Note 2

So, I have met some of the wonderful people I will be staging with and we did an introduction thingy.. here is mine!

Wow! Haha the more I read the more excited I am for training with all of you. My name is Matt (haha tech. spelled Matthew but have been going by Matthieu since college).. the middle name thing is a Setswana word "Kagiso" which means peace.. as a side story a lady I worked with in Botswana gave me the name because I looked like a hippie and was always happy :D. I'm currently 22.I grew up in rural Kansas (graduated with like 60 kids) and actually lived in the same house same bedroom same everything for the first 18 years of my life. I was fortunate enough that my family traveled all over the US (including Alaska... freaking awesome place btw!) but I never left the country until College when I spent about 3 months living/traveling/working in Gaborone, Botswana. Aka this will only be my second trip abroad.

Oot and since everyone else mentioned it I am a Spiritual Agnostic (to me that basically means I believe there is a higher being(s), purpose(s), power(s), and/or meaning(s) to life, but I don’t feel I currently (or will ever) know what that is. Pretty much I live my life in accordance to the idea of treating everyone with respect and seeing the inherent good in all people.

I obtained a BS in Social Work from Kansas State this August (I am yet to take the test to get my license.. but will before we leave although it is kinda pointless right now!) and minored in Leadership Studies and Music .

The Peace Corps is a chance for me to spread my wings farther. It is something I often thought about growing up, but last summer in Botswana cemented the idea of wanting to live and work outside the US. Throughout college I worked/volunteered/annoyed the hell outta peeps doing HIV/AIDS prevention/awareness both at my college and through my local community and state. Recently I started to become interested in mental health as well after working two months at the state psych. Hospital. I do plan to return and obtain my MSW and eventually go clinical.

My application process was kind of fast it seems. I submitted my application in January of 2009 and at that time was told the earliest I would leave was the start of 2010. However, near the end of June I was nominated for a trip leaving for francophone Africa leaving mid September (I would be leaving right now lol). Exactly 6 weeks prior to mid September I received a call that 1)I was not going in September and 2)they would renominate me. I was really upset, however at the end of the phone call I was told I was officially invited and my packet would arrive in 7-10 days. Aside from the whole odd timelines thing it all went well.

My favorite things include: music (I randomly break out into song), reading, writing, traveling, games (I’m excited to learn local games!), talking with people, and a lot of the time just hanging out and getting to know others. (Best days of my life were spent in hostels in Zimbabwe and South Africa!) Kind of like Karista I love swimming (although I feel it may be a little harder to come by in Niger) and looove to cook (and eat ;)). I'm kind of looney and like living life and having fun as I do it.

I'll be doing Community Health Education. As I touched on earlier I have worked extensively doing HIV/AIDS awareness and some Hep. Awareness, but feel the dynamic of a diff. culture will be challenging. I also have worked with feeding projects and think the smiles of children are infectious! I recently got recertified in CPR and first aid this summer and my HIV/AIDS education certification is still going strong! Every day brings a new biggest fear for me.

Somedays I am scared I’ll get sick and be sent home, some days I worry about the language, some days I even worry that the PC made some kind of mistake and I am not going to be strong enough. But then the days come when I go “Holy&%^ I’m going back to Africa and this is going to be amazing!.”

I’m gonna miss a lot. But mostly I think Cole and Jjinger are going to be my big heartbreaks. I’m leaving my partner of 3+ years right after we both completed college when we had planned to start our lives together. It’s going to be trying but we both feel what ever happens will be for the best. Jjinger is my Jack Russell I have had since high school. She’s pretty much a child to me and I know it will be hard having her soo far away for so long.

I can't wait to meet you all and can't believe its 5 weeks away!