I am the Proudest Monkey!

*drumroll* Now ladies and gentlemen, the country that I have been invited to is Azerbaijan! I received the package yesterday. I will post more when I start feeling better. Sadly, I haven't been able to look through everything. I just returned from Florida where I attended my grandfather's funeral and on the drive back my sinus issues turned into a full-fledged painful head cold. For the next 3 days I will be cramming for my finals then starting my new course for May. No rest for the wicked. HAHA!

"Then comes the day

Staring at myself I turn to question me

I wonder do I want the simple,

simple life that I once lived in well

Oh things were quiet then

In a way they were the better days

But now I am the PROUDEST MONKEY!"

Proudest Monkey- DMB

Hope You Will Be By Me Then

I feel like I'm walking through sludge with the PC, but the school semester is flying.

The MI Placement Liaison told me this: "Regarding your program, since you are MI, you are not nominated into a region-specific program area; rather, you are nominated into a general program pool, and thus are considered for any program related to your assignment area (i.e. agriculture). This increases your chances of being placed in a program corresponding with your background, but it does require a bit more patience and flexibility on your end." I could cry. I have no idea what to focus my research on while I'm here, in hopes that it translates well to my country. I know I need flexibility but this is still a graduate program and I have stress like no other to get some work complete before I leave.

I wish I could get into contact with someone that is doing this program and is out in their country. I have no idea how many research credits to sign up for while I'm gone or how that will work with the university charging tuition. Do I go into a special category for not being at campus? What if I don't work on anything relevant to my thesis while I'm gone and the university claims that I have too many credits and not enough work finished, which would lead to incomplete or forced research when I return. Everyday that I deal with these questions it makes ME question myself. Should I have just stuck with entering the PC after I graduated then worked on a professional degree when I returned? I admit I am being challenged and learning an abundant about of information but will this work out?! I know I will do well and love my service in the PC but in the back of my mind I worry about making BOTH sides of this program cohesive and consequential.

As far as my life goes, I completed a 10k this morning called "Run Thru the Vines". It was an symbolic experience, reflective of my behavior both in school and in running. I am one of those students that studies before a major exam the night before and can't seem to have motivation to study steadily throughout the semester. The grades are low or mediocre. This is also prevalent with my running or lack of running. I start pumping up my running routine just before the race but it never translates to a successful run. Today I was the last person in the race. I haven't been training lately and it killed me. The embarrassment I felt has now motivated me to have more discipline. This was essential since I am the ultimate bull-headed person and it takes a MAJOR slap in the face to make me change my ways. I will now be studying more frequently along with a steady workout.

Major Events Coming Up (Before I leave):

• Robigalia - 04/23
• JazzFest - 04/24-04/25
• Final ALEC course - 05/13-05/28
• Tati's Graduation - 05/15
• Plant Diagnostic Course - 06/01-08/11
• Move Out of College Station - 08/15
• Harry Potter Amusement Park - 06/27-07/01
• HullabaLOU - 07/23-07/25
• Dollywood - 07/26
• Dave Matthews Band Concert - 07/27
• Disneyland Half-Marathon - 08/05
• Dave Matthews Band Concert - 09/10
• Dave Matthews Band Concert - 09/11
• Dave Matthews Band Concert - 09/14
• Austin City Limits Festival - 10/08-10/10
• Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon San Antonio - 11/14
• Peace Corps Service??

I'm sure I'm forgetting something (0h well) and I understand that I may leave before some of these events happen. Let's hope it can work out!

"I've been high and I've been down

My head in the clouds and my hands on the ground

When I'm so lost that losing feel like dying

I hope you will be by me then"

#27-DMB

The Remedy

When Dr. Norman Borlaug was asked by a student how to make a change (like Borlaug had) in the world he told them to start with the Peace Corps. As I stress about classes, research, and finding out my country of service sometimes I have to step back and realize that I am in this amazing program to serve and help as best I can.

I have picked my classes for the summer and the first one is my last required PC course. This class is 14 days long, 8 hrs a day, M-Sat. The second course is a Diagnostics of Plant Disease that is all summer.

I've decided to not worry about where I will be placed or when. I will attempt to extend my lease to the end of August and just focus on my classes. When I worry about where I'm going it gets me no where. At this time during the semester, time is precious and that time should be spent on improving my knowledge and furthering my understanding in plant pathology. I say this in HOPE that I follow through.

"Lately I've been feeling low

A remedy is what I'm seeking

Take a taste of what's below

Come away to something better

What I want is what I've not got

But what I need is all around me

Reaching, searching never stop"

-DMB: Jimi Thing

What to Do While I Wait..

So I've started going through Peace Corps Wiki looking at what countries have Agriculture or Environment as well as leave from Mid-August through November.

Agriculture sections:
1. Vanuatu

2. Zambia

3. Paraguay

4. Niger (probably not: need French)?

5. Senegal (probably not: need French)?

6. Mali (probably not: need French)?

7. Bolivia (probably not: need French)?

8. Nicaragua (probably not: need Spanish)?

9. Dominican Republic (probably not: need Spanish)?

Environmental Sections:
1. Vanuatu

2. Cameroon

3. Dominican Republic

4. Madagascar

5. Malawi

6. Morocco

7. Nicaragua

8. Niger

9. Philippines

10. Tanzania

11. Togo

12. Belize

13. Zambia

Wouldn't it be cool to be sent to Vanuatu? AND this is how I deal with stress. I think my file has now been submitted to the Placement Office. YAY!

Things that are stressing me now:

1. Do I need to extend my lease to August, September, October, November...

2. Why hasn't my 3rd chair for my committee wrote me back.

3. How am I going to finish the cloning project by the time I leave.

4. Will my summer classes overlap and make me choose between the two.

5. My presentation in my PC class is becoming more and more intimidating as time passes.

6. And the basics: classes.

Realization

WOW! Look at the grey block! That's my anticipated service time.. *shivers*