What has happened since I wrote the last post

So since I wrote that last post, we have been inundated with much more medical, safety, and general information. Yesterday we were in the office all day with info sessions. We also had our first Spanish lesson! I was in a group with 4 other students - probably one of the lower-middle groups - and we just reviewed how to say personal information, so that we can communicate basically with our host families, and other descriptive words through describing pictures and US landmarks.

After the sessions at the office, we all took buses into Panama City to a HUGE mall and the national bus station. My two main goals were 1) get a local phone and 2) get dinner. Well, getting a phone in a group of about 15 people took about an hour and a half... it was crazy. But I got a phone which was exciting! Ended up just getting some pizza in the food court before hopping back on the bus to head back to the area where we're staying.

Today was exciting because we got to visit a PCV's site! It was about 45 minutes away and we got to see the school where she teachers, meet the Minister of Education's Regional Supervisor for English, see the volunteer's host family's home, as well as her home (AMAZING for a PCV's house), and have lunch at a typically Panamanian restaurant - I had chicken, rice and red beans. It was an exciting day. Now a few of us are in the office on the internet before heading to dinner and packing. We get to go to our host families tomorrow! I'm excited, but a little nervous too. I haven't lived with a host family since I was in France the summer of 2004, so it's been a while! But all that I've heard about the families from past PCVs is that they are great.

In other news, my current roommate - Ally - was a French minor and studied abroad in the same semester that I did! So we've been practicing our French a little in order to not completely lose it. Also, one of the first sights that I saw when we were driving to our villas for the past few days were people playing......... FRISBEE!!!!! Haha I immediately started laughing and smiling - so good to know people play it here! Some other people also brought discs, so hopefully during training in the next few weeks we can play some.

Not much else to report. Getting more excited about being here every day and still loving getting to know the others in Group 70!

I'm in Panama!!!!

Written: 1/12/12 in the morning

I made it to Panama!! Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) Group 70 landed around 3:00 pm on Wednesday the 11^th, and we were promptly greeted by Joel Alvarez, the Associate Peace Corps Director (APCD) for the Teaching English sector (TE), then by Brandon Valentine, the Training Director (this one doesn’t need an acronym). It’s been great so far, but let me backtrack a little.

First of all, it seems much longer ago that I boarded the plane in charlotte than just two and a half days. It was an early flight, but fairly smooth, and immediately when I landed I met up with another PCT in the airport and we navigated to the shuttle together. Of course as soon as we sat down we realized that there were 3 other PCTs on the shuttle as well – one who knows my friend Carol from home! When we got to the hotel, we checked in and I was able to relax in my room for a couple of hours before Staging started. Staging included waiting a long time to hand in paperwork, receive our new passports and some ice breakers before a long session of information regarding PC expectations, our expectations and fears, along with safety and security information. The facilitator, Emily, is an returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) from Panama, so it was great to hear some first-hand stories.

It has been wonderful to meet the other PCTs. They are all super nice, and it’s great to be around people who are all in the same situation. Though that’s not to say the past few days haven’t had their ups and downs.

Kelsey, a friend from home, was sweet enough to contact a lot of my friends to write me plane letters, which were absolutely wonderful, though they did make me a bit sad the night in Miami and in the airport the next day. The morning we actually left for Panama was full of anxiety and some sadness for me, but once the plane came into sight of Panama, I got really excited. Being with all of the other PCTs during was really great at getting me excited too. Our whole group is full of awesome people, and we are from ALL OVER, but it’s interesting how we are bonding quickly though. I guess it comes from being thrown into the unknown together.

Once we got to Panama, we were put on buses and transported to the PC office and to our housing, schlepping all of our stuff up to our rooms. I’m living in a little villa with 3 other girls and 1 guy. Us girls are sharing 2 rooms on the third floor, and the guy has a little room on the bottom floor. I’m with all of the other TE PCTs, and all of the others (Community Environmental Conservation – CEC) are in a hotel just a little ways away.

Today was full of lots of information sessions, walking back and forth from the villas for meal, which are all being catered by PC which is great, and lots of forms – typical government haha. The next few days will bring some more of this, but also a site visit to a PCV! Which will be really exciting.

Panama is gorgeous so far. And the weather is great. We’ve been inside during the hottest part of the day, but walking around during lunchtime it was pretty warm. Thankfully right now there seems to be a decent breeze most of the time, even though it is pretty warm and humid.

That’s about it for now, but my goal is to try to blog every two or three days, and post when I can access internet.

Thanks again to all of you who wrote me letters – I will keep them with me throughout my time here!

Lots of love and besos de Panamá!

Miami bound... and Panama tomorrow!

