2.5 Months Out from Departure

I figured I ought to start writing about what I'm doing in order to set a precedent - write as much as possible. And not for you either - this is for me. I want to be able to read my blog when I get older so that I can remember and relive the moments that are both good and bad. I means it's great to read about what's good, but let's be honest - the worse the situation, the better the story. It's not enough to just care, you have to do something. You cannot just sit back and prey for world peace or feel sorry for the kids on the TV who have the bloated stomachs and are dieing of starvation - you must act.

My act is not one that is altruistic.  I am a selfish person.  I am going to leave a city where I have built relationships, a life, and where I have a good job and a house. I am going to leave, not so that I can go and help, but so that I can help myself.  It seem to me that the best way to live a fulfilling life is to help others by helping yourself.  It is when you can help others and yourself that you can maintain such a commitment.  I am going to live an adventure. I am going to teach. Everyone who knows me knows that I love to teach, they may not always want to be taught, but I'm going to try and teach them something anyway. I will also be a student, something I also love, because, let's face it, when you learn new things, you have more knowledge to teach!

So yes, I'll be a volunteer. Yes, I'll be helping others.  But I'm doing this because it's something that I too can enjoy. I have heard that Peace Corps Volunteers get much more from their experiences then they put in - this too is why I have chosen to volunteer.

I have recently gotten medically cleared and have started communicating with the administration in Albania. This started to happen about 3 months out. I had to start my medical and dental within 6 months of departure, and previous to that I had simply waited. I was one of the last volunteers to be assigned.  I have heard you can now apply to where you want to go, which is a nice change.  I was allowed to express a preference, and being a Spanish speaker, I would have loved to go to Latin America.  However, I also wanted the adventure.  I wanted to throw caution to the wind and land wherever the wind blows me. That wind blew me to Albania.

I have asked people that I know who are or have been Peace Corps Volunteers to give me advice. Here is the advice that I have recieved thus far (thanks to each one of you who has provided advice!):

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  Lisa Morrical 1. Try not to freak out
  2. Join the facebook group for your country and talk to people there about what to pack (also look at their blogs)
  3. Organize financial stuff, like what numbers to call and which websites to visit for loan deferments. I'm still trying to defer all of my student loans even though I thought I did everything I needed to do to defer them before I left (re-deferring is part of the deal)
  4. Eat all of the foods you're going to miss
  5. Start with your 3rd goal stuff before service. Tell friends and family where you're going and teach them a little about your country

  December 29, 2014 at 9:46am · Unlike · 4
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  Lindsay Curtis ^ that's all really good advice. The best-prepared people I served with (material-wise) were those who joined the fb group and read blogs before coming to the country. And yeah, bring all your key account numbers and passwords-- write them down somewhere. Eat the foods you're going to miss, but be careful because it's not as easy to lose weight in PC as most people think...

  December 29, 2014 at 11:02am · Unlike · 3
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  Lindsay Curtis Be careful with how much nice stuff you bring with you (and be careful who you tell about your expensive, nice possessions), because it could get stolen or become a cause or friction between you and those you're living/working with.

  December 29, 2014 at 11:04am · Unlike · 1
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  Lindsay Curtis Otherwise: a sleeping bag, a good knife, a good pocket knife, and any reading you've been meaning to get around to for years. Have fun!

  December 29, 2014 at 11:05am · Unlike · 2
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  Michael Winans Thanks Lisa & Lindsay for the advice. I'm going to take it to heart.

  December 29, 2014 at 12:22pm · Like
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  Drew Kimzey Get a kindle if you don't have one. The Peace Corps library is good, but not if you want to read more recent books

  December 29, 2014 at 2:19pm · Like
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  Drew Kimzey A good cooking knife too. Good cookware can be hard to find

  December 29, 2014 at 2:20pm · Like
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  Michael Winans Thanks Drew, I've been buying knives trying to find the right for almost 8 months now. I think I've got one, but I've heard this from so many PCVs.

  December 29, 2014 at 4:27pm · Like · 1
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  Dean LaCombe Don't drink the water! Buy comfortable boots. Don't be a smart *ss to strangers. I know you probably had a grin on your face reading my last sentence.

  December 29, 2014 at 8:04pm · Like · 1
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  Rosa Nguyen Hey Michael! So exciting!! I'm at work now but will definitely write you a message this weekend. Of course every country and posting is different but I'll try my best to pass along useful advice. From the comments above I agree with the kindle (depending if you can go somewhere to charge it), solar chargers if you're not near electricity (I had 2 bc my village didn't have electricity), and a good leatherman. That was seriously the most useful thing I had - and still have! I'll see if I can find the model number on it 😀

  December 30, 2014 at 11:33am · Unlike · 1
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  Dean LaCombe I am! And I know how smart you are and how you like to poke people that are not up to par with you.

  December 30, 2014 at 3:00pm · Unlike · 1
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  Izzy Garcia Hi, I was in MExico also. I had an aawesome xmas with my family, and now I'm back in Cartagena... First thing I noticed about Albania... I think you are going to serve in a beautiful country, did you choose it? lol Well, this place will become your home, so love it for all that it will be (take in the good and learn from your challenges), appreciate the little things in life and the people, who will become a part of your life (2) Cool, you get to learn a new language?! You are a determined person, so you will be successful (3) Be humble... those friendships that you will make, at least for me, have been essential for meeting PC goals... I've been reading the other comments on your status, and I'm a little different, I don't have a kindle... I manage to keep myself busy with photographs lol and with the curriculum I'm working on... and with the many invitations I receive from my amazing host family... with that said (4) sometimes changes will happen that are out of your control, be patient and trust the process... Ps: most people have lost weight in Colombia, but I haven't... I eat everything, and there's other factors that come into play, but its 2015 (pass midpoint of my service... time for some changes).... ha ha BUT, What do I miss the most from the U.S.? FAMILY AND MEXICAN FOOD!!! already missing all those spices lol... So keep us posted on your program, experience, and I'll look forward to seeing some pictures...

  18 hrs · Unlike · 2
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  Michael Winans Thanks for the advice Izzy!

  15 mins · Like