Winter in Seattle

A wonderful day a Alki Beach

City I now call home.

it snowed!

Sarah, Antasia and I have been knitting up a storm.  I just finished this hat.

So, here we have it (dun dun dun) my first blog entry!

     I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading other people's blogs as I have ventured into the land of being a Peach Corps applicant/nominee/invitee that i'm excited to start creating my own story plot.  I feel like my life is in a very interesting place at the moment, stuck in a place of limbo where I comforted by repetitions and simultaneously ancy as can be.  After living in Everett with my aunt and uncle for 6 weeks while attending a vocational training program I acquired skills to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  I currently have my NAR (nursing assistant registry) which basically means I have the training but have not yet been issued a state CNA license.  I will be completing this state testing in 2 weeks.  For the last few months I have been working as a caregiver at an Adult Family Home.  This experience has ultimately been challenging and very rewarding.  Mostly, I would say I have gained invaluable perspectives pertaining to hierarchies within the medical arena, notions of business practices and state/legal regulations VS. genuine care for the elderly, patience, PaTiENce, patience, and a deep love for each individual I have cared for.  I work at two homes, each of which have a maximum of 6 residents.  For this reason the ratio between caregiver and resident is very ideal, especially in comparison to many large-scale nursing home facilities.  

So, i'm officially stalking the mail carrier.  I confess its true.  I leave for work every day at 12:30 so from the time I get up until the time I leave I probably check the mailbox 3 to 4 times.  This is really ridiculous because the mail has probably only ever come before 2:00 in the afternoon a handful of times.  But, what if TODAY is the day the mail comes early?!  A week ago today I received a phone call from the Peace Corps placement office offering me an invitation to Sub-Sharran Africa leaving mid to late May 2011.  My focus will be on HIV/AIDS and I will be riding a bicycle often.  I assume this means I will be transporting between communities often.  The officer told me she couldn't tell me any more details regarding which country I will be assigned to via telephone, but that I have to wait for my invitation packet to arrive in the mail.  She informed me this should arrive anywhere from 7-10 business days.  Needless to say, I am freaking out.