Feb 18, 2008

In Washington DC

Quick Update: Made it to Washington DC, anxiety was super high this morning but doing much better now. I even took some time to visit a few Memorials in the Nation's Capital during a run in the 60 degree weather. I'm at staging with a large group about 30 people all Environmental Volunteers with the exception of a few working in a new small business development program. Just had my first anti-malarial pill (Metloquine), the side-affects are long...but the good news is I have access to a great Medical Team. All is well! Not sure when I'll be able to post next (I shouldn't have internet for at least three weeks)Best,

Feb 17, 2008

My Last Weekend in the U.S. of A.

I wanted to get this down before I forget anything. This past week has been wild. I was non-functional for 3 days because of a really bad cold and to top it off my last wisdom tooth started to come in.
Anyway, here are priceless moments from my last weekend in America for the next two years:

10) The look of the host/doorman's face at the authentic Italian Restaurant in Little Italy when he noticed Joe Sarno was walking-in.

9) "Its like a soccer ball," was Dan's reaction when he discovered Madagascar was an Island and not anywhere near Morocco.

8) Never making it to Hoboken (thank god).

7) Joe giving me a Gatorade the size of a small child in preparation for the two hour journey to see Johnny B. run the mile in Reading PA.

6) Pushing the gas tank empty limit further than ever before on the People's Car.

5) Coach Dude while at the Brass describing what it was like working in complete "darkness" for a year and deciding he needed to make a career change.

4) Joanie giving me a lecture on Birth Control over dinner, while Keria ate Mac n'Cheese off the table.

3) The world's ugliest Christmas vest.

2) Receiving complements at the bar while wearing the world's ugliest Christmas vest.

1) A random kid picking a fight with a dove (me) surrounded by hawks (my friends).

0) The awkwardness felt by all when Louis (random guy from the bar) discovered that Bear gave him a fake number.

-1) Discussing the formation and progression of Punk music starting with the year 1968 with Norris. It was as random as it sounds.

-2) The feeling of no control while Joe's SUV tires ripped up the AC practice field (while blasting AC/DC)

-3)Switching seats with Joe at Williamson’s Family Restaurant and as a result getting slapped in the back of the head by our waitress (Joe being Joe).

Feb 11, 2008

Application Process-Space Galaxy Quest Super Ride

This is the best way I can explain the PC application process....
An analogy (oddly enough) that came to me while in the car going to pick-up my grandmother for a “good-bye” dinner.

Imagine being in an Amusement Park. You’re wondering through the park, people are everywhere, the sun is out, and it’s warm, kids are running around, people are laughing, everyone's happy. It's a beautiful day.

You finally make your way to Future World, where they have the most realistic space ride ever created. This was the whole reason you came to the park in the first place, to experience the new and utterly amazing Space Galaxy Quest Super Ride (the one that everyone has been raving about). The outside architecture of the building resembles a mission control headquarters, something taken right out of the movie Armageddon (the movie about preventing the asteroid from hitting the earth). Just about everyone loves that movie, and as you can imagine everyone loves this ride. As you make your way through the entrance you start to feel your adrenaline pumping, your heart rate rising, hands start to sweat, everyone around you starts speaking louder out of excitement. The inspirational music pumping through the speakers in the background helps set the mood.

You feel great! Exuberant! Excited by the fact that you are finally going to get to experience the ride everyone has been talking about. You walk through a few mock displays; an engine room, an astronaut medical test facility, and flight suit simulation-all adding to the atmosphere and setting the tone for the space flight you are about to embark on.

Your brisk walk through the "cattle shoots" designed to usher you onto the ride comes to abrupt halt. Your first impression is that the wait can't be that bad. Feeling that you have already gotten through most of the "cattle shoot" without having to stop once, you are still feeling real good about the wait. As you wait in line, the two kids from the family in-front of you are fighting about who will get to be pilot during there space exploration ride. Playing along and enticing the imaginations of friends you start to divide positions as well; the engineer, the pilot, the navigator. The line inches, you wait, you inch up further, you wait longer, it moves a little further, and you wait little longer.

