Summer Plans

So with school being out, I will have a different routine for the summer. I will be teaching session in Chișinău to the new volunteers to train them for partner teaching English in Moldova. It’s kind of crazy to think that I’m experienced enough to train others how to teach, even though that is kind of what I supposed to be doing with my partner teachers. But somehow it seems different with Americans. However, I’m really excited to be working with the trainees; they seem like a cool group of volunteers. I have my first session on Wednesday, so we’ll see how it goes.

Additionally, I will be helping my program manager with improving the EE program. I think she wants me to have a lot more responsibilities next summer, so she is asking me to be really involved this summer. I will be observing the session that I’m not helping to teach the trainees, and I will help create a manual (with another volunteer) of sessions for PCV to use the following summers.

In between the times I am in Chișinău, I will organize the materials I made for my English classes, and I hope to create additional resources and materials for next year. And I will be working on a work initiative I am active in, GLOW (Girls Leading Our World).

Overall, I will be quite busy I think. But no worries, I will get some vacation time. I will be visiting America for 2 weeks. And the trainings end early August, so I should get some down time before school starts. Overall, it will be a busy summer, but I’m looking forward to it.

And Now One Year In Moldova

And today is my one-year anniversary of being in Moldova. And what better way to celebrate than to meet the new volunteers. The new group of volunteers came in yesterday, and today we had a picnic to meet them. It was pretty cool to talk with them, and they reminded me of what I was feeling this time last year.

Unfortunately, a consequence of working in PC is apathy. It’s a common coping mechanism for volunteers to deal with misfortune and difficulties. But I do not want to become apathetic. So talking with the new volunteers and seeing their passion and fresh perspective with being here helped me remember why I joined PC in the first place and how excited I was. Nice way to start my second year.

One Year Since I Left For Peace Corps

One year ago today, I left my friends and family to begin my journey with the Peace Corps. I got on that plane to leave for my staging event in Philadelphia before leaving for Moldova the following day. I had no idea what to expect, and I remember being so nervous and feeling completely naïve and unprepared.

It’s hard to believe one year has already passed. This year has been full of ups and downs and in betweens. Looking back at myself one year ago, I can’t help but laugh, and I don't really know why. I guess it's because in some way, I feel like this year has just changed me so much, and in other ways, I know that I have so many more ways to mature. I never expected the ways I would or wouldn’t react to certain things. I’m not sure what the next year will bring, but I’m ready for it. Here’s to my next year in Peace Corps.