So two days ago, while bumming around my apartment in Lafayette, IN, I received a fateful email. After reading only the first three words of the email: "Dear Katie, Congratulations..." I immediately started jumping on my couch, for I was accepted into the World Teach program.
For those of you unfamiliar with World Teach, it is a non-profit organization that sends volunteers abroad for a year to teach in a school. They offer programs in a variety of different locations such as China, Thailand, Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands for periods ranging from a summer up to a full year. If you are interested finding out more go to www.worldteach.org.
I have been accepted to teach in Guyana, South America for one year. Guyana is a former British colony that is located in the northern part of the continent (check out wikipedia for more facts, they have some pretty badass pictures too). The Guyana, 2011 program was not my first selection as I originally applied for the Marshall Islands program. I was not accepted into that program due to budget cuts, and in their rejection email they suggested that I applied for a program in either Guyana or China. I researched both programs but knew that Guyana was perfect for me when I learned that their Republic Day is February 23rd... MY BIRTHDAY! I had visions of street parades, floats, masks, and a whole lot of glitter that would be the perfect way to celebrate my golden birthday. I immediately applied for this position.
I am currently in a state of disbelief; not only will I have graduated employed, but I will be spending a year in a beautiful country doing what I love. As of right now I don't know who, what, or where I will be teaching but I have a feeling it will be one of the three sciences (keeping my fingers crossed it's not physics). I have a long checklist of things to complete before I leave including medical info, financial info, and a whole lot of paper work. Not to mention, I have to clear my apartment and prepare myself mentally to leave the U.S.A. So I will be a busy bee for the next 2 months.
So please keep reading, and over the next year I will try my hardest to keep adding to my South American Adventure.
Signing off, Katie
