The day I reflected on my packing list...

Five months ago I arrived in Senegal. Although, (way) more than five months before that I started researching and reading blog after blog trying to figure out what I was going to bring with me on my 27 month stay in a developing country with little means, and how in the world I was going to get it packed within the weight limits. This task was the worst part of my anxiety of my departure and my service. I have never been a "light packer" and with all my research and purchasing, my dad swears that I was keeping Amazon in business and they are bound to go bankrupt since my departure decreased their sales significantly.. at times I thought he was right. I went overboard. I have been planning my Peace Corps journey for over a decade, so of course I had plenty of time to contemplate my precious cargo. 

Below is the list of what I actually brought with me--because I had to leave double what fit into my suitcase back in Ohio. This list was going to be one of my first posts, but since I was repacking up until the very second I left for the airport, I wasn't able to take a true tally until I reached country. This list is now accompanied by my thoughts on my choices and things I wish I knew were easily available in-country allowing me to pack something else instead.  

My Packing List: 

• 2- pairs of gardening gloves ---> luxury item, but I am very glad I have them since I work with manure all the time for my garden and compost pile
• 4- tubes of super glue ---> Easily found in-country
• 1- multi tool/knife ---> So glad I brought it, I use it daily and it is great for mango season!
• 1-nail kit ---> So glad I brought it! 
• 1-pumice stone ---> Your feet will be worse than you can ever imagine 
• 1- bottle of medicated body powder ---> This stuff is GLORIOUS! You can get powder in Senegal, but the medicated aspect is the key. I am getting more shipped to me in my next care package
• 2- outlet converters ---> Yea, maybe only one 
• 2- rechargeable battery devices ---> I use them all the time 
• 1- MacBook Air ---> You need a computer for reporting, but they are working on getting computers at all the regional houses, so computers aren't necessary, but I personally would never come without one 
• 1- 64 GB iPad ---> Nice for site because I don't have electric or cell reception to buy an internet stick at my site, and I don't have a solar panel system that can change my MacBook Air, so it is the only entertainment piece (besides my Kindle Paperwhite) that I physically have at my site. The regional houses have trunk spaces you can buy into that allows you to keep your stuff there... safe
• Kindle ---> Great for acquiring all the digital books on hard drives, but I wouldn't recommend reading it in front of people in your village. You don't want to seem any more patrone than what they already think you are
• 1- 2 TB passport external hard drive ---> So incredibly important. Load it with lots of good stuff, keep space so you can acquire new stuff from other volunteers 
• 1- headlamp ---> Priceless. Make sure you bring one
• 6- battery operated lights (the "push" on kind that have wall sticker mounts on the back, so that when you walk into your hut at night, you push the light, almost like flipping on a switch. I was proud of myself on this idea)---> I use them every night, but they are a luxury item
• 1- solar powered flashlight ---> It helps save on charging batteries all the time
• 2- small solar hanging lights ---> Luci lights are amazing
• 4- toothbrushes ---> You can get them here, just bring one to start out with
• 1- hamper ---> So glad I brought it, but it is not necessary 
• 3- 8 pack of crayons ---> Gifts for host family at CBT
• 3- kites ---> Gifts for host family at CBT
• 1- dry erase wall sticker/memo --->  Amazing, I do all my weekly planning on it
• 1- manduka travel yoga mat ---> I have bad wrists so I needed the good mat for support, but there are plenty of alternatives for yoga mats in-country
• 1- backpack --->  I use this for in-country travel 
• 1- daypack --->  I use this for day travel on my bike from village to village 
• 1- sewing kit --->  Bring one. Nothing extensive because you can resupply here, but Senegal is rough on everything
• 1- shower caddy ---> So glad I brought it. I wish I had two: one for my hut and one to keep at the regional house 
• 6- rolls of duct tape ---> Right now I think 6 might be excessive
• 1- pair of waterproof hiking shoes ---> I have yet to use these, but when I travel to Kedougou, I am sure I will get some use out of them.. Although, I am not sure the 1-2 times of use will be worth the space and weight
• 1- pair of trail runners ---> Horrible. Sand filled when worn outside
• 3- pairs of sandals  ---> Excessive. You can buy cheap (nice leather) sandals here
• 1- pair of shower shoes ---> Don't bother, you can buy cheap flip flops in-country 
• 4- tubs of witch hazel cleaning scrubs ---> Senegal is rough on everyone's skin 
• 3- 1 subject notebooks --->  You don't need them, they are provided during training and you can buy them if you want more.. however, they are the grid type, not the college ruled
• 1- clipboard that opens up for storage ---> It is a luxury item, but I love it for field surveys.. Which you will do a lot of
• 2- packs of note cards//flash cards --->  Great for PST language learning 
