One month exactly!
I’m almost ready! I have almost all of my shopping done…I only need my rain jacket, some cotton slips, and my birthday presents!! …and I need to sell my car and have my will and power of attorney notarized. Let me tell you, I’m pretty thrilled about doing those things. Actually, the thought of selling my car makes me want to puke, but whatever. It’s crazy to think that in 3 weeks I won’t have a car anymore…hopefully :)
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
What's that smell?
Our overweight office kitty is sitting next to me right now, and when she purrs she kind of wheezes because of her weight…poor thing.
I was told recently that female stick deodorant is hard to find in Cameroon and that I should bring it with me. I got to talking with my family about trying to pack 2 years worth of deodorant, and it got pretty interesting…because really, how much deodorant actually equals 2 years worth? There isn't a little serving size label on each stick, so how does one go about figuring how much to bring? My dad and I assumed that it would be a huge amount and would weigh me down while my mom suggested sending me a "year's worth" as a Christmas present my second year there. I have a feeling that I'm going to get interesting care packages in Africa! Feel free to weigh in on the debate…how much deodorant equals a year's worth?
Speaking of care packages…wondering what address to write me at for my first 3 months in country? Here is my address:
Amber Schmitt, PCT
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Keep in mind that letters may take up to 3 months to get to me…and 3 months from today is October 21st. Hm…that's 4 days after my birthday! *nudge nudge* so you may want to get on top of that writing thing! :)
I was told recently that female stick deodorant is hard to find in Cameroon and that I should bring it with me. I got to talking with my family about trying to pack 2 years worth of deodorant, and it got pretty interesting…because really, how much deodorant actually equals 2 years worth? There isn't a little serving size label on each stick, so how does one go about figuring how much to bring? My dad and I assumed that it would be a huge amount and would weigh me down while my mom suggested sending me a "year's worth" as a Christmas present my second year there. I have a feeling that I'm going to get interesting care packages in Africa! Feel free to weigh in on the debate…how much deodorant equals a year's worth?
Speaking of care packages…wondering what address to write me at for my first 3 months in country? Here is my address:
Amber Schmitt, PCT
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Keep in mind that letters may take up to 3 months to get to me…and 3 months from today is October 21st. Hm…that's 4 days after my birthday! *nudge nudge* so you may want to get on top of that writing thing! :)
Sunday, August 13, 2006
and the lessons continue...
UPS update:
Yesterday evening while I was out babysitting, a super nice random gentleman pulled up to my parents’ house and dropped off two packages for me that had been delivered to his house. Was his name Amber Schmitt? No. Does he live at my address? No. Uncool UPS, uncool. Luckily for me the dorkos delivered my packages to someone who was both honest and nice enough to drop the boxes off at my house. I love you random older package-dropper-offer guy!!
In related news: the new Teva Dozers (shoes) that came in one of the packages are amazing. I tormented myself over which size to get since I couldn’t try them on in a store, but luckily I eventually chose correctly :)
Also…I have just about finished my Peace Corps shopping. I have all of the clothes that I will be taking. Pheew…I got a little panicked when I realized that on the first day of summer stores started putting away their summer clothes (what the heck?).
The world is a strange strange place…but hey, I’ve learned a lot of things this summer (i.e. how to change a flat tire, what to do if your UPS packages never show up, how to say ‘cat and kitten’ in French, etc etc.)
Yesterday evening while I was out babysitting, a super nice random gentleman pulled up to my parents’ house and dropped off two packages for me that had been delivered to his house. Was his name Amber Schmitt? No. Does he live at my address? No. Uncool UPS, uncool. Luckily for me the dorkos delivered my packages to someone who was both honest and nice enough to drop the boxes off at my house. I love you random older package-dropper-offer guy!!
In related news: the new Teva Dozers (shoes) that came in one of the packages are amazing. I tormented myself over which size to get since I couldn’t try them on in a store, but luckily I eventually chose correctly :)
Also…I have just about finished my Peace Corps shopping. I have all of the clothes that I will be taking. Pheew…I got a little panicked when I realized that on the first day of summer stores started putting away their summer clothes (what the heck?).
The world is a strange strange place…but hey, I’ve learned a lot of things this summer (i.e. how to change a flat tire, what to do if your UPS packages never show up, how to say ‘cat and kitten’ in French, etc etc.)
Saturday, August 12, 2006
UPS is harshing my mellow
Wow…what a rollercoaster of emotions this morning!
