because I felt bad for Belle. Not because the film was astoundingly breathtaking and could bring my emotions to the surface instantly (which it still can); no- because someone had somehow found something I was holding safely inside me and announced to the world that they were feeling the same way.

To this day, when she says that line (and THE WAY she says it), brings me to tears. It's the tug. The tug that happens to me every year, when life is lulling and the days are beautiful and I'm sitting in my familiar setting (wherever it is), bored.

I want adventure!

Lastly: I want to help! Somehow, some way, doing whatever needs to be done. I YEARN to help. I see so much trauma and pain and devastation going on in the world, and I sit in front of my computer/tv and do NOTHING about it. Nothing. But with the Peace Corps I can help! I can go out in the world and try, try whatever, but at least try!

That being said, I can't wait to start. But I must wait. 2007 is not the time to leave and go fulfill any ol' destinies. My sister is having another baby, and Brandi is getting married. Respectively, I will be an aunt and a maid of honor... and I refuse to miss it. And THAT'S how joining the Peace Corps is perfect for my timing right now.

You see, my job is ending in December. For the last 2 years (after graduation) I have been agonizing over the fact that I'm not fitting with the world I have surrounded myself in. I'm too young, too naive, too scared. I haven't exactly wanted to tuck tail and run (never!) but I have felt an urgent need for a break- a calm- to collect myself and figure it all out. You know, prepare myself for the battle.

Well, this is the perfect opportunity. Once my job ends, I can go home. I can spend 2007 with my family, my friends, (myself), and reach the calm I've been needing. And with 2 important things happening in the lives of Hazel and Brandi, it's better to spend the year with them than far away.

So my plan:
- End the year in Los Angeles (spend Christmas with my roomies). Maybe do some touristy things I never got to before because of my work schedule.
- Move back home in January.
- Get a random job (possibly at American Airlines or something so I can travel for free on my year off) & pay off some debts without the added cost of rent and misc. bills for my own place
- Help Hazel with the girls.
- Help Brandi with her wedding.
- Take misc. classes at the community college (namely: photography, writing, and self defense)
- Continue with my workout schedule (I'm doing good! 4-5 months in so far and flying fine)
- Save some money, maybe buy a camera/laptop for the trip
- 2008, start the adventure of a lifetime.

Solid.

If you're curious... I specifically want to go to Mongolia (although anywhere that needs me is fine). I saw a documentary on Mongolia when I was young and I was entranced by the country and it's people. (Plus it has a whopping 0 fatalities). I read somewhere that if you want to go to Mongolia in the Peace Corps, you have to put June as your starting month because that's when the people leave for it. So, I guess right on my 25th birthday I'll be starting my trip. Also: Peace Corps requires 27 months from their volunteers, so when I get back I'll be almost 2 1/2 years older. Better I do it now than when I'm older and have a family or more substantial bills to worry about.

Random:
- Speaking of fatalities... why is it that the Philippines has the highest fatalities due to murder in the Peace Corps? We're nice people! WTF?
- And why don't I choose the Philippines since I'm from there, you ask... well I would if I could, but I'm not allowed to go to a country that houses any living relatives (company policy). Maybe I'll visit on my way home :)