• 3- packs of pens ---> Pens are just not the same here
• 1-paper organizers --->  It is great to keep the lose papers together that you're given throughout training to reference if you don't have Internet access frequently
• 1- peel and stick chalkboard ---> You can buy chalkboard paint here
• 1- pack of liquid chalk ---> You can buy normal chalk here
• 1- bottle of shampoo --->  You can easily find shampoo here.. just not Aveda, which is what I use 
• 2- bottles of conditioner ---> You can buy conditioner in the bigger cities in the "western" stores
• 2- loofahs ---> You can buy the local equivalent here for 1$
• 2- sponges ---> I use them all the time, but you can find them in-country pretty easily
• 3- water bottles ---> I'm glad I brought 3. Each have a different purpose: My Nalgene bottle is my daily use. I have a Hyrdoflask that is amazing because it keeps water cold (if you added ice or it was cold before you put it in your bottle) for up to 24 hours, which is a luxury in the hot season. I also brought one that was a Lifestraw bottle that that conceals the fact you are filtering the water. This feature is great because if you are in the "bush" more than likely you won't always have easy access to "clean water" (for instance my village doesn't have a boutique to buy it and you're traveling without your filter.. So this way you can put it in your water bottle and they don't know you're using a special filter per se. Using items that are out of their reach and not available for a behavior change you are trying to promote can hurt your endeavors 
• 1- tube of toothpaste --->  Good to start out, but Senegal has lots of toothpaste options.. Surprisingly
• 4- packs of 4, rechargeable AAA batteries --->  Essential for my light sources without electricity and it keeps my overall expenses down by not having to constantly buy batteries
• 4- packs of 4, rechargeable AA batteries ---> Read the above 
• 1- alarm clock --->  No. Don't waste your space or weight. Use a phone, and honestly, you will just wake up with all the morning noise
• 1- pair of scissors ---> So glad I brought them, but they are a luxury item. You can buy scissors easily here, but the quality obviously will not be the same
• 1- bag of wooden clothes pins ---> You can find these everywhere here
• 1- clothes line ---> Don't bring one
• 1- can opener --->  I cook a lot at my site, so I use mine all the time
• 3- cooking knives ---> At least one good knife
• 1- set of Tupperware containers in varying sizes ---> You can buy these here
• 1- fast drying towels ---> Yes. I am actually getting h one mailed to me because my towel isn't cutting it. I switched to the REI one that pretty much everyone else has and raves about
• 1- rain jacket ---> Luxury item. Depending on where you are placed, you might never even consider using it
• 30- pairs of underwear ---> Don't question it, wait for a sale and just load up
• 10- pairs of socks --->  Maybe 2 pairs would be sufficient, but I am not running all the time
• 12- bras --->  Sweat wicking bras. Get a variety of strap designs. I only brought a criss-cross kind and my straps are always showing. I'm getting some new ones sent to me
• 2- pairs of jeans ---> Honestly, 1 should be sufficient .. It's too hot for jeans most of the time
• 2- long skirts ---> To start out training with, but most likely you will get a lot more made with the local fabric 
• 3- t-shirts 
• 5-tank tops --->  Bring the wider straps, highly recommend the fast drying/sweat wicking kind 
• 3- sweaters ---> I was in a fantasy world. Bring one sweater
• 1- wall sticker map ---> Luxury item for my hut decoration
• 1- box of bobby pins
• 6- packs of hair ties 
• 1- travel pillow ---> I wish I would have brought a "real" pillow, you can't find nice pillows easily here
• 1- brush
• 1- comb
• 1- journal
• 1- atlas of West Africa 
• 2- note taking travel pads ---> These are AMAZING for your first few months at site and language learning/ acquisition, but you can easily make them yourself and safe the space and weight in your suitcase
• 1- pack of ear plugs --->  Senegal is so noisy. It's a great idea to have more than one pair (especially if you get a cat like mine that always manages to find them and eat them)
• 2- solar battery chargers --->  Great because I can't always get to electricity to charge my batteries
• 1- box of bandaids --->  The water resistant kind. You don't get the "good" stuff in the MedKits
• 2-pair of tweezers
• 1- USB/ solar power STERI pen --->  I lived on the STERI pen when I lived in India, but it isn't ideal because of what Peace Corps represents and promotes. We don't want to teach clean water habits one way to the people of the country and then use a high tech technique for ourselves that is not feasible for them. Think integration  
• 1-ENO double deluxe hammock --->  I use it every day in my backyard at my site
• 4- carabiners --->  Useful for endless reasons
• 1- cooling towel 
• 1- wall stencil --->  Luxury item for hut decoration 
• 1-solar/crank/weather/AM/FM radio --->  I don't use it..At all. Except to check the temperature. Record temp 131 F
• 1- bike helmet ---> They told us we had to bring one but they ended up giving us all helmets. It's a tough call 
• 1-cloth produce bag ---> I use it for pretty much everything, especially shopping in the markets
• And a lot of ziplock bags varying in size ---> Yes, a million times over. Bring tons!

