Hello, my name is Emily Ruhm, and welcome to my blog! I am serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in Senegal, working in urban agriculture, from September 2019 to November 2021.
I am from Ellicott City, MD, but I grew up living on and off overseas as a result of my parents serving in the US Foreign Service. My parents met in North Africa, so I excited to return to the continent where my life started.
My journey to Peace Corps has been a long one–precisely four years since I began considering Peace Corps. It started in the summer of 2015 when I interned with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). It was here that I realized I wanted a future in international development (with Peace Corps being one of the potential paths). Since then I have completed two more internships in international relations, graduated with two degrees, submitted four Peace Corps applications, participated in three interviews, and received two offers. Originally, I was supposed to serve as a Peace Corps Community Economic Development volunteer in Albania from January 2019 to April 2021. However, medical issues prevented me from going, so I ended up where I am currently, teaching English in China for the past six months. Now I am back on the path to Peace Corps, departing for Senegal in one month.
I will update my blog throughout my service as a PCV. I hope you enjoy reading it!
PS: In reference to the blog name, I purchased a pair of rainbow Teva sandals in preparation for my departure. I had been wondering what to name my blog, and my boyfriend jokingly made a reference to my new shoes. So we ended up with this name! In homage to the blog name, I will post pictures of my rainbow sandals throughout my time in Senegal.
Rainbow Sandals in Senegal 