saying 'au revoir' to everyone

Last night was my going-away party at my sister Joy's house. It was very nice. My sister and my mom, Joy, Carrie, and Tony (my awesome bro-in-law) pitched in and got me an iPod touch!
My dad and Maria and Irene came down from northern AZ to say goodbye, too.

Thanks to everyone who came and showed support. You all mean so much to me!

I love you!

Au revoir...

packing and tying loose ends

The sky in Phoenix looks bigger today, with clouds streaked everywhere. This makes the world seem small, which I find comforting, considering that I'll be traveling halfway across it in about 9 days...

I am not very good at packing, so my mom is coming over on Sunday to help. She told me just to lay everything I'm bringing out on the bed and she'll organize it and make it fit in my suitcases. But the big problem is laying out the things to bring!
I have several packing lists from several sources and I am trying to combine this with my own knowledge about what I think I'll need and what I'll never use.

I went to Goodwill the other day, at my dad's suggestion, to find a second suitcase and found a pretty nice Samsonite for only 13 dollars. I also went shopping today and got a few more clothing items, some toiletries, a Swiss Army carry-on bag and some crayons and construction paper for the kids.
I will do my last minute shopping next week, when I have more money... I ran out of funds today! (Toiletries can be expensive.)

Stuff I still need (well not need, because I don't really need anything) but would like to pack:
-a solar battery charger and a Solio H1000 charger
-an iPod (I'm crossing my fingers for a miracle on this one)
-earplugs
-coloring books and magazines for the kids
-postcards for homestay family gifts
-16 passport photos
-a bunch of family photos for when I get homesick

I guess I'll just go down the Peace Corps list and make sure to set aside all the needed stuff and then get rid of or store all my other stuff. I will just leave a couple of boxes at my sister's house and my mom's house and the rest will have to go. It is hard to get rid of stuff, but also liberating. In fact, the universe told me the other day that in order to be free, you have to let go.
(By the way, Jessica, that includes getting rid of stressful thoughts!)

My going-away party is tomorrow at my sister's house. I get to say goodbye to my family and closest friends. The world is small. The sky is vast. Everything is perfect.

shortening the list

My dad and stepmom helped me to shorten my list of needed items. I spent last week in California surfing and visiting my grandparents, and my dad took me shopping for some stuff on my packing list. He helped me out a LOT by getting me stuff like a shortwave radio, shoes, clothes, school supplies, a Camelbak, a headlamp, a poncho, a watch, and more.
THANK YOU so much Dad and Maria Elena! I really appreciate the help :)

My going away party is on Saturday and I have 12 days left until staging. I am trying to stay calm and productive...

address in Guinea

This will be my address in Guinea:

Jessica LEFLER, PCV
Corps de la Paix Americain
B.P. 1927
Conakry, Guinea
West Africa

received staging information

I got an email from Peace Corps staging today. It told me about my staging, which will be on July 6th in Philadelphia.
We will have registration, then a four hour training session, during which we will discuss:
- Peace Corps mission
- anxiety and aspirations
- managing risk (safety)
- policies
- reflect on commitment to serve
- logistics and departure/arrival info

Then next morning, we will get our shots and get on a bus to JFK airport. Our flight for Guinea departs from JFK at 5:50 pm. We will have a short layover in Brussels and then go on West Africa, stopping in Dakar before we arrive in Conakry, Guinea. I will arrive in Guinea at 5:50 pm on July 8, 2009.

...later...

I just called the Peace Corps travel people to arrange for my tickets to staging in Philadelphia. I am leaving Phoenix on July 5th in order to be on time for the staging on the sixth.

practicing my French

I got an email from the PC Guinea desk yesterday, saying that they had received my resume and aspiration statement. They said that my staging (2-3 day orientation before departure) is in Philadelphia on July 6-7. I will be receiving my staging instructions soon.
Then they said that I should practice my French, ideally completing 40 hours of Rosetta Stone before I leave.
I looked at Rosetta Stone online that is provided for Peace Corps invitees and found that it was much too basic. Still, I guess it's helpful to practice speaking it anyway, even if it's just like "je mange une pomme et du riz..."
Since I am already somewhat fluent in French, I have decided to read some novels out loud to practice spoken French and my accent. I am starting with something I read in one of my senior French classes: Ecriture feminine en Afrique et aux Antilles. The novel is called La Petite Peule by Mariama Barry, a woman born in Senegal of Guinean descent.
This book is actually quite à propos to my assignment because it talks about Peuhl customs and traditions, and the Peuhl is the largest ethnic group in Guinea-- about 40 percent of the population. And part of the novel actually takes place in Guinea.

Je vous aime!

suggested packing list

I found these suggested packing lists on www.friendsofguinea.org from returned volunteers. Then there are Peace Corps packing lists too... I have a lot of stuff to get.

clothes
3 khakis/slacks
2 long skirts
1 jeans
5-8 tank tops
4 button down shirts
1 modest swimsuit
1 pair Teva/Chaco sandals
1 pair athletic shoes
1 pair nice shoes (sandals)
1 raincoat or poncho
25 pairs cotton underwear
6-8 bras
5-8 pairs cotton socks
1 cotton pajama
5-8 bandanas
1 sweater
1 hat
1 waterproof watch
1-2 nice outfits for dancing
1-2 professional outfits

teaching supplies
ink pens, mostly red
school bag
accordion file
grade books (graph paper)
construction paper
scissors
Scotch tape
duct tape
calculator


miscellaneous
hair clips/bobby pins
Nalgene bottle
Camelbak
Leatherman
pocket knife
headlamp
flashlight
pillow
music
can opener
spices
makeup
washcloth
towel
art supplies (Prismacolor)
7 day pill holder
journals/spiral notebooks
a couple of good books
ear plugs
garlic press
spatula
good knife
tea
toothpaste
toothbrushes
deodorant
seeds for garden
sunglasses
kid books
book light

application status update: dental clearance is complete

I got the email today. So I should be receiving staging instructions soon.