Things That I Had Shipped To Me: 

• Powdered Cheese 
• Parmasean Cheese
• Protein Powder 
• Protein Bars 
• Fiber Bars 
• Bike Basket 
• D Battery Operated Fan ---> I am not talking a hand fan either. I highly recommend getting one of these things! 
• Rechargeable D Batteries 
• Portable Battery Charger for Mobile Devices
• Macaroni and Cheese 
• Tuna Helper 
• Spices 
• Bike Tool 
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Castle Soap
• Wet Wipes
• Vitamin C Supplements
• Acne Face Wash
• Acne Spot Treatment
• Face Lotion
• Face Sunscreen 
• 70 SPF Sunscreen 
• Resistance Bands 
• Closet Organizer
• Storage Bags
• GRE Books
• Acrylic Paints & Paintbrushes (Actually, I am still waiting on this package to arrive)
• Bathing Suit---> Bring one. We have beach weekend and at most regional houses you can find a nice hotel that you can go swim in their pool
• Baby Clothes for Baby Ceremony Gifts
• Cat Med Supplies and Toys
• Swedish Fish
• Pop Tarts
• Marshmallows 

Obviously, I have a very loving and generous family that is willing to send me numerous care packages despite the amount of effort and expense. I am truly grateful for their love and support throughout this adjustment period. 

If anyone was wondering how I packed everything, my answer is: carefully. 

I originally had 2 rolling suitcases, but the night before my departure I recruited my dad and mom to help me decide what was "necessary," and my dad convinced me that I wouldn't be able to handle 2 rolling suitcases plus my hiking backpack and my book bag all by myself. He was right. So, I cut my belongings almost in half as I discarded one of my large (50.0 lb) suitcases. I arrived at the airport with one, 49.9 lb hardshell suitcase to be checked, my hiking backpack that was 50.0 lbs to be checked, and a carry-on book bag (probably also weighing close to 50 lbs) with all of my electronics and batteries in it and a small-ish purse. It was a rough go. IF by any means you can manage to not travel as heavy as I did, I highly, highly, highly recommend it. However, as my parents can personally attest, it would have been cheaper to pay for the extra piece of luggage in the beginning than to ship all of my care packages. But, defiantly not as much fun on my end.  

Staging

I’m sorry that it took so long to post my first blog in-country. I’ve either been traveling from Ohio to Washington, DC for the Staging event, Staging Meetings in DC, flying to Senegal, driving from Dakar to Thiès (sounds like “chess”), which is about an hour and a half drive, or being overwhelmed with information during the first few days of training at the TTC (Thiès Training Center). It’s been exhausting, but I am alive and well!

Staging:

Staging’s registration started at noon on Friday, February 27, 2015 and we started our sessions around 2pm. We had a pre-session quiz that tested us on Peace Corps’ Goals and Expectations. And, since I did my invitee lessons on those topics back in September, I most defiantly struggled. After we signed our names on a few forms, we officially made the transition from Peace Corps Invitee to Peace Corps Trainee.

The staging event was split into two sections because we are a large group of 63 volunteers (Health (HE) and Community Economic Development (CED) sectors), and since my last name is Lowe, I was with group two with the rest of the second half of the alphabet.

