Leaping into the unknown... again

When I packed for DC last winter, I had little idea of what I was getting myself into - an internship for the spring in a city I'd only visited briefly, living in an apartment with three girls I knew nothing of, working with a paper that I, frankly, knew little of, taking the metro in to the city for a 9-5 as though I were an adult rather than a 19 year old girl from small town Pennsylvania. ...and I loved it. The roommates were a bit nutty, truth be told, but I fell in love with the city and value the people I met there and experiences we had more than I could have imagined.


When I signed up to volunteer with the Association for India's Development - that is, found them online and emailed a current volunteer to express interest - I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew TWC asked its interns to perform some kind of "civic engagement" during our time in DC, I knew I wanted something to do with a non-profit working for developing countries, and I knew I had a growing interest in India. Ultimately, I found myself sitting cross-legged in a circle of maybe eight Indians-turned-Washingtonians, discussing literacy and anti-corruption initiatives in the basement of Dr. Mohan Bhagat, preparing for upcoming fundraisers, speaking with social activist Sandeep Pandey, celebrating Holi, and enjoying dinner and chai with some of the best people I've met in my college career.


When I boarded my flight in JFK this past May, it had not yet completely hit me that I was, in fact, on my way to West Africa. Africa... I was going to Africa? I'd been planning for it, informing friends and family, getting myself psyched for the summer... and, yet again, had no idea what I was getting myself into. Not surprisingly, it was a summer I'll never forget. As we crossed the Atlantic, I peeked out my window to enjoy a fantastically clear view of the stars and it struck me - yep, I was going to Africa. I had to allow myself a moment of congratulations, quite honestly: the first in my immediate family to get a passport, much less use it (let alone the destination), I'd always wanted to travel, though it seemed a vaguely distant possibility in the sleepy town of North East... and here I was, en route to Accra, Ghana for the summer. It was actually happening.


Today was a wonderful day. I'd completed two back-to-back midterms yesterday, received surprisingly positive results on a paper (it must've been the help of the General Tso's I ordered to inspire the writing of this essay on Chinese politics), successfully completed a class presentation on Henry V, got out of class early... and learned that a friend had skipped a class because I'd warned him earlier that I might not make it, so he'd have to maintain his sanity without me. Now, I know I shouldn't approve of that last item, but really, must admit it's an ego booster. And what capped it off, on top of the fantastic beginning-of-fall weather? Further news on an offer I'd received earlier to spend next summer in Denmark working with a pair of IT/communications fellows I'd briefly met in Ghana. The more feasible it seems, the more excited I am - and in awe of how things seem to work themselves out from time to time (with a bit of help, naturally).


Of course, planning is still very much in the process... but, naturally, if this is actually made to come to fruition, I'm positive I'll still have no idea what I'm getting myself into - and I relish that knowledge. Where's the adventure in knowing, eh?