5. 19. 2011 SOME Things I'll Miss

This is just a short list of the things I'm going to miss. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to go to Peru (and after 2 years I'm sure there will be many things I'll miss there) but there are some things that justt won't be the same....

1. Small French vanilla iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts (if someone can find a way to send this it would be great)
2. Fountain sodas with ice (particularly Coke Zero, the greatest soda ever)
3. Physically being at THON (check out www.thon.org for those who have zero idea what I’m talking about)
4. Thurman (my dog that only likes me because I sneak him ice cubes when my dad isn’t looking )

Thurman Munson

5.Weekly lunches with my Grandma Jinny at Lulu’s 

6. Driving Rhonda my Red Rav 4 and blasting music.

7. New York City-all of it (maybe not the commute in)

8. TV Shows I love… particularly anything that BRAVO has on. I will miss BRAVO, dearly.

9. Hot showers or maybe just showers.

10.Tomorrows Children's Institute and the awesome kids on the 5^th Floor.

11.Watching the Yankees win another world series (because they are going to win)

12. California Pizza Kitchen, Matthew's Diner and Nellie's Pizza.

13. Go Go Gadjet ( www.gogogadjet.com basically the greatest cover band alive)

14.Wilmington, North Carolina

15. And to save the best for last... my family & friends. I will miss all of you the absolute most. 

20 days. 

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive” – Howard Thurman

Hasta la próxima vez 

-Brielle 

5. 14. 2011: Penn State, Packing & Perfect Days.

First off, I want to say CONGRATS to all my Penn State graduates. I come from the greatest school alive and get to be a part of the greatest and largest alumni network to exist. There is no one like a Nittany Lion! I wish all of you the best in your future endeavors.

Graduation in December 2010.
"May no act of ours bring shame, to one heart that loves thy name,
may our lives but swell thy fame. Dear old State, dear old State." - Penn State Alma Mater
Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Question of the day: How do you pack when you have no idea where your final destination may be? I don’t even know how to answer this yet. Everyone I have asked about packing for Peru has come up with one answer: PACK LIGHT. That is a hard concept to wrap your head around when you know you’re going to be living in another country for 2 years, and have zero clue what climate you’ll be in and what you’ll be able to get.

I’ve finally started to cross off items on my “to pack” list. Every time I cross off something on the list a little bit of my nerves calm (key word: little). I’m allowed 2 checked bags, not exceeding 107’ inches (height, width, length) combined and the biggest bag can be no MORE than 50 lbs. I’m allowed one carry-on bag. So, as I write this I’m staring at my hiking backpack wondering how much of my life I can shove into it (thank goodness I have a mother who is an expert at packing).

For future Peace Corps Volunteers seeking some solace with the packing situation, all I can say is…I’m hopeful it will all work out & if it doesn’t you can always have things shipped. Once I’m finally done with packing I’ll post a list of what I packed because other Volunteer’s blogs have helped tremendously when it comes to this issue.

I have 25 days till I take my flight from LaGuardia at 9am to our nations capital. By this time the worry of packing will be the last thing on my mind (well at least after it’s weighed at check in). After a day full of meetings I will be spending my last night in America at The Holiday Inn Georgetown (where I plan on taking the longest and hottest shower imaginable). 

Then it’s time to start the journey from DC->Miami->Peru. The main question I’m getting now is: Are you nervous? Of course I’m nervous, but I’m also anxious, excited and a slew of other emotions. I’m more importantly extremely grateful… because I get to LIVE my dream, not just talk about it anymore. I get the chance to finally integrate myself into another community, make a difference in someone else’s life and have someone else make a difference in mine.

I’ve always considered Peace Corps to be a selfless and selfish decision. The feeling you get when you can give back to someone who can’t give you back anything in return is unlike anything I've experienced (even jumping out of a plan at 14,000 ft… and I can attest to this). 

Me getting ready to jump out of an airplane
at 14, 000 ft. Thanks for the Christmas gift Mark!

I know, right now, that I will not only be teaching the youth of Peru, but they are going to teach me lessons I never thought existed.

I’ll leave you with something a very dear professor at Penn State told me....

“Your time in the Peace Corps will certainly be a life-changing experience. I'm reminded of a message I once read on a church bulletin board. ‘You haven't lived a perfect day until you've done something for someone who could never repay you’.  During your time in Peru you'll have many "perfect days." Some days may not be easy but you can rest assured that you're making a difference in the lives of the people you meet.”

I am truly blessed. 

Hasta la próxima vez 

-Brielle 

5.9. 2011- Why Peace Corps? What am I doing?

So, I've been asked multiple times ( I'm sure as everyone else who has made this crazy yet amazing decision has as well)... 