The meetings were a lot of ice-breakers and group “creative” work to learn about each other and   re-learn the Goals (Mission) and the Core Expectations. We counted off from one to six (?) and formed new groups each exercise, except I was in group one EVERY time. If any of you know me, I am not a skit person, and we had to do a skit in one of the workshops. Yeaaaa. I survived, I guess, but I am sure no one is questioning why I didn't pursue an acting career.

We took a Picture after the meetings concluded and then formed smaller groups that had similar food interests for “our last meal in the States.” I pretty much ate everywhere and everything in the last few months leading up to leaving for PC, so I didn’t have any true preference. My group chose Mexican food, and we went in search of a good place in walking distance from the hotel. But, because it was a Friday, the places were packed and we ended up going to Qdoba and then hitting up McDonalds for a Shamrock Shake. Quintessential American, eh? My friend Lissa, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) in Benin, and one of my best and longest friendships lives in DC, so she met up with my group and she and I hung out in my room with while I was repacking (for the 1889028437430th time) my bags. I love her.

Side Note: If anyone wants to read her blog from her time in PC Benin the website is, lissainbenin.blogspot.com, and she is an amazing writer. No joke, some of her posts will literally make you laugh out loud.

The next day we had the morning to check out of the hotel and get to the airport. But, since the two groups were isolated from each other throughout staging  (except in passing and after the meetings), I had no idea who anyone was in group one, except for a few people I talked to before we met for staging. I actually assumed a girl next to me in the post-security line at the airport was "one of us" and started talking about PC stuff, and she definitely waited too long to tell me that I was talking gibberish to her because she was not in Peace Corps, hah!. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I cannot express enough how much I HATE traveling with a lot of luggage, especially a lot of HEAVY luggage. It. Is. The. Worst. I was really nervous about my bags being overweight because two days before my departure my mom and dad came over to see what I got myself into, and they thought it would be better if I consolidated my bags from two rolling suitcases to just one and fit everything else in my hiking back pack. That meant that I could check that bag and then pack another backpack with all my heavy school supplies and electronics. Ugh, that bag was so  heavy that my back still hurts from carrying it around. My bags were all maxed out at 50.0 lbs and 49.8 lbs (impressive, right?), so I had no other choice unless I wanted to eliminate something else. And, after consolidating and removing so many items, I didn't want to eliminate anymore. If I had to do it over…. I wouldn't have brought all my notebooks and at least freed up that amount of weight. But then again, I am only four days into training classes and we won’t even start our language classes until this weekend. I would like to say that I grew a lot during that process, but I am already compiling a list for care package contents, so I know at this point I would suffer all over again to have what I brought.

Peace Corps’ Mission:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need of trained men and women
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the Americans

*I will be striving to make this blog a portal for goal three. I hope you continue this journey with me and follow my blog as a means to keep in touch and up to date with me and my work/projects, as well as using these posts as a learning experience about the Senegalese culture.
**Helpful Tip= Sign up for the Follow my blog via email and you will get an email whenever there is a new post!


Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers:

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full term of 27 months
2.Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work and, in doing so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed
3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship, if necessary, and with the flexibility needed for effective service
4. Recognize that you're successful and sustainable development work is based on the local trust and confidence you build by living in, and respectfully integrating yourself into, your host community and culture
5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal conduct and professional performance
6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and respect
7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national laws of the country where you serve
8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and well-being and that of others
9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host country and community, as a representative of the people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of America
10. Represent responsibly the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host country and community to people in the United States both during and following your service

*I will also be referring back to these expectations after I install into my permanent site to illustrate one volunteer’s experience with meeting these expectations.

Next Post will be about the Training Center, Senegalese Culture 101, and an update on what language I am assigned!

PS- check out jloweinsenegal.tumblr.com for more photos!

Important Acronyms and Definitions:

Below are some important stages of a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) that I thought I would define before I start spouting off these foreign words/ideas in my posts:

Staging: Initial gathering/orientation that happens in a major city in the USA before departing to host country. This orientation briefs the volunteers on their job descriptions, what is expected of them and what to expect upon arrival and into the next stages of Peace Corps. It is a great time to meet the other volunteers and the in-country staff that are at the event. For my staging, I will be meeting in Washington, DC. 

