Introduction
Hello Family and Friends,
Welcome to my blog! This is my first blog and therefore make no promises of any kind. With that said, an update interview style:
Where are you?
Peru. I live with a family in the community of Hauscaran
What? Why?
I was invited to be a Peace Corps volunteer in July and am now in training.
But I thought you were in graduate school, what are you doing in Peru?
Since graduating from The University of Tulsa, I entered into a graduate program at Michigan Technological University. The program is combined with the Peace Corps, technically: Peace Corps Masters International in Mitigation of Natural Geologic Hazards. I spent the last year taking classes towards my degree and while I am in Peace Corps I will do my research. When I finish my service I will return to Michigan Tech to complete my degree. Upon completion, I will have earned a Masters of Science in Geology.
Where is Michigan Tech and how was your year there?
Michigan Tech is in the City of Houghton located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, duly named Canada Minor by my awesome friend Lee. I have to be honest, I did not think I would survive the winter in Houghton, but by the end of the coldest summer of my life I did not want to leave. Its funny, when I arrived in Houghton a little over a year ago I was in complete shock, because of the instant season change and the reality of its remoteness (if you don't know where Houghton is, it is worth looking it up on a map, especially in relation to Texas). After a year I did not want to leave. Now I could be wrong about this, but I think it has something to do with the friendships I formed while there. Like I said I could be wrong, but probably not. As for surviving my first real winter, it was invigorating and when I returned to Dallas in August for the first time I understood why people find it unbearably hot. If you don't live in it regularly, then it is like putting a frog in boiling water. To sum up my year I would say: Awesome place, Awesome people, Awesome school and generally a good time had by all.
So, you are now in Peru training to be a volunteer. How is it going?
Well, I will keep this short, because I have picture and stories for another time, but it is great. Here is the fact breakdown of what I have been up to. There are 57 trainees, 19 of which are Water and Sanitation volunteers, which includes me. We spend our mornings from 8 to noon in Spanish language class, then in the afternoon we do one or two of the following, medical chat accompanied by vaccines, safety chat (essentially how not to get into sticky situations), tech session ( we separate into our respective groups, Health, Environment and Water and Sanitation), more language with a dash of culture, or a session covering various topics concerning working in developing communities. In addition to that, I live with a family of four, Mom, Dad, and two boys, 10 and 23.
I am going to leave you with that.
Peace, Love, Joy
Chao!
Kate
Love it! Love the format ... More updates soon!
xo,Steph
I share Steph's sentiment :-) Glad to hear you're doing well!