...and I thought Mongolia would be cold

First post. It's official (or as official as things can be). I finally received an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps...in Kazakhstan. After a year of trudging through the application process, all I can hear now is the sound of Jenni's voice when I told her I had received an invitation. "Abby! This is happening!"

Lilly, my sister's dog is curled up on my feet right now, and the reality of how desperately I am going to miss home is beginning to sink in. This is going to be hard. Really hard. The difficulty, however, is what makes this upcoming adventure so important, so necessary, and so perfect.

For years, I have felt like something was missing in my life. It was something that I couldn't quite put my finger on and could only ineloquently describe. And for the first time...in a long time...I feel fulfilled. So at peace with my place in the world and the world's place in my heart. So, even though it is difficult to leave my loved ones, my family (and you are all family), it is the love they/you have given me that requires this (really difficult, albeit, temporary) move. I have to "pay it forward." It's time to share.

I think part of the inner peace that I am feeling, amidst the anxiety and nausea, comes from the satisfaction in no longer feeling like a hypocrite. I have, essentially, preached peace, love, and understanding for much of my young, liberal life. Looking back, however, I can't remember doing anything tangible...anything real...to make this happen. It feels good to finally respond to and acknowledge what I know is right, necessary, and so very pertinent to our human well-being.

Part of me feels a little selfish in this venture. I know that it would be nearly impossible for me to give as much as I will receive from the people of Kazakhstan and the other Peace Corps volunteers. Maybe this is why I'm going, though. Because I want to be a better person. I want to be more aware, more whole, a lot kinder, and a bit simpler. And while this experience may not completely satisfy these desires (or are they needs?), I have a sneaking suspicion that it will keep me on the right track.

On a lighter note: I had joked with Lisa for a long time about how the only place I was not interested in going for the Peace Corps was Mongolia. For absoloutely no other reason than the cold, cold weather.....

...that's right, folks. A significant portion of Kazakhstan is actually further north than Mongolia. Who knew? I like to think that this is simply the universe lining up the way that it is supposed to, because, despite the sub-siberian bitter cold, I know I will be happy there. I would be miserable without winter. You can't snowboard in Indonesia (not that I'm aware of, anyway).

That's all for now. Shout out to Bubb, my inaugural follower.