Peace Corps Staging in DC

I arrived in Washington DC yesterday (and it just so happened I was on the same plane as congressman James Clyburn!) and participated in a long day of training upon arrival.

At the session we learned a few things about safety, culture, and a few more pieces of important information needed for the trip. All day, I felt so overwhelmed, excited, nervous, and anxious to meet my host family and country coworkers, while trying to soak in that I will not see my family and friends for two years! (unless they come visit me! ^.^)

I am sad I am leaving my loved ones at home but I am more thrilled to be in Panama as a PCV. When I applied, I knew that it will be a challenge and I cannot give up on the end goal. The organization expects you to adapt and become flexible in unfamiliar situations. Also, they stress that a person's Peace Corps experience is all based on how the volunteer wants to engage themselves with other volunteers, their community, and others.

Later that night/morning, we all got up bright and early to depart from the hotel around 2:30 am so we could get to the airport for check-in.



So the types of bags everyone brought were mainly hiking packs, either two daypack sizes or one large hiking bag and smaller backpack with a purse/laptop bag. Most of the volunteers averaged 3 bags and some had rolling suitcases, though I am not too sure what will happen if they have to hike to their site!

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