Why the Peace Corps? Why do you need to go outside the United States, in a language you're not 100% comfortable with, in a culture that is could be completely different from your own? 
My answer has and always will be: Why NOT?! I've had the itch to travel and to serve since a high school trip to Honduras where I promised myself I would finish college and give the Peace Corps more than just a second thought. Who knew when I presented this idea to my parents about 2 years ago they would be 100% supportive and as excited as I was. I will never forget telling my dad that I wanted to join the Peace Corps and his response was : "Where and when do I sign the papers?." Well... that went over a WHOLE lot better than I expected. My love for traveling paired with the constant feeling of wanting to give back has lead me right here: a month away from calling Peru home. 

Me dancing with the kids at COPPROME orphanage in El Progresso, Honduras.

I get this question a lot too: WHAT are you going to be doing?!!! So here are specifics for all of you folks taking the precious time out of your day to read this
(AND PLEASE SEND ME QUESTIONS brielle.colby@gmail.com if you have any! I'll try to answer them as best as I can). 


Country: Peru

Program: Youth Development

Job Title: Youth Development Facilitator

Orientation Dates: June 9th, 2011

Pre-Service Training (in PERU): June 10th, 2011- August 18th, 2011

Dates of Service: August 19th, 2011- August 18th, 2013 

The specific goal will be in support of Peace Corps Peru's overall Youth Development strategy, whose primary objective is to prepare Peruvian youth for family life, the world of work and community involvement.

Your specific responsiblities might include

-Training youth in identifying their goals and formulating action plans to help them achieve their goals.

-Helping establish a summer school program or an after-school tutoring program, to assist youth in improving their academic performance. 

-Facilitating vocational training to provide young people with needed employment skills and a better understanding of the job market.

-Helping set up a youth entrepreneurship program

-Helping youth leaders develop and implement community action projects, such as trash clean-up days and tree planting campaigns.

-Helping establish athletic tournaments to promote physical fitness and higher self-esteem.

-Training adults in improved parenting techniques so families may better address the concerns of youth  (I see myself channeling Papa Colby for this...)

-Training teachers and youth workers on how to incorporate important life skills into the classroom and other activities.

-Working with community partners on institutional capacity-building, strategic planning and program development. 

The rest of the brochure goes on to say that this is a rewarding yet challenging job (One of the Peace Corps slogan being 'The hardest job you'll ever love'). It ends by saying "You can be assured that you will be in the forefront of youth development efforts in Peru."  Awesome.

"Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience."- Paulo Coelho

Hasta la próxima vez 

-Brielle 

 

5.9. 2011- 31 days and counting

Time is NOT stopping and now its 31 days' til I start my next chapter in life: Peace Corps PERU! First off...I may have been a little late to the party (unusual of me because I'm usually on top of this stuff) but I found a Facebook group for "Peru 17ers". For those of you who don't get it (although its pretty straightforward)... we are the 17th group headin' to Peru (and the 8th Youth Development group). We are comprised of Youth Development (that's me, woohoo) and Business Development trainees (we won't be volunteers officially until we are sworn in after our 3 months of pre-service training). It's nice to finally see have people experiencing all the emotions that I am... aka not fully understanding how the H. E double hockey sticks I'm packing for the next 2 years in 2 bags that in total can't weigh more than 80 lbs. This has anxiety written all over it for me. However, it was nice to get some insight on what to bring and what NOT to bring. Most of the stuff I will be able to actually buy once I'm in Peu.

My grandparents from North Carolina were up for the week to visit their other grandchildren, and to spend some time with me before I leave. My mom decided to have a family going away party while everyone was in town. So the first round of goodbyes begins. I've become extremely used to goodbyes because of school switches and moving. I have been able to hold back tears thus far. I've tried to remind people that 2 years goes fast. I graduated college in 4 and I'm still trying to figure out where ALL that time went. But, 2 years is still a long time, and hugging someone for the last time for 2 years can be emotional. Not really looking forward to the next couple rounds of goodbyes. 

It was Mother's Day yesterday and I spent it with the greatest mom I know. I couldn't have a better mother who not only allows but supports my crazy idea to live in Peru. I hope everyone had a great day with your own mommas.

Me and Momma on Christmas!

So, now I wait for my staging directions. Staging is the Peace Corp's term for "the day before you leave for Peru." I will be taking a plane from La Guardia to DC for the day. The day is filled with meetings and getting more shots that I need. I leave for Peru June 10th.

P.S. : Congrats to all my friends graduating (esp my new fellow alumni Nittany Lions). Welcome to the real world. 

"Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and to make a difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard at... SOMETHING. Change lives through art maybe. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance." - One Day by David Nicholls

Hasta la próxima vez
Brielle