Hi everyone. So. This is my new blog.
My plan is to post here regularly while I’m away so everyone can keep up-to-date on what is hip hop happening in Africa and with me while I am there. My access to the internet will be questionable at best, however, so I’m not sure how often I will actually be able to post. Perhaps that is for the best because I am notoriously long winded and this will probably cut down on the time you have to spend sitting here reading this. I will also be writing letters, emails and maybe even checking my Facebook so if you tire of this blog we can communicate by other methods. Or you can come visit me in person, the door of my hut will always be open (probably because there might not be a door…haha… probably joking?).
Anyways, here are some things I should probably address in this first post on my brand new blog. These are some frequently asked questions that you’ve probably asked and I’ve probably given you the exact same answer I’m about to give you now. If you’ve managed to miss a question, however, here it is with the standard answer.
Question: What are you doing?
Answer: I’m going to Burkina Faso in western Africa for 27 months as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Question: What are you doing in the Peace Corps?
Answer: I’m going to be working in the agriculture and forestry extension. I’m going to say that I’ll be working with a community in Burkina Faso on developing sustainable agriculture, but what sort of projects that entails is currently unknown.
Question: When do you leave?
Answer: I leave this May 25 from the airport in Grand Junction at 8:27am. I’ll just go ahead and assume that you want to know when I’ll be returning too. Haha. I'll get back August 2013.
Question: I’ve never heard of Burkina Faso, what’s it going to be like?
Answer: No idea. Google it.
Question: Do you get to pick where you go with the Peace Corps?
Answer: Not really, you can put in a request with your application but they recommend that you don’t. They place you based on your skill set and where a person like you is needed, as well as where they have an opening and when you are available to go. For me, having a basic grasp of French and working at an organic farm in Boulder meant that I was probably destined for western Africa. I’ve heard that it’s more difficult to get a Spanish speaking country and I’ve even heard of people that have had to go back and take French classes when they already knew a bit of Spanish, but who knows, that’s just what some people told me. First time I’ve ever been happy that I took French classes and not Spanish classes. Haha.
Long story short, no, I had no idea where I would end up going, but I’m sure that Burkina Faso will be just as good as any place (if not better!) and I’m actually really happy with my assignment.
Question: Do you get paid for doing the Peace Corps?
Answer: Ehhhh, well, I’m technically a volunteer so no. However, they are paying for the flight over to Africa, will be giving me enough so that I can live in a modest fashion in Burkina Faso and, apparently, I'm also getting an all-terrain bicycle so they’re definitely hookin it up.
Question: Why do you want to be a Peace Corps volunteer?
Answer: Because it’s awesome and I’m awesome, you do the math. Haha. Just kidding, I’ve wanted to do the Peace Corps for a long time and it’s a convenient time to go now because I just got my degree (and you need a degree to enter the Peace Corps, or a lot of career experience) and at the moment I don’t have a house, pet, boyfriend(!), career, or anything else keeping me in the States. It’s a good time to go and I don’t know when I’ll get another opportune moment like this. If you want to know specifically why I want to go to Africa for 27 months with the Peace Corps, I’m not sure what answer I can give; why does anyone want to do anything? It sounds like an adventure? Not sure.
Question: What is the Peace Corps?
Answer: I have actually been asked this question. Seriously. If you want to check it out, here is a link: http://www.peacecorps.gov/ to their official website because their website will have actual information whereas I would just say “the Peace Corps is…awesome” or something equally useless.
So those are the questions that I usually get asked when I tell people that I’m doing the Peace Corps. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to go and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity. I hope that you all will enjoy reading about my adventure and if not, I’m going to enjoy writing about it anyways. Haha.
