The Anticipation is the Worst Part

I suppose now is as good a time as any to post about what has happened since I accepted my invitation months ago:

1. It doesn't matter how much you study, immersion is the only way to learn a new language.
I have studied a lot of Spanish.  In July, we traveled to the Yucatan for 2.5 weeks and in that time used more Spanish than I ever did in any classroom.  There's a terrifying factor that can be unaccounted for in the classroom: talking with native speakers.  Being immersed is like completely starting over in the learning process.

The day after returning home from our Mexico trip, I had a phone interview with the language specialist in Mexico.  The interview is used to determine initial placements once training begins in Queretero.  She asked me a series of questions over about a 30 minute phone conversation.  If anything is harder than speaking in Spanish, it's doing it over the phone.

2. The reading material is a steadily growing list of of the same thing printed under several different titles.
The invitation kit includes the Volunteer Handbook, as well as a couple other booklets, and a link to the Mexico Welcome Book.  Outside of the invitation kit, I have been asked to read Peace Corps Approach to Safety and Security and a very detailed description of what will happen between arriving in DC and getting picked up by my host family, as well as participate in a safety and security online course.  I have also read a few documents provided by the Information Collection and Exchange on environmental education, youth, and community  Overall, I think I've done more reading in preparation for departure than I did in 4 years of college (but admittedly because I never did the reading when I was in school).

3. Knowing what to expect relieves a lot of stress caused by thinking about what is to come.
By far the single best document I have read has described the events that will happen my first week as a trainee.  It will be a physically and emotionally rough few days but knowing exactly what is expected to happen takes some of the pressure off.

For the next two week, I am just trying to enjoy all of my favorite American things.