It's almost here...

I was realizing today that it has been a month since I left my position with IRC...which also means that I am now down to 2 weekends left before I leave for Peru on September 9 (well, DC on the 9th, Peru on the 11th). I'm going to do a bit of a blitz trip out to see Joe this weekend, and in the meantime I'm getting things packed up and organized...I've taken over a whole room in the basement to myself to help me keep things in order. It's been a bit of a challenge getting flats and sneakers that I normally wouldn't seriously consider wearing in public (besides my fabulous pink pumas of course) but for the most part I'm just going to use what I have and fill in once I have a better idea of where I'll be living beyond the first 3 months of training.



The past two weeks that I've been back from Ireland have been great, but its a bit tough being in this place where you've given up a good deal of things you love for an opportunity, but your not yet filling that void with anything very useful or concrete! I think its also just the curse of being a perpetual planner-an aspect of my personality that seems to drift in and out of my frontal lobe :) I've been able to think a good deal about the people I am really going to miss, and I've been able to see some of them...even if its been awhile its always great to pick up right where things get left off, I'm so lucky to have friends like that! I also have just spent some time doing the things I love, like taking off with a book to the lake and enjoying some sunshine, drinking lots of delicious coffee, enjoying an airconditioned gym, talking with friends, and spending time with my family especially...and really realizing that I feel at peace with my decision to go to Peru.



I've also been in touch with some great resources, I met some really great doctors and NP's in womens health this past year and have been fortunate enough to email back and forth with them about advice on Peace Corps in general and on public health matters as well...I know I have to keep an open mind on what I'll be doing though...but I think it will be great to have them as contacts for questions and stuff that might come up.

Also, when I was first deciding on accepting my invitation to work in community health promotion in Peru, I came across this article that was actually published the very same week...it was honestly pretty formative in my decision to accept the assignment, and hopefully you will have a chance to read it and maybe understand why.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/hundreds-peru-poor-rural-indigenous-pregnant-women-die-health-service-lottery-20090709



K.