See You Later, A Bientôt and Hasta Luego

One part of the whole leaving-the-country-for-the-Peace-Corps thing that I will not get used to is saying goodbye (or see you later as I was corrected many-a-times).


I finally made the trek back up to Northern California to say goodbye to everyone who stuck around after college. The first stop was San Francisco to chill with one of my very close friends, Mikey. She has been my artistic and movie buff counterpart since high school and I finally got to experience SF like a true San Franciscan. We watched Spring Awakening, listened to music, traveled around talking about our favorite novels, and just continued on as if we never left each other's side. It was awesome to say the least.


After the little mini trip to SF, I went down to Pacific. It was great to smell and feel my old stomping grounds, even if I was just a visitor this time. I'll definitely miss the walks over the levee, the smelly trees that bloom in the Spring, and being an RA. While back on campus though, I spent every minute seeing friends and professors--and yet it wasn't enough to see everyone I wanted to see. So to everyone I missed... sorry! I said a few see you laters  and left to travel on my last, nostalgic drive on the 5 (freeway, for all you non-Californians)--complete with glorious views of cows and the aromatic manure smell (no joke).

The trip, as a whole, was short, but made a huge impact. It's a bit sad I won't see everyone for 2+ years, but I am counting down the days until I am in Guatemala!

The Four Hour Passport Crusade & The 'Goodbye' Tour Begins

Another item is marked off of my pre-departure to-do list: the no-fee passport.

Rather than the breeze I thought it was going to be though, I spent a little over four hours in a line or rejoining the same line after the person at the window decided I needed more: maybe extra forms of identification and then possibly two copies of each. The kicker though is that she would reveal these new 'necessary steps' slowly and shortly after the new wait in line.

So for all of you who are still waiting to hit this step in your 'invite packet' here are three easy tips I wish I would have known:

  • Bring as many forms as identification as you have (it doesn't matter if your birth certificate proves you are U.S. citizen and if your CA driver's license shows you are the same person but with the addition of red highlights).
  • Make multiple copies of everything (especially your forms of I.D.)
  • Be prepared to explain why you get to keep your passport forms and why it is called a 'no fee passport'.
It really sounds worse that it really was. I was able to people watch (one of my all time favorite hobbies) and teach some USPS folks about the whole Peace Corps passport process.

After this mini saga, I begin my tiny little 'Goodbye Tour 2009' where I head back up to my undergrad alma mater and say goodbye to my good friends who are still around the area. Since I will be traveling outside of the United States before my staging date, I want to get together with all my lovelies who I won't see for two years. A bitter-sweet touch to the beginning of my adventures in Guatemala!

A Bundle of Joy or Just a TON of Paperwork?


The illustrious invite packet is now sprawled across the table in my living room as I attempt to finish every piece of paperwork as fast as I can.

Here's my to-do list so far:
-Update Resume
-Aspiration Statement
-No-Fee Passport Signed & Mailed Off

The last item left will be completed today (or at least I'm hoping to do so).

Apart from this, the next step would be to tackle that ridiculous packing list. As a person who carries a backpack with two shirts and a pair of jeans on what friends consider 'long trips', this will be difficult. I can just see myself asking, Do I really need this?
Oh boy.

It's Official, I'm Off


Well first off, hello to the inter-web. I'm Linda! I'm from a tiny city called Los Angeles and an 09' grad from the University of the Pacific (Go Tigers).

It looks like after 6 months of arduous waiting, I am heading to Guatemala in early January! Woot woot! I received my invitation two days ago and confirmed early this morning.

Though the details are a bit fuzzy as far as where exactly I will be going--I do know that I will be living in a rural area of Guatemala with limited phone/internet/mail access. My official title is Municipal School Health Facilitator so I will be working with up to thirty schools in a program called Healthy Schools!

As you can probably tell, I'm excited beyond belief and cannot wait to jump and in begin helping out!