Happy New Year!

Well, today is the first day of 2012! While I don't know exactly what this year will hold, I do know it will be a year of change. In just 17 days, I will be saying goodbye to everything I know and starting a new life in Ecuador, where I will serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer for 27 months.  It won't be easy, that I know, but I can hope that it will be as rewarding as it will be challenging.

Some people don't understand why I would want to leave the life I have.  I am just finishing school with a master's degree, I have a year of teaching experience under my belt, I live in America's finest city, and have great friends and family. It's hard to explain, but if you know me at all you know that I love  traveling to new places and discovering new things.  And I'm not quite ready for the steady 9-5 job that most people my age dream of.  I knew I wanted to travel when I was done with school, but I also wanted to do something meaningful with my time and education.  I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do want to give back.  I've been blessed my whole life, and being at USD for the past 6 years has only accentuated the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" of this world. There are a lot of opportunites to give back, but the Peace Corps had what I wanted: living in a community and becoming integrated in a culture, establishing projects and working with local people, and actually training individuals to maintain these projects in the long-term.  It's more of the "teach a man to fish" approach, as opposed to the "give a man a fish" philosophy.

So, in September 2010, I started an application.  After essays, a resume, transcripts, letters of recommendation, an interview, a physical, blood tests, dental x-rays, immunizations, and numerous phone calls/faxes/emails, I finally got an invitation to serve as an environmental education and awareness volunteer in the natural resource protection program in Ecuador.  I received just over 2 months notice prior to my departure.

I'm starting this blog so that I can stay connected to the people I'm leaving behind, and I hope that it will be as interactive as possible.  I fully encourage anyone who reads this to post responses, ask questions, or tell me about life back home.  I'm calling it "Adventures in Peace", not just because it's about my time in the Peace Corps, but also because it's about my experience living a simpler life, having less, and giving more.  My hope is to update my blog at least once a month, depending on internet access.

For now, I am going to go eat my traditional new year's black-eyed peas (for good luck!) and continue packing up my apartment and getting ready for my move.

Happy new year to all, and happy reading in the future!