Off and running...

Hello...I know its been a long time but school has a way of sucking you in and keeping you busy (lol)...

I have exciting news to share...its the last second and I wanted to do my initial post earlier but it just didnt happen that way...

I received an offer from Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/) for a volunteer position of Livestock Assistant. I was suppose to start on Monday (arriving via Amtrak on Sunday, May 16th) however Amtrak, to avoid giving the long, dragged out story, screwed up my reservation. I'm leaving tomorrow, May 18th at 7:30A from Michigan and I'll be arriving at 6:57P on May 19th (Wednesday) in Massachusetts. I have a eight/nine hour layover in Chicago and then then a 20 and a half hour ride from Illinois to Massachusetts. I enjoy train rides, I just wish the reservation part was more efficient, accurate, and friendlier.

Words cannot describe how excited I am! This is my first official step towards my career goals of working in sustainable agriculture in third world countries...

I want to put how enthusiastic and motivated I am into words however I have two things against me...1. my excitement is preventing the descriptive part of my brain and 2. my laptop is running out of juice (both are working against me at the moment). So for now, I'm going to call this entry to an end....

When I arrive in Massachusetts I'll be blogging my trip (hopefully it went better than the reservation process). My goal is to enter in my experiences at least weekly. I want give my readers the feeling of being at my side seeing the sights of Hiefer International, overlook ranch.

Not to mention I can keep in touch with my family too (love you Mom!).

Until we meet again...

The official start of my journey...

I received news that was exciting!!! I am going aboard with Heifer International at their Overlook Ranch operation in Rutland, Massachusetts as a livestock assistant. I do not have the greatest amount of experience in large animal however I am will (and would love) to learn. The livestock coordinator explained that tasks would include everything from working with livestock on various herd health tasks to mending fences and driving tractors. The experience I have strictly pertains to veterinary care, which involves deworming protocols, vaccinations, TB testing, etc. To have the opportunity to learn and participate in the everyday workings of a farm is awesome!

If you have read my earlier entries, you’ve read my future goals of becoming a Veterinarian and working in sustainable agriculture to help however I can with not only the food shortages in third world countries but also the quality of food in those countries. This if the formal start of my education explorations. My goals have included becoming a Veterinarian for as long as I can remember, but after going to Niger (West Africa) with the Peace Corp my professional goals took a turn.

Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org) has a wonderful philosophy of eliminating world hunger and it starts with a breeding pair of animals (or in some cases a colony). The breeding animals could be cattle, goats, pigs, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. A pact is made that once those animals begin reproducing they give a breeding pair to a neighboring village or family, and so on. Each family or village is given not only a food source, but their helping to feed others as well.
The position is very competitively attained; many applicants from all over the country and one position. When I was told I was being offered the position I was on cloud nine (I’m still on cloud nine). Every aspect of this experience is exciting from learning something new to knowing this is the start of everything that is to come.

I plan on blogging about my experience…if you have questions, email me at michlvt@gmail.com. I hope you enjoy the experience alongside me…