Don't be so Hot to Trot...

So, I've got some stuff to say but don't feel like posting it just yet. In the meantime, here's a site that has some great Burkinabe photos. Irene Abdou was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger nine years ago and now photographs around the world:

http://www.photoswithsoul.com/section136113_88562.html

Wow wow... wow

So, I took all day to reveal what was in the envelope. Why? 1. Because that's how long it took me to process what I had just finished reading and 2. I didn't expect the country or the info that I got.

*drumroll*

I was invited to..... ...

...

...

...

..j/k it's Burkina Faso!

And if you're like me you know absolutely NOTHING about Burkina Faso! That's why I stared at the brochure for a while because I already had an image in my mind of where I was going and believe me I considered several places they might send me most of which started with the letter "M" or "N" like Mali, Mauritania or Niger. For whatever reason, I really thought I was going to one of those countries or perhaps Benin or even Kenya. It's funny though that I (and apparently also Shamira) expected all of the countries bordering Burkina but not Burkina itself. This is because none of us know anything about it. Like it's a forgotten step child or something. I've heard so little about it. Also, I pictured myself by water and Burkina is landlocked. Also, the program start date isn't till June. I was expecting it to be April or at least May. This means more waiting and I feel like I've waited enough. It's been 13 months since I first applied. 13 MONTHS.

The first thing I did was read the brochure which is called "Your Assignment" which is about 20 pages of basic stuff about Burkina and what I'll be doing there. The job title is "Community Health Development Worker". For those of you who think that is random, it's not really since I cited Health/HIV/AIDS education as my first choice for programs. What's more interesting though is the job description. The job requires teaming up with head nurse at the village health center to develop programs geared towards: 1. HIV/AIDS prevention 2. Immunization coverage 3. Disease prevention and 4. Safe motherhood practices including family planning and proper baby feeding. Haha, what? WTF do I know about that? I can't even remember the last time I held a baby much less fed one. Damn, have I EVER held a baby? When's the last time I even SAW a baby? Hopefully, the training's intensive because chances are any random mother knows much more about that than me.

^^^ Closest I ever got to a baby

In other related news, my mother who was very insistent that I do Peace Corps for some unknown reasons (ie she thinks it sounds good when mentioning it to her coworkers/she thinks it'll sound good if she can say her daughter speaks French to her coworkers/she thinks that it'll make want to work for the State Department), was very blunt in her reaction to the news. She had this to say:

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Convo between my mother and I:

Mom: So you heard something?

Me: Yeah

Mom: So where are you assigned?

Me: Burkina Faso

Mom: Burkina Faso! Do they speak French there?

Me: Why does that matter?

Mom: I'm just interested in learning about the country.

Me: But why is that the first question you ask?

Mom: Because we've spent a lot of money on you! We've invested lots of money sending you to Egypt/England.

Me: But what does that have to do with French? I took French in high school which was free.

Mom: But we've invested money in you so you should be speaking it. Do they have air conditioning there? And clean water?

Me: No. They don't have anything. I know your just looking for another place to vacation, but how do you know you'll even want to go there?

Mom: I don't know if I can go there I'm trying to figure that out! Tyrone, you should look up the American ambassador there so I can see if I know them (other random talk about other ambassadors she knows)

*I go back upstairs*

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Attention all...

At approximately 12:30, I was lying on the bed in the guest room because I felt tired when I peered out the window to see the mail man delivering what appeared to be a large white envelope. I hopped out of bed and went downstairs because I already knew what it was. And sure enough, Peace Corps sent a large white package like envelope with the words "Invitation Kit" on the front.

Yes, I blurred the edges of this photo to make it look more magical and also to blur out my address. I shall now open it.

Welcome!

If you're at this page then that means you matter! Congratulations, on being selected for the great honor that is this blog. Seriously, though I'd been thinking about starting a blog for a long while but there was really no reason until today and that's because... I was notified that I'd been invited to be a Peace Corps Volunteer today! But here's the thing, I still don't know where to. I went to my Peace Corps status page and it said:

Congratulations on your choice to become a Volunteer in . <---- As you can see, the place where the country name should be is quite missing.

Whatevs though, it also said I would receive a package in the mail with an official invite and info on the country I'm supposed to serve in which I can either accept or decline within 10 days. I will check the mail to see if it came today but it may not come till tomorrow or Saturday even. I am extremely nervous and have been for quite some time. In fact on the Peace Corps site, they have a poll that says "Are you nervous to begin your service?" I checked yes. Turns out 55% of Peace Corps nominees are nervous and 45% are a bunch of naive, goddamned liars.