Belize Here I Come!!
Heather Haydu, Belize, Business Development
For me, my experiences in the Peace Corps thus far are very limited. I received my official invitation only a couple of months ago and have not yet left the United States for staging and training in Belize. Instead, for those interested, I will give you a little bit of insight on the months leading up to my invitation and also how I am preparing for my service (I leave in just under two weeks!).
As many of you may be discovering, the application process is very long. I began at the beginning of my last semester at UF and when graduation finally came, I still didn’t know for sure where I’d be invited to go or what I would be doing. Even though I found out a few months before graduation that I had been nominated for a site in Latin America, I didn’t want to get my heart set on that region. However, about six months after sending in my initial application online, I received my invitation, and I can honestly say that I was very happy with the assignment and location I was given.
Since then, I’ve been trying to prepare as best I can for my service. Of course there are a lot of resources you can utilize to help you familiarize yourself with the country’s climate and culture, so that you can develop a good packing list. Other than the information provided by the Peace Corps (when you are officially invited, you will be given a few different packets of information specific to your country and assignment) my favorite resource is Facebook. I was able to find a couple of Peace Corps Belize Facebook groups, and I imagine there is a group for just about any location. With this, you can talk with current trainees or volunteers to get advice, suggestions, and just a better overall impression of what life will be like there.
There is one last thing I would like to share. I believe that the reason I was so content with my assignment when I finally received it is that I kept an open mind throughout the whole process. Even though I initially had preferences in regards to the location of service and program area, I was willing to do whatever they needed; I figured, wherever I go and whatever I do, it will be a beneficial learning experience. Of course I haven’t even left the US yet, so I still have everything to learn. Hopefully by being open to new challenges, I will allow myself more room to grow.