I came in to work today to pick up some overtime, and I was playing on the computer because Saturdays are slooooooow. I was checking the status on my order from Campmor, which was scheduled to arrive yesterday. Much to my surprise (and horror), the tracking site said that the package had arrived at my house yesterday at 9:07 PM. Shoot, I was getting ready for bed at that time! Everyone at my house was home, and no one heard a knock or the doorbell, and when I left for work this morning there was no package outside. Stupid freakin' UPS. Who leaves a package in plain sight of the road at night without knocking to see if the people are home?! ARGGGGHHHH!!!!
Of course I was trapped at work and couldn't leave to look for the package: torture!!! My mom and dad checked outside the front door and on the back porch (the site said it was delivered to the front door) and didn't find anything. I was pretty devastated at that point and took a few minutes to calm myself before I called Campmor to find out if they had insured the package. They didn't, but they're going to send the UPS driver out to check where he left the package…and Campmor is going to replace my order at no cost to me. I wanted to hug the guy on the other end of the phone when he told me that :) I had been sitting here thinking how expensive that stuff was going to be if I had to pay for it twice!
Well, now I've experienced my first Peace Corps related theft, cross your fingers for me that it will be my last!!
Moral of the day: UPS sucks, and Campmor rocks hardcore!
I came in to work today to pick up some overtime, and I was playing on the computer because Saturdays are slooooooow. I was checking the status on my order from Campmor, which was scheduled to arrive yesterday. Much to my surprise (and horror), the tracking site said that the package had arrived at my house yesterday at 9:07 PM. Shoot, I was getting ready for bed at that time! Everyone at my house was home, and no one heard a knock or the doorbell, and when I left for work this morning there was no package outside. Stupid freakin' UPS. Who leaves a package in plain sight of the road at night without knocking to see if the people are home?! ARGGGGHHHH!!!!
Of course I was trapped at work and couldn't leave to look for the package: torture!!! My mom and dad checked outside the front door and on the back porch (the site said it was delivered to the front door) and didn't find anything. I was pretty devastated at that point and took a few minutes to calm myself before I called Campmor to find out if they had insured the package. They didn't, but they're going to send the UPS driver out to check where he left the package…and Campmor is going to replace my order at no cost to me. I wanted to hug the guy on the other end of the phone when he told me that :) I had been sitting here thinking how expensive that stuff was going to be if I had to pay for it twice!
Well, now I've experienced my first Peace Corps related theft, cross your fingers for me that it will be my last!!
Moral of the day: UPS sucks, and Campmor rocks hardcore!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Bonjour!
It’s French day! Unfortunately, I haven’t had a ton of time to study lately because I’m busy receptioning (new word!)…also known as ‘sitting and waiting for the phone to ring so that I can push the little green button’…and making files so that I can then file them and cut my fingers on them. I keep telling me boss that all of the cuts on my hands make me eligible for workman’s comp, but she’s not really going for it. Whatever.
I was getting my hair cut the other day and the hairdresser told me that she thought that going to Africa was the worst idea she had ever heard. Mostly she thought it was awful because she was worried about my safety, but I was still amused that she just flat out told me that it was an awful idea. She and two other ladies then told me that I should run for president when I get back. I love that idea…I won’t be old enough, it won’t be election year, and I have no interest in being in politics! But at least I have 3 votes already :)
Yesterday they thwarted a terrorist attack in England. Yay for them! Boo for me! Now we’re not allowed to take liquids of any kind in our carry-ons. Ah!! I was planning to pack things like hand sanitizer, toner, and other heavy liquids in my carry-on in order to keep the weight down in my checked luggage…plus I want them on me in case my checked luggage gets lost. There goes that plan! At least they haven’t banned IPODs on planes in the US yet like they have in England. Man that would be an awful long flight to Paris without music!
I was getting my hair cut the other day and the hairdresser told me that she thought that going to Africa was the worst idea she had ever heard. Mostly she thought it was awful because she was worried about my safety, but I was still amused that she just flat out told me that it was an awful idea. She and two other ladies then told me that I should run for president when I get back. I love that idea…I won’t be old enough, it won’t be election year, and I have no interest in being in politics! But at least I have 3 votes already :)
Yesterday they thwarted a terrorist attack in England. Yay for them! Boo for me! Now we’re not allowed to take liquids of any kind in our carry-ons. Ah!! I was planning to pack things like hand sanitizer, toner, and other heavy liquids in my carry-on in order to keep the weight down in my checked luggage…plus I want them on me in case my checked luggage gets lost. There goes that plan! At least they haven’t banned IPODs on planes in the US yet like they have in England. Man that would be an awful long flight to Paris without music!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
thinking about goodbye...
