how we got here


This adventure has been a long time coming.  Living abroad is an idea that danced in the back of our minds for many years.  What would it be like to live in another country?  Could we learn a new language?  How can we use our skills to make the world a better place?   We spent a few months researching various live/work/study/serve abroad agencies, and ultimately we decided that we wanted to apply for the Peace Corps.  So we started preparing.

In the summer of 2011, we began volunteering with Catholic Charities.  We volunteered to teach English to two kiddos from Burma.  These kids had just arrived in the United States with their family as refugees, and we started with the ABCs.  Many rounds of “head, shoulders, knees, and toes” later, and we were smitten.  See how cute they are?


Yup, we taught those kids about plants and nature.  And, yup, his pot fell to the ground and broke about .3 seconds after we snapped this photo.

Then, in January 2012, just a few months after our wedding day, we officially started the application. 

And, just like we did when we decided to get married, we decided it was important to talk to other people about what an experience like this might look like.  We had coffee with a returned Peace Corps volunteer couple and emailed other folks we knew that had served in the Peace Corps.  We went to Peace Corps info sessions.  We read blogs and books. Incessantly.

Within a few weeks, we had an interview in Dallas.   It was fun, and our recruiter encouraged us to continue working with ESL classes.

After a year of tutoring our adorable kiddos, we switched to working with an adult refuge ESL class.  We’re still volunteering with this class now.  The students in the class are from all over the world, and they have incredible stories to share.

A few weeks after our interview, we received our nomination to teach English in North Africa or the Middle East.  A nomination, we explained to people, means that you might be going to a particular region of the world, you might leave during a particular season, and you might do a particular job.  While we were thrilled, we tried not to get our hopes up too much.  We’ve heard stories about how Peace Corps nominations and departure dates can change from time to time. 



Shortly after our nomination, it was it was time for fingerprinting and a background check.  


We received our nomination in June.  Then we waited.  We spent weeks and weeks and months and months waiting to hear what would become of us.  Would we really leave in January like our nomination stated?  Would the country change?  Every now and then, Peace Corps folks would email us and ask for additional information.  We immediately dropped everything when we got a request for an updated resume.

Finally, in September, our official invitation letter came.

Morocco.  Youth Development. January 14th, 2013.

We were elated, and there was a lot of cheering and hugging and, yes, even some twirling and squealing in the rain.  The first thing we did was apply for new passports.   Check out our old passports and new passport photos.  Look how much we've grown up!


The following months were filled with doctor's appointments, paperwork, more appointments, and more paperwork.  Getting our dental and medical clearance is a whole separate story.  We are grateful that our employers provide both terrific health insurance and time to slip out of work and get blood drawn/cavities filled/etc.

As we write this, we have just a few days left in the US to embrace our family and friends, eat Mexican food, and pack up our home.

As our journey continues, we invite you to stay with us and go places.  

Love,

Britt & Pete

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