Couch Surfing/ House Sitting / Dog Sitting

We have a house! We have not only ONE bedroom but THREE and a living room, kitchen, garage, back yard… :) Well, technically it isn’t ours but we are house sitting/dog sitting for friends so we will call it ours for the next month! I think it is going to be amazing, but I am slowly figuring out that I might not have enough activities to fill my time with… I might just keep my job

 

What have we done with it so far!? Well let me tell you :

Yesterday:

3:00 PM – Picked up some ingredients to COOK dinner on the way, Getting Excited — We have arrived!

4:30 – Music on, Dogs played with, Met the neighbors… What to do next?

5:30 PM- Can’t figure out what to do, so I get on Pinterest and make Pizza Muffins! I have been wanting to do that for quite some time :) I even use flour and baking powder!! I feel pretty professional.

6:30 PM- Feed dogs, try and figure out Charlene’s instructions, try and figure out who’s food is who’s, try and figure out which scoop she means when she says ONE scoop and there are 3 different size scoops in the bin, Get Beretta to sit…

7:30 PM – Can’t figure out the TV. Read Charlene’s Instructions. TV on, Cable on, AUX on, NOT ALL OFF, Computer Input – weird keyboard remote control, green squiggly, DO NOT USE PLEX – What the heck! — Finally settle on Cable – but with captions because we can’t turn them off!

9:30 PM – Worn out from trying to work the TV. Take Ten Gauge and Baretta outside to potty- Or try to but the pricklies hurt Ten Gauge’s feet so have to baby him outside while trying not to let Baretta inside. Baretta won’t stop barking – or jumping…

9:45 PM Can’t figure out what to do next so we go to bed. ???? REALLY! Yes, at 9:45

Today 

5:30 AM – Baretta starts passing gas obnoxiously, she’s on my side of the bed.

6:15 AM- Decide she needs to go outside… Make Brett do it.

6:30 AM- Figure out that I can’t go back to sleep – The dogs are awake, fed, pottied, and now they go back to sleep.

7:00 AM- I make coffee and oatmeal and watch Boy Meets World for an hour

8:00 AM – Dogs are awake and I decide to try and take Baretta for a walk.

8:05 AM- Not happening, Baretta can’t understand the concept of ME taking her for a walk, not the other way around.  I am too weak and it is too early to be pulled… Later I will think about riding a skateboard while she pulls me.

8:20 AM – Can’t find anything else to do, so I take Ten Gauge on a walk.  MUCH better… he poops 3 times and I didn’t bring anything to pick it up with so I start walking faster. — He does very well, and no one seems to notice.

9:00 AM – Can’t find anything to do, so I take a shower and put on make-up and do my hair.

10:00 AM – Still don’t know what to do… There are SOOO many hours in the morning!

10:45 AM – Decide to make BBQ pulled pork/ mac-n-cheese/ garlic buns / sweet tea

11:15 AM – Eat before mentioned meal….

NOW WHAT??? Honestly, There is SO much time when you wake up at 6:30 in the morning! I think I will stick to my usual 10 AM.

Can YOU Guess Where We Are Going NOW?!!?!?

• The Country Is Twice the Size Of Nevada
• Population: 32 Million
• Located On the Equator
• We’ll Be Speaking Swahili
• The Country Gained Independence in 1963
• Some of the Oldest Palentalogical Records of the History of Mankind Have Been Found Here 
• Has the Second Largest Mountain In Africa 
  • Second To Mnt. Kilimanjaro, WHICH We Will Get To See From Our Backyard (Getting Close??) 
• Elephants, Tigers, Zebras, Giraffes, and Monkeys Will Be Our Pets!!

That Is Right!!!!!!!!!

We Are Going To Kenya!!! I AM SOOOOOOOOOO Excited! Couldn’t Be More Thrilled Actually :) Also My Job ROCKS! Now, We Are Both Going To Be Working In Public Health. YAY!

Oh! The Distress! :)

Peace Corps Called Us!! The Have Canceled Service In Mali!

It is a shame really that a country so stable could turn for the bad that quickly. I honestly didn’t think it would come to this. Although we have stayed prepared for the worst I was still quite optimistic. Everything is out of our control though and Peace Corps has decided to get out.

We got the official call yesterday and the woman we talked to said that we should hear something by today… We didn’t even have to wait that long! Our Placement Officer called me last night to ask about our preferences for the next placement.  I was really honest with her, I told her that our major concern was the departure date and that we wanted to leave the country by Mid July. I said Brett was determined to leave regardless of if it was with Peace Corps or not. Other than that, I said I wanted to be in East Africa.

Well that was it and she called me today with exact options.

Option 1: 

China – June 30th – University English Teachers

Option 2:

Kenya – June 4th – Public Health

Really?? That was a no brainer :) 

International Dilemmas

Filtering, Heaven’s Reward Fallacy (Past Post) … That is what is going on in my head these days.  What is happening in Mali has not even trickled down and affected me yet, but I am still worried about it.  It has sent me in a dash to find all available back-up options… which is only making me more stressed as I realize I am qualified for almost zero placements. <— That is not distorted thinking, that is the truth.  Not to mention, the opportunities I might be qualified for will have several hundred applicants more qualified than me.This explains why it’s so difficult, and its not the first time I have read these words.

I have to face the truth… Although I would be a great addition for any domestic job, I haven’t put in the time at the bottom.  In college I worked hard in many avenues related to my degree (Psychology) and did well.  However, since college I have roamed, and played, and spent all my time traveling. While I do not regret those experiences, it looks pretty flaky on my CV. Internationally, I know I would be a great asset but I don’t have any international experience and no one will pick me over John Smith with 5+ years doing relief work in third-world insert country here.  See my dilemma??

Not to lessen Peace Corps, but this is why the organization is so fantastic! It takes 20-50 somethings and gives them a shot! You need minimal experience, but a whole lot of motivation, heart, and persistence - I surely have this – and they give you your chance! Peace Corps, for me, is a way to expand my skills and knowledge, learn cultures, grow as an independent woman and HELP THE WORLD!  While also giving me the experience I need to obtain the before mentioned jobs — nothing is truly altruistic. Oh, and did I mention that I won’t have to pay for it??? It is so frustrating how many volunteer/intern positions there are out there that cost $4,000-$15,000 + for a basic 8 week program!

Now, family and friends don’t start getting concerned at my current psyche. I’m not trying to be dramatic, and I am not hopeless, just concerned.  All I can do is put in the time and effort for God to open some doors and guide us through the right one. I just ask for your prayers that He’s with us on this one and we do what is right.  Brett and I have decided that whatever happens, we are leaving the country July 1st.  Hopefully with Peace Corps, but I am coming around the ideas of different options. Just the other day Brett found this PERFECT opening with Invisible Children… I would love to go to Uganda :)

Who knows what is going to happen over the next 59 days – All I know is that I am going to stay as prepared as possible for any and all outcomes. That is all I can do!