Why can't you stay in the US and volunteer??? People here need help too!

I've been asked this question a couple of times. And they're right...I can stay here and volunteer. I've done so in the past. And I will do so in the future...just as soon as I get done using your taxpayer money to pay for my 2 year vacation...just kidding :)

But seriously though, I get a bit irritated at this question/comment because, first, it's usually asked by someone who has no volunteer experience at all, domestic or foreign, and therefore has no room to question what I do. And the second reason why this irritates me is because I feel that it's a symptom of that mental disease that's way to common, that desire to isolate ourselves and refusal to view the rest of the world as fellow human beings who desire to be healthy and happy just like us. Even those who actually care about people suffering in other countries sometimes fail to realize that simply sending money is not gonna solve the problem. The problems are deeper than that and way too complicated for the hands-off approach to work. I could go on and on about issues with the "aid" that's given to developing countries, but one of the main reasons I chose to do Peace Corps is because I really wasn't ready to fall into a routine...that daily grind of making bills, going to work to pay off those bills, and trying to enjoy life in between. I wanted to be removed from my comfort zones and everything I've always known and push myself to adjust to, live in, learn from, and love a completely different group of people with a completely different culture. And I also feel like I may be interested in a career in international development, so let's hope that my 2 years in Jamaica go well! If not, I'll come back and figure out how can best serve people here. Either way, any decision I make will be guided by God and in the end, His blessing is the only approval that I need :)

In other news...

I'm ready to share my packing/shopping/wish list! As in I WISH that I could pay for half the stuff I need to buy before I leave. I've been internet shopping for the past couple of days...I don't do the Black Friday thing...didn't feel like being trampled and crushed under a crowd of people running to get the last Nintendo Wii. I managed to find a lot of deals online including a PCV discount with Teva. This list will undoubtedly be modified/reduced before I leave but here is what I'm hoping to bring:

- 3 dresses                                        - netbook and speakers
- 3 skirts                                           - high capacity jump drive
- 5 blouses                                       - digital camera
- 5 casual shirts                                - surge protector
- 5 pairs of dress pants                     - ipod & docking station
- 4 pairs of jeans                              - shortwave radio
- 4 pairs of shorts/capris                   - batteries
- (?) t-shirts                                      - games (dominoes, cards, etc.)
- 2 bathing suits                                 - many books
- 1 light sweater/jacket                       - coloring books and crayons
- 1 pair of closed toed dress shoes      - pens and pencils
- 1 pair of Teva water sandals             - world map
- 2 pairs of flip flops                            - gifts for host family
- 2 pairs of Teva dressy sandals          - pictures from home
- 2 pairs of tennis shoes                       - sunglasses
- multiple underwears                          - water-resistant watch
- 4 bras/2 sports bras                          - umbrella
- 2 slips                                               - plastic water bottle
- socks                                                - 3-M wall hanging products
- pjs/sleeping clothes                           - roll of duct tape
- combs                                              - swiss army knife
- hair ties and clips                               - full size sheets
- flat iron                                             - envelopes and stamps
- shampoo and conditioner                   - flashlight
- hair moisturizer                                  - large rolling duffel bag
- small mirror                                       - smaller duffel
- nail clippers/nail file                            - backpack
- pack of razors                                   - small messenger bag
- eyeglasses
- contact lenses
- contact lens solution
- feminine hygiene products
- 2 towels/2 washcloths
- soap
- lotion
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- deodorant

Now I realize that this list looks very long, but a lot of the items are small, so I should be able to pack everything, right? If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks for reading! See ya next time!

No More Wisdom!

Soooo, apparently some dental surgeon person took my wisdom teeth yesterday. And in their place, he left gaps that have been causing me quite a bit of discomfort in the last 24 hours.  And guess what? I actually paid him to do this! What was I thinking?

Ok, I admit it, I signed up to have my wisdom teeth removed because the Peace Corps said that I wouldn't be able to receive my plane ticket unless I did so.  So, yeah, I obeyed. I refused to let this stand in the way of me going to Jamaica!

You wanna hear about my whole surgical experience? I know you do! Even if you don't, I'm gonna tell it anyway...so here it goes. First, I woke up at about 8:30, took a shower, packed some clothes (since I'm staying with parents for the weekend), and took anti-bacterial infection medicine. Then, my dad picked me up from my apartment and we drove to the dentist office. My mom met us there. Not too long after I checked in, they called me back...to pay for the surgery. The total was around $1100, but my insurance paid for most of it, so I only had to pay $387, which is still a lot to me, but much better than $1100. So then I returned to the waiting room until they called me back again to get started.  I couldn't wear contacts or glasses during the surgery, so I was as blind as a bat as I followed the nurse to my room. Well, I could vaguely make out shapes and faces. The "recovery area" was right next to my room, so I could look out and see the other patients who'd just had their teeth removed. One girl was crying...I got nervous.

When I got to my room, I laid down in the operating chair and the nurse took my blood pressure, stuck 2 heart monitors on my chest, and set up the IV tube thingy in my right arm. Then, I waited. As I waited, I could hear more patients being transported to and from the recovery area; some were fine, others could barely walk. I could also hear a country music station playing in the background...not really my favorite genre, but was surprisingly relaxing yesterday. After about 45 minutes, the dentist came in and the usual pleasantries were exchanged. As he was talking to another nurse, he started to fumble around with my IV. I was under the impression that he would inform me before he drugged me up, but apparently that's not necessary. So sometime between that point and me waking up disoriented, they removed my teeth. I don't remember a thing.

After I woke up, a nurse assisted me to the recovery area where I laid back in a recliner until they felt I was "recovered" enough to walk to the car. I met my parents at the door in the pick-up area, they helped me get into the car, and we drove home. My routine, since coming home, has been the following:  remove bloody guaze from mouth, drink liquids, take meds, eat mashed potatoes, replace guaze, feel nauseous, go to sleep, wake up, and repeat. I'm feeling much better now though...the pain is subsiding and i'm eating more solid food. Ok, i'm starting to feel nauseous again, so it must be time for another nap. Thanks for reading this incredibly exciting post! There's many more to come...

Right after surgery...

Today, after many hours of recovery, with an ice pack on my face...