Well friends, only one more day until I am in Panama!

The last few days have been filled with running errands, purchasing last-minute things, and seeing the last few people here in Charlotte. It's certainly been a whirlwind.

For any of those interested, here is what I am taking for the next 2 years that will (hopefully) weigh less than 80 pounds!

Clothing:
3 pairs jeans
1 nicer pair of black pants
1 pair khakis
1 pair capris
4 knee-length skirts
3 pairs shorts
2 pairs running/frisbee shorts
rain jacket
poncho (yes... both)
Northface (old, thin jacket)
2 light sweaters
5 t-shirts
2 long-sleeve t-shirts
5 normal/nicer t-shirts
4 button-down shirts
3 long-sleeve shirts
5 tank tops
2 sets sleep pants/sleep tank tops
underware (lots)
3 bras
3 sports bras
socks (lots)

Shoes:
tennis shoes
Chacos
Flip Flops (mainly for showering)
Silver walking-type shoes (for teaching)
1 pair nicer flats (for the occasional dressy event)

Toiletries:
small bottles of body wash
shampoo
conditioner
toothbrush
toothpaste
floss
small bottle of shaving cream
razor
make-up remover
face lotion
make-up (just a little...)
hairbrush
small lotion
sunscreen
bugspray
tiger balm (helps heal bug bites/protect against them - my friend Veronica swears by it!)
neosporin
cortizone cream
bandaids
gauze
aloe vera
thermometer
a few iodine pills to purify water

Other things:
lantern (rechargeable), headlamp & flashlight
Nook
laptop
camera
battery recharger (AA  AAA)
Photos to put on my wall
gifts for host families (books of NC stuff & NC soap)
umbrella
letters & a couple of books from friends
bible
notecards to write people (just a few)
PC forms and paperwork I've accumulated

Bags:
Camping backpack (Osprey Ariel 65)
Duffel
Plane bag

I'm sure I've left a few things off of this list, but it's pretty extensive as is... so there you have it. The majority of my life for the next two years. Seems crazy!!

Yesterday, especially, was very stressful and emotional. Saying goodbye to the last few people except my parents, and trying to scramble to get all of my stuff together. Not a surprise that it's coming together at the last minute. It's been hard thinking of everyone and everything that I'm leaving behind for two years. While it's true that I will have some means communication - I won't be completely MIA - it's still hard to know that I'm leaving people who are so dear to me. I can only reconcile this by thinking of the incredible experiences that I will have, how many amazing people I will surely meet (both other PCVs and Panamanians), and how I will, hopefully, make some sort of impact on at least a few people there in return.

This whole thing definitely seems like a leap of faith. I don't know where I will be living, who I will be living with, who I will be teaching, what age exactly I will be teaching.... but I know that I will grow in ways that I can't even imagine right now. I was told yesterday by a great friend that an RPCV told him that she had some really awful days during her 2 years of service. But almost all of the best days of her life were during those same 2 years. It will certainly be hard at times, but in the end, it will most certainly be worth it. I think God has been leading me to do this, and I have to trust that he will get me through the bad times and lead me to enjoy the amazing experiences that are waiting for me. I can't wait to meet all the people in Group 70 at Staging today and find our way to Panama tomorrow!!

Please be in touch via email and Facebook and I will respond as soon as I can! Letters and packages are great too.

Also, I have the absolute best friends in the world. Thanks especially to Kelsey and Christine who organized getting "plane letters" from a ton of my friends. These mean more to me than you guys know! So thank you!

Love you all!

11 days and counting...

Over the past few weeks I have been finalizing forms, booking my flights, starting to say goodbyes and trying to keep life under control. It's been a bit hectic, but hey - that's been the norm lately.

Also, two of my closest friends from school (my roommate of 3 year and our other roommate from senior year) came to visit for a long weekend and it was wonderful. We had a great time both relaxing and being silly - I've certainly missed living with them since graduating!

Christmas was also in there somewhere. With this brought lots of get-togethers with friends and family. We were able to get all of my high school friends and our families together at our house, which is a feat with 6 of us plus working and traveling parents, but it was wonderful to have everyone together. Then that night us girls had our annual Christmas party with caroling and gingerbread house building. Then came Christmas Eve when we got together with another family, as per tradition. Christmas was great and relaxing - church, gifts, family, and across-the-street neighbors/practical family spontaneously coming over. Then my uncle and his family came over on the 26th. Phew! But it has been wonderful to see everyone before I leave.