Pre-Service Training: After arriving in country, the first three months are designed to integrate the volunteers into the new environment with language, culture and skills training sessions. During this time the trainees will be placed with host families that speak their assigned local language. The volunteers will alternate from the training center to the host home throughout the three months of training. After the trainees pass language tests at a required proficiency, they are eligible to swear-in and become official Peace Corps Volunteers. 

In-Service Training: Peace Corps Volunteers do a multitude of in-service training sessions throughout their two year service in a variety of topics to enhance their community and their projects. 

Early Termination: When a Peace Corps Volunteer {or trainee} decides to discontinue his/her service before the 27 month requirement. 

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer: A Peace Corps Volunteer that has completed his/her service and has left the host country/returned to the United States. 

And, below is a list of {some} acronyms, but don't worry, I will remind you of most of them before I use them again. . . hopefully. 

AO- Administrative Officer
APCMO- Area Peace Corps Medical Officer
CD- Country Director
CDA- Country Desk Assistant
CDU- Country Desk Unit
COS- Close of Service
CWWS- Coverdell World Wise Schools (program)
DOS- Description of Service 
ET- Early Termination 
IST- In-Service Training
PCMO- Peace Corps Medical Officer
PCR- Peace Corps Response
PCRV- Peace Corps Response Volunteer
PCT- Peace Corps Trainee 
PCV- Peace Corps Volunteer
PCVHS- Peace Corps Volunteer Health System
PCVL- Peace Corps Volunteer Leader
PST- Pre-Service Training
PTO- Programming and Training Officer
QTRS- Quarterly Trainee Report Summary 
RPCV- Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
RRO- Regional Recruitment Office
SPA- Small Project Assistance
USAID- United States Agency for International Development (My Career Dream!)
VAC- Volunteer Advisory Committee
VAD- Volunteer Assignment Description 

Peace Corps Timeline

I thought a timeline would be helpful for anyone thinking about or is in the process of applying to the Peace Corps. It is a lengthy one, but don't give up!

Peace Corps Timeline: 

Started application: 11/20/14

Submitted application: 1/20/14

Interview: 3/5/14

Nomination: 3/7/14

Pre-legal clearance: 3/26/14

Recruiter requested assignments to be completed: 6/4/14

Submitted assignments: 6/12/14

All requested materials received confirmation and response suggesting a two month timeframe until invitation decision is made: 6/16/14

Phone interview scheduled: 7/14/14

Phone interview: 7/18/14

Requested additional shadowing and volunteer experience report by  8/16/14: 7/18/14

Submitted additional experience: 7/31/14

Inquired about Ebola outbreak and its consequences on my March 2015 Departure: 7/31/14

Received invitation to serve in Peace Corps Senegal in the Community Health Program: 8/19/14

Accepted invitation to serve: 8/19/14

Medical taks assigned: 8/20/14

Passport/visa pictures taken: 8/26/14

Passport appointment: 8/26/14

All Medical Portal tasks posted: 9/4/14

Mailed passport and visa: 9/5/14

Finished all activities in New Volunteer Portal: 9/5/14

Assigned LearningSpace account and enrolled into two courses: Safety and Core Expectations: 9/5/14

Dr. Appointment #1: Dentist

Dr. Appointment #2: Physical

Dr. Appointment #3: Blood Work

Dr. Appointment #4: Dermatologist

Dr. Appointment #5: Gynecologist (Note: future female volunteers, WAIT for your pap smear until four months before your departure date. Because I did not have this information, I had two pap smears within eight months!)

Dr. Appointment #6: Yellow Fever Vaccination, Polio Vaccination, Chicken Pox Vaccination (I could not locate any clinical evidence that I had the chicken pox as a child and are thus immune, so I had to have extra blood work done to prove immunity)

Dr. Appointment #7: Optometrist 

Dr. Appointment #8: Chiropractor

Dr. Appointment #9: Follow-up Appointment

Dr. Appointment #10: Follow-up Appointment

All required forms, reports, and documentation requires for Medical Clearance Submitted/Received: 11/3/14

Medical Office requested additional tests/documentation: 11/4/14

Submitted additional medical requests: 11/23/14

Final Medical Clearance: 12/1/14

Legally Cleared: (Sometime before 12/12/15, I did not hear anything on this regard so I inquired about my standing)

Obtained flight info from SATO: 1/28/15

Domestic travel from Ohio to DC booked through SATO: 1/28/15

Staging in Washington, DC: 2/27/15

Departure to Dakar, Senegal, West Africa: 2/28/15

Depart/Arrive in Thies, Senegal, Peace Corps Training Headquarters: 3/1/15

Pre-Service Training: 8 weeks of training 

Official Peace Corps Volunteer Swear-In Ceremony: 5/8/15

Why Peace Corps?