I’m having one of those annoying days when leaving seems pretty terrible. It’s hard to imagine not being able to talk to my sister on the phone when the urge hits me…or have a movie night with Betsy…or IM with Jess till late in the night. I’m going to miss everyone a lot. I expect you to write tons and tons to make me feel better. D’accord? (ok?)
(Clarification: the ‘act’ of leaving…as in ‘leaving everyone behind’ is what sounds awful…not the going to Cameroon part!)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still so excited that I could explode at any second. The more that I talk with PCVs in Cameroon and the more research I do about Cameroon, the more excited I get. It’s going to be a pretty sweet adventure. (Tons of work…but still amazing)
But man…there is a lot to do still! As a crazy planner, I’ve had my packing list set for weeks, but I still need to finish buying a few things. You know...the hard to find things. Gah!
Also, I’ve been working on my will and power of attorneys. Oh yeah…the will is fun. My family was just thrilled to talk to me about that one. You should try it sometime; it’s a real mood lifter!
Every time that I think about having to leave my poor baby kitty behind I get all teary. That’s dumb, I hate crying…but she’s my baby! I wish that I could explain to her that I’m not abandoning her. Poor baby, I already miss her.
Speaking of crying…I have my French class again tomorrow. It’s going well, but I moved up to a harder level class and it scares the crap out of me. The whole class is conducted in French, and I don’t know if you guys know this or not…but I don’t speak French! (yet) :)
(Clarification: the ‘act’ of leaving…as in ‘leaving everyone behind’ is what sounds awful…not the going to Cameroon part!)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still so excited that I could explode at any second. The more that I talk with PCVs in Cameroon and the more research I do about Cameroon, the more excited I get. It’s going to be a pretty sweet adventure. (Tons of work…but still amazing)
But man…there is a lot to do still! As a crazy planner, I’ve had my packing list set for weeks, but I still need to finish buying a few things. You know...the hard to find things. Gah!
Also, I’ve been working on my will and power of attorneys. Oh yeah…the will is fun. My family was just thrilled to talk to me about that one. You should try it sometime; it’s a real mood lifter!
Every time that I think about having to leave my poor baby kitty behind I get all teary. That’s dumb, I hate crying…but she’s my baby! I wish that I could explain to her that I’m not abandoning her. Poor baby, I already miss her.
Speaking of crying…I have my French class again tomorrow. It’s going well, but I moved up to a harder level class and it scares the crap out of me. The whole class is conducted in French, and I don’t know if you guys know this or not…but I don’t speak French! (yet) :)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Captain Planet, he's our hero!
Holy cow, I'm moving to Africa next month! Africa... Wow. I've planned on this for a while now, but it's still amazing to think about! :)
I just started a new job as a receptionist this week, and today everyone in the office ate lunch together because it was one of our coordinator's birthday. Since I was the newbie, everyone was asking me questions such as how long I'd be working there, where I graduated college, what my plans were for after I left the company, etc. Of course once we got on the subject of Peace Corps, the questions exploded and everyone had something to ask. One woman asked "What would make someone want to go into the Peace Corps. Honestly, I wanted to say: "Why wouldn't you want to go into the Peace Corps!?"
Actually, it is hard for me to remember what originally got me interested in the Peace Corps. I don't know if it was the mother hen side of me that always wants to help people, the idea of an adventure, my love of environmental education, or the fact that I was brought up in a family that stressed the importance of helping others.
Ok, ok...the real reason I want to go into the Peace Corps is because I've always wanted to be Captain Planet. Seriously. I wrote that in my application essay. That's probably why my process was so complicated...they thought I was crazy :)
I just started a new job as a receptionist this week, and today everyone in the office ate lunch together because it was one of our coordinator's birthday. Since I was the newbie, everyone was asking me questions such as how long I'd be working there, where I graduated college, what my plans were for after I left the company, etc. Of course once we got on the subject of Peace Corps, the questions exploded and everyone had something to ask. One woman asked "What would make someone want to go into the Peace Corps. Honestly, I wanted to say: "Why wouldn't you want to go into the Peace Corps!?"
Actually, it is hard for me to remember what originally got me interested in the Peace Corps. I don't know if it was the mother hen side of me that always wants to help people, the idea of an adventure, my love of environmental education, or the fact that I was brought up in a family that stressed the importance of helping others.
Ok, ok...the real reason I want to go into the Peace Corps is because I've always wanted to be Captain Planet. Seriously. I wrote that in my application essay. That's probably why my process was so complicated...they thought I was crazy :)
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