Like I said, I've booked my flight - evening flight to Miami on the 9th, and flight to Panama on the 11th with my group! I'm finally getting everything together - bought a big backpack yesterday, a lightweight sleeping bag, some quick-dry pants and some lighter cotton shirts, among other things. It's a whole (somewhat stressful) process. With more to come after I studying for the GRE over the next few days.

I also had coffee with a Panama RPCV on the 24th, which was wonderful because she gave me some great tips and made me so excited to meet all of the PC/Panama staff and explore everything! Things seem to be coming together, somehow - but the 9th is coming up here quickly!

My schedule from here on out:
     Pack and get my things here in order
     GRE - Jan 3rd
     Miami - 9th (Staging)
     Panama (!!!!!) - 11th (Training)

We will be in Santa Rita for the majority of training, with several trips offsite to visit current PCVs in their communities. Training will be 10 weeks of intense language, culture, health, safety, and job training. I'll be living with a host family for the majority of this time, but if you want to send me mail over the next 10 weeks, send it to:
     Savannah Hicks - Peace Corps
     Edificio 240, 3er Piso
     Calle Víctor Iglesias
     Ciudad del Saber, Clayton (Corregimiento Ancón)
     Panamá
     Republica De Panamá

I'm not positive about phone or internet access yet, but I'll be in a decently sized city, so I should have at least occasional access, and might get a cell phone when I get there. As for my permanent site, about halfway through training I'll find out where that will be. While this is somewhat difficult for packing purposes, PC does it this way so that the in-country staff can get to know us and place us where they think we will fit best.

So... 11 days to go. Till then, I'm trying to see everyone here in Charlotte once or twice more, and figure out packing! I'm getting super excited though - with some nerves mixed in. But since connecting with my group on Facebook, it's been a comfort starting to get to know people in my group. Yay Group 70!

P.S. I got a Nook for Christmas and would love any book recommendations before I head out!

Details, Friends, and BusyBusyBusy

So the days are quickly flying by now.... tomorrow marks one month until I get on a plane to head to Miami, then one day later to Panama. I am getting so excited. But simultaneously trying to hold on to things here, like I always do. But I've been too caught up in everything going on day-to-day that I haven't had much time to sit and mull things over. But let's start with first things first.

Details.

I have gotten several emails from different parts of PC recently with more details and forms to fill out (surprise surprise). But these are better kinds of forms - they're much more real and I can see how they are going to directly translate into my experience in Panama. They've included language assessments, host family questions, KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes - who knew something I learned in my core HOD classes would pop up here...), and our first PCT (PC Trainee) interview. That email was quickly followed by another email from the media relations people asking for me to give the ok to use my name in press releases.

Lastly, and most recently, I got the Staging email! With this came the hotel where I will be staying in Miami, directions on how to book my flight, specifics on luggage requirements, and other miscellaneous reporting instructions. This is starting to feel all too real, which brings on a flood of emotions.

Second topic: Friends.

Two WONDERFUL friends came to visit me last weekend. My big and my little in my sorority drove 14 hours (roundtrip) to see me for 20. Don't I have great friends? It made me so happy and feel so loved. They are amazing people and I am so glad I got to show them my hometown!

Third topic: BusyBusyBusy

Typical. Still working full-time, and this week was crazy busy and a bit stressful. But next Friday (a week from today) is my last day. It has been a wonderful job - I enjoy the people I work with, appreciate the cause, and have learned a ton - I will be sad to go, but I will certainly enjoy the extra time after I'm not working 40 hours a week. Though I think my relaxing time will be short-lived. The day after I stop working, I take the GMAT - so this week will be full to the max with studying for that. Then that afternoon two of my other best friends from college - my roommate of 4 years and our other roommate from senior year - are coming to visit for 5 days! I have been counting down the days to see them, and I cannot wait to laugh and be silly and just chill with them. But then it's basically Christmas, with people to see and things to do (oh yea.... and I have to find a time to get gifts somewhere in there...). Then AH it's almost January! Yikes!

So I've seriously starting thinking about packing - thanks to everyone who has given me input - shout-out to Karen here for all of your comments on my last post :) Still haven't made some of my decisions, but I'm getting closer. I'm 99% sure I'm getting a hiking backpack - I just haven't decided what size and which one. The teva/chaco jury is still out, as is the nook/kindle (though I will DEFINITELY be taking one of these).

Just trying to keep my feet under me. Though that seems to be the norm in my life. If that's not the case, I tend to get bored. What do I do to myself?

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I get one more fun frisbee tourney in - Holiday Hat Tournament :) Should be fun. Plus decorating the house with the parents. Always a good/holiday cheer-y time of year.

I leave you with two things today:
Photos worth the time. 

and

Soldiers and Mariah. - Kinda gets you in the happy, holiday mood!