Hello dear friends and random internet users!

I am glad that you found my blog. Over the next two years, I will use this site to try and convey the beauty and warmth of the Senegalese culture that I experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I cannot promise that I will accurately capture the intricacies and complexities of the country, but I can promise monthly posts with colorful pictures!

For now, I’m in Washington D.C. eagerly awaiting my training and departure. I’ve wanted to join the Peace Corps for years and I’m so excited to finally start on this journey. In case you haven’t talked to me in the last few months, here are some of the frequently asked questions I’ve received and my (very well rehearsed) answers:

1. Why did you join the Peace Corps?

I know it sounds cliché, but I want to help people! I’ve always loved volunteering and travel, and the Peace Corps provides an incredible opportunity to do both. I can’t wait to help others while immersing myself in a new country and culture. I look forward to being able to exchange information and acceptance in a brand new place, where I can hopefully make a least a tiny difference.

2. Where are you going and how long will you be there?

I’ll spend the next 27 months in Senegal (a country in Western Africa). My first three months will be spent in Thiès, where I will receive intensive language and cultural training. After that, I will get placed somewhere in the country and start my two years of service. Assuming that I don’t choose to stay for a third year, I’ll be heading home in May 2019.

3. What will you be doing there?

My official title is “Community Health Agent.” Through this role, I will serve as an educator, facilitator, and mentor alongside local health employees and teachers. The specific work varies from site to site, and I plan on tailoring my projects to the needs of my community. Based on the region and the current projects in place, I will likely be working on malaria prevention, clean water initiatives, and/or prenatal and infant health.

4. What will your amenities look like?

Just like anywhere, amenities vary throughout the country. As a health volunteer, I will likely be placed somewhere relatively rural. That means no hot water (and possibly no running water at all), no electricity, and peeing in a hole in the ground. I should be able to access the internet in major cities, but how close I am to those cities depends on the placement I receive after training. However, like many growing countries, Senegal is rapidly expanding its technological reach. Some villages don’t have electricity, but have 3G available!

5. What are you going to miss the most?

I am going to miss my dog, my family and friends, Mexican food, and reading physical copies of books. My e-reader is great, but it’s not the same as flipping real pages. And yes, that list is in order (sorry Mom).

6. What are your plans for after Peace Corps?

I would like to go back to school. Currently, I am leaning towards law school, but an MBA is not out of the picture. For now, I’m trying to focus on the incredible opportunities I’ll experience over the next two years and the joy that comes with having your plans finally fall into place.

7. How do you pack for two years?

I do not know. If you know the answer to this, please tell me. My most prized possessions are currently a solar-powered charger, 40 packs of Welch’s fruit snacks, and a lot of nice notes and pictures of home. I am bringing 77 pounds of luggage loaded into a suitcase and a backpack.

All that being said, I’m going to go back to unpacking and repacking my suitcase in the hopes that it will magically weigh ten pounds less this time. Please reach out with questions and suggestions for future posts, or just to say hello. Because I promised colorful pictures in my posts, here is an example of the beautiful traditional clothing worn daily in Senegal: