In The Beginning........

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the U.S. federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. Later, in 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals: · Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. · Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. · Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. In recognition of these goals, with a renewed call to service, and in observance of the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, I am proud to accept an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps in Fiji. I feel very fortunate that I have been selected for the South Pacific- only 5% of all Peace Corps volunteers are ultimately selected for service in that region.

Here we go...

Ok...doesn't get more real than this...just got flight bookings for LAX for our staging. ( I'll leaving on 17th) There I will meet my fellow volunteers and fill out lots of paper work. We'll be leaving for Fiji late Tuesday night- the 18th...and land in Fiji on the morning of the 20th! It is an 11 hour nonstop flight. 0H BOY!!!

Packing!

Wow....good thing I like to pack for trips...a two year trip is a real challenge to get down to 80 pounds! I'm making a pest of myself to volunteers already there...sending lots of 'how about this?.." emails! Only 35 more days!!