"You're going where?"

Yep, it's true. In a few weeks (March 13), I'll be leaving the country to start my Peace Corps Service in Senegal. After 3 months of training in-country, I'll be doing training in rural health education.

If you're never heard of the country I will soon call my new home, Senegal, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal or http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/senegal

Quick facts about Senegal, if you aren't looking to write a report:
- It is the Western-most country in Africa (along the Atlantic Ocean).
- Dakar is the capital.
- It was colonized by France.
- French and Wolof are the two official languages, although there are other local languages, too.
- It is predominantly a Muslim country.
- It is (generally) politically stable.
- There are about 11 million people who live in Senegal.

Here are some common questions I've heard so far, and the best answers I can give:
Q. Where will you live?
A. Most likely in a hut, or maybe a small "house" with corrugated tin. But I'll get to have a concrete floor! It is 99.9% likely that I won't have running water or electricity.

Q. Will you be all alone?
A. No, I'll be in a community! But I probably won't be near any other Peace Corps volunteers.

Q. Will you get to drive a car, like your new Honda Civic?
A. Um, no. But I get my own bicycle, issued by the Peace Corps.

Q. Are you taking your computer? Will you have wireless in your hut? Can we chat online every Tuesday morning?
A. No computer. I hear there's good internet access near our training site, so I should be in very good communication for at least the first three months. After that, it depends. Senegal has a good reputation for it's technology, but it's still a bit different than the United States...

Q. Are you going to give up your vegetarianism?
A. I'm really going to try. First, I want to be culturally sensitive. Not many people are vegetarians, and I don't want to try to explain to someone that I don't want to eat their meal that they prepared all day, just for me, their special guest, just because I am "picky." Second, I may not have access to other sources of protein all the time and want to stay healthy. And third, I want the full experience of being in Senegal. Choosing a vegetarian lifestyle in the U.S. has been very important to me, since I believe it is a more sustainable lifestyle and there are other ways to get protein.

Q. So what will you eat?
A. I think lots of rice and vegetables, fish, chicken, lamb and other meat. I hear there are lots of peanut dishes, as well.

Q. Do they have toilets?
A. Don't worry, I will find ways to relieve myself. All will be well. As hard as it is to believe, TP is not essential to survival.

Q. What are you bringing?
A. I don't know yet. Not too many clothes (I plan on buying some when I'm there), a radio, a flashlight, a headlamp, books, maybe Scrabble, maybe my iPod...

Q. Books? Which books are so important that you will bring them all the way around the world with you?
A. Great question. Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire, Pathologies of Power, by Dr. Paul Farmer, something by William Easterly. I'll also take a few books "for fun." I'm taking suggestions... What would YOU bring?

Q. Now to the serious stuff. What will you actually be doing?
A. I'm not too sure of the details yet. I will find out where I will live during my 3-months in training. I'll be doing rural health education, so focusing a lot on sanitation and disease-prevention, like malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Q. Will you get malaria?
A. I'll be taking a pill every week to prevent me from getting it. But there are plenty of other ailments/bugs that are sure to make for some interesting stories.

Q. "WHY?!"
A. I have led a very privileged life. In addition to growing up in a comfortable house with running water and electricity, and so much more, I have been able to get an education, I have not had to worry about getting life-threatening disease, I can pursue whatever dreams I can dream. I have never had to worry about where to find my next meal or even about walking for miles to collect water, that may or may not be safe. I have been incredibly lucky. This is one opportunity to be able to help others, who have not been so privileged. By using my strengths, talents, and enthusiasm, hopefully I can improve the lives of a few other people. I know that much is to be done in our own communities in the U.S., but there is also so much to be done in the world.

Part of my decision to join the Peace Corps specifically was due to the fact that we are committed to spending two years in a community. I did not just want to be in a place for a couple of months or a couple of weeks. By spending time in a community, getting to know the people, the culture and the issues they face, I will hopefully be better qualified to better serve them and to transfer those skills elsewhere in the future. I'm nervous about many things -- my health, learning the language and culture, being able to form relationships -- but I am also very excited about this opportunity to learn and hopefully serve.