Good News !

First off, welcome to my new blog. I figured since the old one was titled Hokie Pokie in Mauritania and since this Hokie is no longer Pokie'ing there it might be time for a name change. Incase you're way out of the loop or just really confused let me give you the short and long of it:

-June 15 supposed to depart for Mauritania

-June 9 get a call saying my Mauritania training class is postponed till mid-August because visas are still being processed

-June 24 get a call saying my Mauritania training class is cancelled completely because of no visas

-June 25 my info was re-processed and Peace Corps started looking for a new assignment

-June 30 I got invited to Peace Corps Cameroon

and today......

I ACCEPTED !!!

So as of now I will be heading over to Cameroon tentatively on September 16 as a volunteer with the Community Health Project. The job description is pretty broad until I get there and get assigned a specific place within the country, but basically it includes helping communities identify where their biggest health concerns are and equipping them with tools and knowledge to prevent spread of disease. The job also includes teaching preventive healthcare practices.

Not gonna lie this is a lot different then what I was expecting to do and it's not exactly my expertise, but I know that Peace Corps wouldn't put me in there if they didn't think I was qualified. Also I get three months of technical training from PC staff so it's not like I'm being thrown in and it's sink or swim.

Overall I'm happy with where things are. The re-assignment was a set back but everyone keeps saying I really lucked out because of the situation in Mauritania. Regardless of that fact that this is not what I had originally planned to be doing, from what I've read Cameroon sounds like a exciting place to live and I can't wait to get there!

Peace,

Kate