My Peace Corps service begins in less than ONE week! It is hard to imagine that my departure day is just around the corner after all the rigmarole of the application process. To add to the excitement of departing to CR, this past weekend my brother (Ian) and my now sister-in-law (Alli) were married in Rapid City, SD. It was so wonderful to see all my family and friends all in one place before I leave. The wedding could not have been more perfect: the weather, ceremony, conversation, golf (even though my team struggled), food (spinach artichoke dip...YUMMY!), and post-ceremony activities. I am so happy for my brother and his wife, and I know they will have many happy years in the future! It saddens me to know that I will not be around for the first two years of their matrimony, but I do have only ONE wish----If they have a little guy or gal while I am away, I hope they will name him or her after the little one's favorite UNCLE! (sorry DREW)
Now....... the main focus is condensing ALL my items into two duffel bags that have to be 80 pounds or less in total weight! After looking at all the supplies I have laid out on the table and looking at the dimensions of the two duffel bags, it seems as though this will be a difficult task. I am up for it though, and I am happy to have the expertise of my mother and father. Many say the Peace Corps is like a "two year camping trip," and after my experience with Maisie camping this summer in the Duluth area, I know I do not want to under-pack. I was under the impression that August in Duluth would be warm and require no fleece jacket. I was mistaken! Maisie had the foresight and brought a couple of jackets. I was lucky enough to use her BRIGHT PINK fleece jacket to keep me warm. Here is the picture to prove it:
Although it was probably a faux pas in the fashion world, I was happy to have something to shield me from the bitter breeze of Lake Superior (sub 40 degrees was the water temp). Costa Rica is known for its warm weather, but I need to be prepared for the worst.
At 6 AM on October 4th, my plane will leave from the Minneapolis airport and arrive at Reagan international airport in Washington, DC. Once I am in Washington, we will have a short staging event at the Holiday Inn Georgetown. The group will consist of 43 PCV, 17 of which (including myself) will be working in the field of community economic development (CED). The rest will be Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The staging event will mostly consist of "who we are" and "what is expected of you" presentations. Then at 7:20 AM the next morning------off to Costa Rica! Once in CR, the whole group will have a 4 day orientation event right outside the capital of San Jose in the mountain range of Cerras de Ezcazú. September is right in the middle of the rainy season in CR; the forecast right now has it raining the next 7 days!
Let's start the insanity!
Much Love,
Elliot
FYI: Tico is a colloquial term for a native of Costa Rica
Now....... the main focus is condensing ALL my items into two duffel bags that have to be 80 pounds or less in total weight! After looking at all the supplies I have laid out on the table and looking at the dimensions of the two duffel bags, it seems as though this will be a difficult task. I am up for it though, and I am happy to have the expertise of my mother and father. Many say the Peace Corps is like a "two year camping trip," and after my experience with Maisie camping this summer in the Duluth area, I know I do not want to under-pack. I was under the impression that August in Duluth would be warm and require no fleece jacket. I was mistaken! Maisie had the foresight and brought a couple of jackets. I was lucky enough to use her BRIGHT PINK fleece jacket to keep me warm. Here is the picture to prove it:
Although it was probably a faux pas in the fashion world, I was happy to have something to shield me from the bitter breeze of Lake Superior (sub 40 degrees was the water temp). Costa Rica is known for its warm weather, but I need to be prepared for the worst.
At 6 AM on October 4th, my plane will leave from the Minneapolis airport and arrive at Reagan international airport in Washington, DC. Once I am in Washington, we will have a short staging event at the Holiday Inn Georgetown. The group will consist of 43 PCV, 17 of which (including myself) will be working in the field of community economic development (CED). The rest will be Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The staging event will mostly consist of "who we are" and "what is expected of you" presentations. Then at 7:20 AM the next morning------off to Costa Rica! Once in CR, the whole group will have a 4 day orientation event right outside the capital of San Jose in the mountain range of Cerras de Ezcazú. September is right in the middle of the rainy season in CR; the forecast right now has it raining the next 7 days!
Let's start the insanity!
Much Love,
Elliot
FYI: Tico is a colloquial term for a native of Costa Rica
