Meeting the PC Director, Carrie.

Meeting Director Carrie

written on 1/29/2015

Since I've been back from the states, its been a bit of a whirlwind.

Mostly because I had the honor and privilege to meet with the Director of Peace Corps (International) and present to her an example of what Education Volunteers do in Madagascar.

When I was first asked...actually, looking back I was more or less told that I would be presenting to the Director...I was thrilled. What an amazing opportunity to meet the head of the organization I work for. My next feeling was nerves. I was presenting the biggest project I had done here in Madagascar - the Teacher Training I had worked on with my community in the fall - and I was one of 5 volunteers to meet her representing all of the Education volunteers in Madagascar. Also, I was a million miles away celebrating the holidays at home and was wondering if I'd have time to prepare.

But, prepare I did. That meaning I found a new romper on sale at Kohls and bought it to wear for my presentation. And that was about it.

The days before Director Carrie's arrival it was a madhouse in the Peace Corps Office, and a mad house in my brain, for that matter. So many preparations to be made! So much cleaning and polishing! The volunteer I was presenting with and I got together to plan our presentation. We picked out pictures and tried our best to intertwine our two teacher training experiences into one cohesive statement about how Teacher Trainings are a great way to make sustainable change for Education volunteers.

We pre-presented it to our Education head and other volunteers, tweaked some parts..and then..the day was here.

The presentation went well, I only accidentally spoke Malagasy instead of English a few times, AND THE DIRECTOR (or probably the Director's assistant) EVEN TWEETED ABOUT MY PRESENTATION! It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to meet her, but even greater to hear her talk about why she loves Peace Corps and her job and remind me that, I too, am great. It's always nice to hear that you're doing a good job at work and that you are doing what your organization wants...and its especially nice when the director of your organization says so...and she did!

The next day, however, I was terribly ill with some kind of day cold/flu situation and spent the night battling a fever. The next morning (great timing) the director was suppose to come visit the Peace Corps house..where I (and two other volunteers who had become ill) were basically lumps on the couches. I decided I would hide in the med unit and see the doctor during her visit. So, naturally she visited the med office and ran into my sad, sick self.

So, thank goodness my first impression was good because my second impression (although probably a more realistic representation of how I look everyday) was not the best.

She, none-the-less, was warm and cheery and wished us all to get better soon.

To sum up - I met the director of Peace Corps and it was beautiful and inspiring and I can continue on with the last 7 months of my service now.

OH, and FYI, I am feeling much better!