When knowing more means knowing less

Found out today that all the assignments are filled in the Caribbean. So there goes that vacation desintation everyone, sorry :-( :-)

So now I'm not sure what is going to happen. My current Placement Officer focuses on spanish speakers. If I can pass a proficiency exam, there is a community health work slot in Central America for Jan/Feb. However, I was hoping to use more of the business/consulting side of my skill set vs. the public health education (which actually isn't my background, though I have an MPH - I think that's throwing them off the scent ...)

But if I don't pass the exam or take this slot, not sure what it would mean. Well, actually I do. I could be going anywhere at any time. Mostly right were I started but now even less info. It's not the Caribbean in Feb. It's somewhere, sometime next year.

Huh.

That sits sorta funny, though technically that was always the siuation. Peace Corps goes over the top to tell you and remind you nothing is final until you get an Invitation. It must be my ego kicking in, that thought I would have so much more to offer than other applicants they would fall over themselves to get me on board and I'd really have a slew of choices.

Ce la vie. Hakuna matata.

And other lessons in non-attachment, not picking and choosing, egolessness, and surrender.

The journey unfolds, never linear, mostly nail biting...

Last Hurdle

Yea - found out I cleared medical so the last hurdle is cleared to get an Invitation to join the Peace Corps. The Invite would tell me exactly where I would be going (keep fingers crossed it's still the Caribbean) and when I would be leaving ... I have ten days to accept and then - - -

Present moment listening

"The deepest hunger of the human soul is to be understood. The deepest hunger of the human body is for air. If you can listen to another person, in depth, until they feel understood, it's the equivalent of giving them air" (Steven Covey).

Akin to my take that volunteer efforts boil down to being kind and giving undivided attention. The most precious gift we can offer others is our time and genuine interest. Sounds easy enough but it sure gets challenging when there are so many distractions - external like TV, radio, etc. and internal - like our monkey minds, always planning, thinking of the next thing to say, coming up with advice, etc.

I wonder how good I could get at just listening, just being NOWHERE (ahh - is that "No Where" or "Now Here" ... hmmm ... probably my next tatoo)

Namaste

Waiting

for my official invite into the Peace Corps. I've been nominated to a post in the Caribbean, to leave in February 2009. Now I just need the exact date, the island, and a plane ticket. :-)

Hoping I will get lots of visitors since there are cool tourists spots wherever I'm headed. Even if I'm living in a hut in the jungle. I'll come to your hotel - no problem!!