Four Days and Counting....

Many people have asked me to post on my blog before I leave the country. I must admit that I have been putting off this posting for several weeks. Posting an "official" first entry is a daunting task. What clever things can I say? What words of reflection are appropriate? What kinds of feelings will writing this type of web journal stir up? I have been putting this post off because it symbolizes a setting in of reality, the kind of reality that is REALLY REAL. By this I mean a reality that will have me moving half way across the globe to speak a language I don't know (Portuguese), work for a government organization, and live and work among peoples of which I know very little. WOW, when I say it that way, it is scary!

I have been asked on many occasions why in the world I would want to join the Peace Corps at this stage in my life. I mean, I have been in college for the past nine years, earned a BA, MA, and almost a PhD. I have run a marathon, traveled all over the world, and have a happy life here in Mississippi. All that accomplished, I have ALWAYS wanted to join the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps for me is kind of like young children saying they want to grow up to be a dentist, doctor, attorney, or architect and then actually becoming that very thing. When I was younger, I wanted to join the Peace Corps. I graduated high school hoping to enter but found out that you have to have a college degree to join up. SO, I went to college to earn a BA so that I could then enter the Peace Corps. In my final months at Huntingdon, I applied to be in the Peace Corps and applied to master's programs. I decided that if I did not get funding for graduate school, I would finally get to enter the Peace Corps, but as you know, I found funding at both Colorado State for my MA and at Penn State for my PhD. After passing my comprehensive exams in the Fall and working on my dissertation, I decided to cut short my time in Pennsylvania and apply to be in the Peace Corps. That desire I had as a child, never went away. I am now fulfilling a life-long dream to help others, to serve the world as it has so graciously served me, and to experience something other than that which I experience everyday.

I have taught my student for the past 5 years that they must find something about which to have passion. I ask them to make a decision about their world and how they can make a difference. NOW, some of them are able to understand the concept of passion and others think I am absolutely a crazy, leftist teacher (which I am). BUT, I know for certain that those students to engage me in my quest at changing the world are those students who leave my class with passion that turns into compassion. This is my basic teaching philosophy. If we can help others understand that engaging in our communities (both locally and globally) is a worthwhile endeavor, then we can make a difference. I understand that when I help another person, I am growing as a person. I would be naive to believe that I won't benefit from my time in the Peace Corps more than those I help. In this way, the Peace Corps is a selfish adventure too. I am not done learning from others, and I am not done teaching others. I know I have been called to serve, and I know that teaching is what I have been called to do.

All this said, I will be leaving for Africa in four short days. Well, actually, I will leave Mississippi on July 5th for Philadelphia, PA. I will do some pre-service training, fill out paperwork, and get some vaccination shots while I am there. I will then fly to Cape Verde on July 8th (my 27th birthday) to begin my training as a Peace Corps volunteer. I will be in training for the first three months, and then I will begin my two years of service. I still have to pack and tie up loose ends! I probably not post again until I am settled in Cape Verde. I will check email, so please email if you have time... caseymaugh@gmail.com. Also, I will have my cell phone with me until I fly to Africa. Until then ......... Namaste

My future place of employment

Hi Y'all! I have been doing some further research on the Instituto Superior de Educacao (ISE) in Cape Verde. I finally found a website for the ISE: http://www.ise.cv/cursos.htm

Check it out. It is in Portuguese, but if you paste this address into google, you can have it translated into English. There are some photos of the university, so you can see those without any Portuguese at all!!!