Hey Everyone! I guess a good way to start this blog is to let you view my aspiration letter to the Peace Corps to get a feel of where I am coming from and why I decided to embark on this new adventure. 

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Jennifer Lowe and I graduated from Miami University in 2010 with my BA, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Political Science and Global Perspectives on Sustainability. I attended law school during the 2011-2012 academic year where I gained experience in critical thinking and policy analysis. My education has always been internationally focused, and I am a self-starting individual who is interested in assisting in other countries by helping increase human understanding across cultural barriers.

My journey to the Peace Corps has been a windy one. I first decided that I wanted to join when I was 15 when I met my first Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV). She spoke of her adventures and how the commitment changed her life. I admired her. Then, my junior year of high school, I became best friends with the foreign exchange student, Danielita, from Bolivia. Befriending her was one of the most precious events of my life. We forged an unbreakable friendship and managed to stay in contact and visit each other often since she returned home. After my first trip to Bolivia to see her in 2005, my eyes were opened to the struggles of a developing country. That experience solidified my decision in becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. 

Before I attended college, I do not think that I was properly educated on all the career possibilities because my intentions were to become a doctor and later a lawyer when neither of those options fit my personality.  Amongst my course work I found Anthropology. I went back and forth with other pre-med classes struggling to find the interest and passion that I found so easily in Anthropology. In the mist of that struggle, I decided to study abroad and broaden my horizons with a foreign education.

I studied abroad in Luxembourg in 2008, one of the highest GNP countries in the world, and saw a completely different view of foreign living and culture than I did in South America. Although I enjoyed traveling and experiencing the peoples in Western Europe, I wanted to experience something more remote and meaningful. During my senior year of college I participated in an applied anthropology, pilot Tibetan Studies Program, where I was in a low income and low amenity area of the world. I learned so much about the Tibetan community’s beliefs along with my own.  I experienced hand washing my clothes, hanging them up to dry outside my window, then to only be stolen by the wild monkeys. I experienced daily power outages, lack of bathrooms, showers and other basic amenities, including water. My limits were tested and my eyes were opened, but I cherished every day within the community because of the experiences I was able to share and gain from the people. I went there to help the Tibetan community, but I think they helped me more than they will ever know. I learned a lot about myself and what I truly value in life.

Since then, I have gauged my career choices on my experiences in India with the Tibetans. I chose law school because I thought I could make a difference with Human Rights. But, I quickly realized that the life of an attorney did not fit my personality. Thereafter, I returned to my hometown, vulnerable to quick and logical career suggestions. My mother, a nurse, suggested that I return to my medical roots and become a nurse through an accelerated BSN program. I thought it was a great idea at the time because I thought about the last time I felt accomplished and loved what I was doing: Conducting research to help Tibetan former political prisoners with PTSD coping mechanisms. That’s health related, right? Despite the health field correlation, after two years of classes and nine plus months of experience in a hospital, I knew that I would not be truly happy confined in hospital walls every day. I know now that I need to do what I am good at and what makes me happy: International Development.

I am excited to embark on this next chapter in my life: Serving in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. I hope to become fluent in French and in my assigned local language. I am looking forward to learning new cultural skills and values. And, I anticipate learning cross-cultural competencies that will assist me in my career when I return the United States. Moreover, I will aspire to teach the Senegalese what it is to be an American, and vice versa, by being the best Ambassador that I can be.

I know that I have the ability to establish successful human relations on all levels, so I look forward to connecting with my new community. I have patience, sensitivity, and a positive professional attitude, which are some of the key attributes of a successful PCV. I am aware that it will take immense organization and drive to promote new ideas and development, but I am a quick and eager learner that will have no trouble learning any skills that I do not already possess. I am a team player, but I also excel at working independently making me an ideal Peace Corps Volunteer.

Thank you for you this opportunity!

Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Lowe