Say What?

"Aren't you some missionary from Guatemala...Green Peace...?"

Just thought I would make a little note on memorable responses after telling people about my future plans.

"Is that in the same time zone?" -my mom This was pretty much her first question, and I love that it was. Of course, it made me laugh right at first, but the more I think about it, the more important it is that we will be waking up and going to bed around the same time-makes me feel as if I'm not going as far away.

"Of all the things I would have done, joining the Peace Corps right after college is one." -Jan Kauffman, my interpersonal skills class instructor Knowing this lady has made a difference in my life and hearing her say that really meant a lot.

"What a cool name for a country." -my brother, Joanna, Amanda, and maybe others All thought I was saying believe until I tried spelling it out. I do like how similar the words sound and can be used interchangeably.

"Peace Corps?" -bank teller when I deposited my medical reimbursement She barely knows me, I mean, I always loved going into Bank of the West because it seemed like a small town bank, and we had talked a little before, just because I have a hard time keeping to myself. It was just a neat moment, unexpected.

"You're always wanting to help other people." -Todd The best picture we can get of ourselves is from those around us.

"I'm just so tickled!" - Grandpa Mike We also talked about him rowing his boat down to Belize when he went to Cancun with a friend next summer.

"I'm glad you're following the desires of your heart." -Brett Yohn, the Christian Challenge director Again, so neat to hear positive feedback from important people in my life.

"I have the biggest smile on my face." -Nick Hearing this from a returned volunteer was nice.

"These pigs want to go to Belize." -Larka I couldn't leave the country without my favorite pets. And you were right, I'm glad you have your own, otherwise I would want to give you one and we both know pigs do better in pairs.

"I've been to where you are going and it's beautiful there." -Ruth, a lady from my home town It's funny how before I got my assignment it took a bit to get me to talk about Peace Corps. Now that I have a better idea what I'll be doing I use it as a conversation starter and so do others.

"You're going to get so tanned." Trevor, a high schooler This made me laugh. I find humor in a lot of things, wondering why people say what they do. Plus, it's funny because I don't really tan.

"My Belize?" - baby shower host for one of my friends See how crazy I am? I remember things people say, and I don't even remember their names. It was an unexpected topic of conversation, I don't plan on talking about Belize everyday, it just comes up. This lady had vacationed in Belize and can't wait to go back.

"No!" -Cora Of course, everyone can't be excited for me to leave. My beautiful niece isn't quite ready for me to be gone two years.

And there are more, for sure, just wanted to share a few. Oh! And the first one is from a guy in my town, I don't really know him, but you know, in a small town everyone knows everything about everybody, and this proves they even know it before you do. I hadn't even been invited to Belize yet, so he wasn't as far off as I thought he was.

Loves and Hugs!

I couldn't have planned it better!

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you." ~Frederick Buechner

Here's the beginnings of the amazing adventure about to take place. I've been invited to serve in Belize as an elementary teacher trainer beginning August 19, 2009! Everything I've learned about the country this past month has increased my excitement level. For awhile I tried telling myself not to get my hopes up too high in case for some reason they crash before my staging date, but I decided these next few months will be a time of trust. Plus, I realized truth in the excitement and lies in the doubt. I've been trying to soak up all the information I can find about this place-reading my Lonely Planet travel guide, talking with my new friend who grew up in Belize, looking for books written by Belizean authors, seeking out other PCV blogs, and so on. I even Google searched "Beautiful Belize" for fun to find a magazine with that title. I'm in love with a country I've never been to and people I've never met.