The Invitation!

On Saturday, November 1st, my invitation packet arrived. I knew it was on it's way, but wasn't expecting it to arrive for a few more days. Oh well! I couldn't believe how big the packet was. As I held it, waiting to open it, until everything was exactly perfect, I thought about all of the months of waiting. I thought about the epic journey to get my polio shot, and the physicals, and the papers, and the papers, the recommendations, the interview, and everything that put this ball in motion. I thought about telling people, and realizing that "it's time" and how much everyone meant to me leading up to this and how much they will continue to mean to me while I have good days and bad days, days when 2 years won't end soon enough and days when I won't want to return to the states. It took me a good 10 minutes to sit down and open it....that was a lot of thinking.
Before I could get the envelope open I saw the word "Madagascar" through the address window. Really? That couldn't be it? I was told Western Africa...I talked about Western Africa. I spent days watching films about the diamond trade and other atrocities preparing myself for the worst. But I went ahead. Opened it...that also took a while. It was a bear of an envelope to get into.
It really did say Madagascar. It was just some other country that processes information or whatever. My first thought was "OMG This is AMAZING....OMG, OMG. Madagascar, that's the country I did a report on in 7th grade. They have all sorts of crazy animals there. Bergman talked about it a lot in class. OMG!" My next thought was filled with laughter as earlier that week Chris and I were discussing the placement potentials and he brought up Madagascar in reference to the movie and suspected that the animals there are going to sound like Chris Rock. Of all the random countries for him to make jokes about, it was that one! It cracks me up still!
Next I felt both relieved and a little disappointed. I had worked so hard to get myself emotionally ready for Western Africa, and I was so looking forward to the difficulties that present themselves in that region. That's the Africa I've always wanted to see and be part of, so I felt let down. At the same time, yes, relieved that I wouldn't have to go to sleep every night worried that by sunrise there'd be a rebel group in the village hunting people down. God has a plan and God knows better. I've prayed about this so I know this is where I will be my greatest. My emotions were processed, kind of, I don't think they will be in full for about 4 more years, so I decided it was time to work down the list of people to call. I've been thinking about this list very delicately and wanted to break the news a little at a time. First the parents. They were out at a dinner with the church and the Dreyers so I knew there was a chance they wouldn't be there right away. I called Karen to fill in the time until Mom and Dad got home, but wouldn't tell her where exactly. Eventually the parents returned and celebrated the relief, and then mother started crying...of course...which is fine because ever since I found out my placement was being mailed out I've been a mess. They seemed happy for me and were very supportive. The irony (according to Alanis irony) is that I'll be leaving right around Ken's birthday and returning around Dad's. Also, I'll be back to see Karen graduate college which is really exciting. I wonder what I'll wear? Karen was telephoned next to get the final details and she sounded pretty pumped. The grandmothers followed and were glad to know it's a stable part of Africa and they were also very glad and had other good news from both sides of the family to pass along. Fall 2008 is a good time to be alive, despite the economic downturn. Next was young Christopher, a heartbreaking call, but what a wonderful friend. He sounded like he was waiting at his computer ready to look up all the interesting details for wherever I was going. Together we learned more about Madagascar...mostly about the carnivorous squirrels, over sized man eating crocodiles, and cyclones (basically all the things that would kill me). It doesn't look too bad to be honest, unless he was hiding some things from me! Then came some other friends, the Aaron's, Justin's, and Sarah's. There are a few more I would like to call, but it's now up on good old facebook.
It also sounds like communication with the American world will be tremendously trying and limited while I'm there. How often this gets updated will be a mystery, but as I can I will. I'll have to me more brief-good news for the readers!
Currently my greatest concerns involve what to do with my hair. I've look up some recipes and traditional foods and that is no longer a concern...fruit and rice. I think I can deal with that!
Now I have this mountain of paperwork to cut through to get visas and passports and declaring my beneficiaries. Does Buttons count?