Saturday, November 8, 2008

YES WE CAN!

"Yes We Can" are three very important words to all Americans right now. Yes, we can make a difference. Yes, we can change the world. Yes, we can believe in our fellow man. And Yes, one act of kindness can create a domino effect of world peace. I will never forget where I was when I heard the most beautiful announcement of my life. "Barack Obama is President of the United States of America!" It was lunch time on Wednesday. All of the PCT's were together, eagerly watching the results on CNN. Peace Corps staff was kind enough to project the newscast on the wall in the lunchroom. We had watched the results all morning on our laptops during sessions. When the happy news was announced we all cheered and jumped up and down. All of us hugged one another and there was not a dry eye in the house. I cried ridiculously hard. I've never cried over politics--but then again, i've never been more happy in my life. Or more proud to be an American. It was an increadible moment, and a memory I will forever cherish. What complimented that moment was my final step to becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer--my swearing in ceremony. The US Ambassador swore all 65 Volunteers in as the #267th PC group in the Philippines. I can't begin to describe all of my emotions that day. I knew as it was happening that it was one of the mot important moments of my life. That 16 months of applying for the Peace Corps, 2 months of packing/preparing and 3 months of very intense training had finally paid off. I am now, and will forever be, a Peace Corps Volunteer. I am so excited, incredibly happy, overwhelmed and in awe of all the responsibility I have earned with my new title. I look forward to beginning my assignment in Leyte. I look forward to all of my new experiences and adventures and I look forward to serving my new President as a PCV. Obama said "Yes We Can!" Our batch has adopted this mantra as our own. So stand up America! Yes We Can make a change and bring peace and prosperity not only to our country, but to the world. I will begin in the Philippines. :-)

"We Can, we can make difference. With our hands together we can reach the whole world. We can, we can move a mountain. It's all for one and one for all that keeps us strong." -#267 (written by Tom & Ben)