Believe it or not, only having 1.5 years left in Peace Corps is making me feel stressed out because it means I have to start looking at grad schools, taking the GRE and filling out applications. Applying to grad school is stressful in the US... now imagine doing it from a foreign country. Having gained perspective, I really sympathize with all the thousands of international students who study in the US.
One of the most stressful parts (after picking a program AND getting in) is figuring out how the hell you are going to pay for it. Ick. I`ve decided to pursue an articulated program. Which is a fancy way of saying I will (ideally) receive two degrees in three years. I hope to pursue my Masters of Public Health (MPH) and a Masters of Arts in Latin American Studies.
This type of planning always makes me think about life in general and all the millions of things I hope to accomplish. I actually have a "bucket list." The list is constantly growing, but this is what I have so far:
My Bucket List (A work in-progress)
1. Dip my toes in every ocean in the world.
2. Walk on a black sand beach.
3. Ride a horse on the beach at sunset. (August 2009)
4. Live in a foreign country. (May 2008-?)
5. Adopt a child.
6. Become a runner.
7. Experience Palo de Mayo (Bluefields, RAAS, Nicaragua)
8. Learn Portuguese.
9. Go to the Olympics.
10. Get scuba-certified.
11. Go to the World Cup.
12. Cage dive with a Great White Shark in South Africa.
13. Skydive. (September 2005)
14. Ride in a hot-air balloon
15. Learn to play a musical instrument.
16. Visit all 50 States.
17. Become a photographer.
18. Mardi Gras. (2005, 2006)
19. Learn to dance Salsa.
20. Get published.
21. Learn to surf.
22. Visit every Spanish-speaking country at least once.
23. Visit the pyramids.
24. Learn to horseback ride.
25. Visit Australia
26. Go to Carnaval in Brazil.
27. Pet a baby tiger.
28. Visit the Great Wall.
29. Drink a Mojito in Cuba.
30. The Petty Experience-Daytona.
31. Visit Greece, Thailand, Fiji, New Zealand, Russia, Ireland, Scotland, France, England, Mexico, Canada, India, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey and Israel...among others
32. Drive from Florida to California.
33. Play in the snow.
34. Help make the world a better place.
35. Visit the Grand Canyon.
36. Ride in a helicopter.
37. See the running of the bulls in Spain.
38. Travel the Amazon River.
39. See Machu Picchu.
40. Go to a boxing match.
41. See a concert in Madison Square Garden.
42. Go on a cruise.
43. Learn to love flying.
1 comments:
Samantha:
I am COO of Water Charity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that does water, sanitation, and public health projects worldwide. In July, 2009, we started our Appropriate Projects initiative to fund small water and sanitation projects very quickly. Applicants are limited to Peace Corps Volunteers, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and Peace Corps Response Volunteers.
I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Bolivia ’66-’68), and am well aware of the difficulties Volunteers face in the field. Appropriate Projects is an addition to our regular Water Charity model that is allowing us to provide project resources to PCVs in the field immediately.
Often there is that little project that must be done now (before the rains start, before school begins, or in response to a critical need), but there are no funds available. Traditional funding sources are cumbersome, and there are long forms, detailed requirements, limited resources, and long delays.
PCVs working in water and sanitation usually have potential projects lined up. For those working in other program areas, there may be water components to their projects, or improvements needed where they work or teach.
Sample projects may be: rainwater or spring catchments, handwashing stations, water systems, piping, tanks, pumps, latrines, wells, etc.
We like to do the water and sanitation parts of projects for schools, clinics, and community centers. So, if you can get funding for the building and other stuff, we can help with things like the water supply, filters, sinks, plumbing, and drainage.
We like to finish projects that have been started, and fix things that have ceased to function.
We encourage follow-up projects that expand upon the successful completion of the first small project.
If you have a project in mind, please fill out the application form. We want this to be easy for you, so we have developed a simple form that you can fill out in one sitting.
If you have any questions about the appropriateness of your project, or you need some time to get it together, just let us know.
We pre-fund projects, so you don’t have to wait around for donations to roll in.
If you do not have a project that qualifies, please pass this message on to your fellow Volunteers who may have an interest. Finally, if this initiative resonates with you, please let others know what we are doing through your social networks, websites, and blogs.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Averill
Averill Strasser
Appropriate Projects
http://appropriateprojects.com
Water Charity
http://watercharity.org
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