Change of Address

Here is my address as of July. Please feel free to send letters and stuff :) I am sure I will love it.

MaKayla Gusching
Peace Corps
PO Box 9536
Pretoria 0001
South Africa

Almost There!

I can not believe how fast the time has gone from when I first applied. I was talking with my boss the other day and they said it seemed like just yesterday when I told them I was applying to the Peace Corps but a year has come and gone and they can't believe I will be leaving so soon. I have kept my job up-to-date and they have been an active part of the whole process. I did this because I work with at risk middle school kids who I have established remarkable and life long relationships with and did not want to up and leave them without them knowing what, where, when, and why. When I told my kids I was nominated for Africa they thought I was out of my mind to want and go there--with the lions and what not. But this process has brought about tons of "teachable moments" on the importance of diversity and learning from others as well as lessons on how one person can make a difference. Now the end of the school year is quickly approaching and tomorrow is my last day with "my kids" since most of them will not be around during the summer (or the three weeks I will be working there), and needless to say I am sad to leave them. I have established a relationship with one particular student that I will never forget and hope to remain in contact with him, as he is one of those kids who touched my soul.

I feel as though I have already started as a PCV because of the conversations and "teachable moments" I have had with not only my kids but with other random people who don't know what it is and have asked questions about the PC and what we do. People from work to the neighborhood, to random people asking about my button or hoodie have all stopped to talk about the PC and all say how incredible what I (we) are doing. These moments are the ones where I stop and get the biggest smile on my face. This is how I know I am doing what I am meant to...the smile it brings to my face just talking about the PC, the feeling I get when I see a plane fly over and think, "soon that will be me!"

I know these last few weeks will fly by but I am ready for the new chapter in my life to begin and just can't believe how lucky I am to begin this chapter with the PC experience.

Until Next Time :)

This whole moving to SA thing is becoming more and more of a reality with each passing day. in January I compiled a "to do" list of things I wanted/needed to accomplish before I left:

1. Turning 25 CHECK
2. Graduating from College CHECK
3. Sell my car CHECK
4. Go to Birthday Bash (free all day concert)
5. Having a graduation/going away party--Inivations in the mail
6. Go on a shopping trip with with the "girls"--planned for first week of june
7. Working-alot to get as much of my debt paid off b/f I leave
8. Getting all of my affairs inorder~Passport CHECK, power of attorney, will, ect...
9. Packing for this awsome and what I am sure will be crazy at times adventure--started

with the list just about complete my time is dwindling down and I am getting more excited for this new adventure and all the fun, difficult, stressful, lonely, fullfilling times that i am sure are to come. Until next time. :)