My Bagakhangai Family

The Beginning

For those of you who are reading this probably already know that I have been invited to join the Peace Corps in Mongolia as an English teacher. Insanity? I think so, but I'm up for the challenge (hmm, that might classify me as insane). For all my readers and people who randomly stumbled upon this page, let me start from the beginning.

Half way through my junior year in college, I sat myself down and thought very hard on what I wanted to do directly after college. The answer I originated was in the form of two short phrases: I want to help others and I want to travel. (In my short past, I have been to several foreign countries for pleasure and travel, and I have done some missionary type work in the Dominican Republic). I began researching some volunteer and service organizations around the country and the world. Obviously the Peace Corps came up. I had always had some natural curiosity of what the Peace Corps is and how the organization served and worked in other countries. I made an impulsive decision to apply, and the further I proceeded into the application process, the more I realized what I wanted to do with my recent future.

In case you don’t know, the application process of the Peace Corps is incredibly tedious and lengthy. I worked on the online application for nearly a year (not because it took that long, but I took my sweet time).

After I finally completed and submitted the application, I was half way through my senior year of college. In late December or early January, I received a phone call from my recruitment officer requesting an interview in Atlanta later that month (Jan 18, 2010). As soon as I made a tentative interview date, my mother graciously bought me a plane ticket to Atlanta for January 18th. I then called my recruitment officer back the same day confirming the interview date.

When I was back at school, I informed my friends and colleagues about my interview. I also made a trip to the career center to request some help from Mrs. Xuchitl Coso. She gave me several great tips for the interview setting.

Well, safe to say, the interview went smashingly. I learned more about the application process and had a free trip to Atlanta (to visit my uncle, aunt, and little cousin). A few weeks after the interview, I was mailed a packet of health care forms (the Peace Corps has to make sure I’m healthy enough I suppose). I had to visit my doctor, my dentist, and my eye doctor to both find and create some current health records so the Peace Corps could inspect me medically. I also had to have lab work done on my blood and received a few injections. I spent my whole spring break doing these little doctor visits. Exhausting.

After the medical process, I waited and waited until I received a call from my step father informing me that a fairly large package from the Peace Corps had arrived. I was sitting outside the library when he called me. I sat down and listened patiently to the sound of him opening the box (a.k.a. the invitation). While he was opening the package, he asked me what country I think they placed me in. I playfully said Mongolia because I recently was listing the countries in Asia Peace Corps Volunteers serve in to a friend and Mongolia was still fresh on my mind. Surprise Surprise. When Bruce spoke the words: “Secondary English Education in Mongolia” I was in awe. I kept saying to myself, I’m going to Mongolia. I quickly told all my friends and peers, and most of them had a similar reaction.

So since then, I’ve had several more tasks to complete (and I still feel that some have not been completed or I’m forgetting something else to do).

Here is a glance at my last month in the States:

Drivers license renewal

Took the GRE

Applying for a passport (the wrong way first, then the correct way)

Filling out Peace Corps papers and forms

Visiting with family and friends

Deferring my student loans

Buying Mongolian winter and English teacher apparel

Injecting an H1N1 vaccine

Applying for a credit card

Opening a new checking account, on account of my student one expired

And lastly, packing everything I need into a suitcase, a duffle bag (both no more than 50 lbs) and a backpack.

Since that moment I discovered where my recent future will be located, I’ve basically been physically and mentally preparing to leave the country and enter a brand new environment; or be thrown out into the wolves. With school ending and being a recent college grad, I know this is the best time to join the cause I am joining, and I am ready to dive head first into the cold winters, hot summers, new languages my tongue can barely pronounce, and the cultures of the Land Under the Blue Sky.

Here I go, off into the wild blue yonder.