After waiting in-line for 30 minutes your feet start to ache from standing, but you try not to think about it. After 45 minutes, you start to feel the novelty of the ride erode as the pain from standing in-line starts to move into your calves and hamstrings. You start to think about all the other things you could be doing with the time you are wasting waiting in-line. After an hour your hamstrings start to pull on your lower back, you begin to think about how it’s very probable that you will lose sanity if you hear that inspirational song on re-peat one more time. As you get closer to the end of the line you start to see TV monitors every few feet informing participants about safety precautions. This of course is a good thing, but after the ninth and tenth time on repeat you start to become annoyed at the overfriendly female actor pretending to be a "Flight Safety Specialist." The grin you had walking into the ride entrance has transformed into an emotionless stare. You are no longer excited you’re eager, eager to get it over with. You think about how maybe you should have just gotten some ice cream and waited for everybody on the bench out-front. At least there you'd have the sun and fresh air.

Your doubts disappear quickly, as you finally turn the corner and see the line splits. You can see all kinds of commotion ahead. Any other thoughts you had become obsolete, and you start to feel excitement again. Its load, fog and strobe lights flash every few minutes. As you inch closer a gentleman dressed in a flight suit shouts for the next group. You move forward. He tells you to pay attention; you watch a brief introduction on a flat screen monitor. A giant sliding door opens behind him. You walk into a dark room. The door closes behind you and the large group that followed. The ride finally begins.

Feb 6, 2008

100% Honesty

Keeping with the theme. I am officially 100% nervous. The reality of the situation hit me hard today while I was cleaning and packing. It also hit hard when I received the itinerary for the in-country orientation.

The truth: Oh boy, this is going to be overwhelming!

I use to become irritated with people who would respond to the news of me joining the Peace Corps with the immediate question "you know its going to be hard, right?" The question was always intended to be harmless but after awhile it would really annoy me. As if the idea that this will be hard had never crossed my mind before , or that I had failed to completely rationalized the decision , or I had not fully conceptualize the reality of what I was volunteering to do.

The truth is that I was attracted to PC service (among many reasons) because of the challenge. The big joy accompanied with some anxiety today was getting a little glimpse of what the challenge early on is going to look like. Although the itinerary is vague it does make my stomach knot and muscles ache, a feeling I really haven't felt since having to wait for the sound of the gun moments before the start of the 4x800 at a big track meet in High School.

In an expedition you use topographical maps to follow ridge lines, scope valleys/peaks, find water sources and good camping locations. All can be done before experiencing or seeing any location along the route. We usually place a lot of trust in maps and hope they are correct. But the reality is that although we might be well prepared and everything well planned and executed. There will always be variables that are not in our control. A fallen tree, a dried up stream, an overgrown trail, the weather.

Somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between the things that are planned and those that are not, where the controllable clashes with the uncontrollable is where I find life to be not only the most enjoyable, but the most rewarding.

So, "you know its going to be hard, right?"

You better believe it will be.

Feb 4, 2008

The Fav. Five

Through conversations with friends and family over the last few months some common questions are constantly raised about Madagascar and my term of service. Here are the answers to what I call the "Favorite Five."

1. What will you do?

I'm an Environmental Education volunteer, specific duties are still vague and they will probably remain that way until I am assigned to work in a particular community and/or partner organization. All I know is that my work will relate to National Resource Management. I could be placed in a school, working for a national park, or a local NGO. I could be developing environmental education materials, expanding eco-tourism practices and/or sharing responsible agricultural practices.

2. Do they train you?

I leave February 18th for two days of staging in Washington DC were I'll review PC practices, policies, procedures, and a few "get ready" for crazy culture shock exercises. From DC I will fly to Madagascar and begin two months of training. Training will consist of spending long days, six days a week learning/experiencing everything from Malagasy culture, developmental practices, and specific environmental issues/solutions.

3. What will you eat?

Lots of rice! Rice will be a staple, but from what I've read I should have a rather diverse diet. It’s a tropical climate and they do grow fruits and vegetables as well. I've also been told that it’s common in the Peace Corps for women to gain weight and men lose. This is because of the high carbohydrate and low protein diet. Let's just say I've been eating a lot of chicken the past few weeks.

4. Where will you live?

I'll live with a host family throughout my two months of training. From that point it depends on the community I will be matched with. Housing could be already set-up through PC or a partnering organization. I could have to find an apartment/place for rent that meets specific PC qualifications. Some placements require that the volunteer stay with a host family throughout the entire term of service. What will I need to do? Time will tell!

5. What happens when you get sick?

It’s going to happen and I'm told the first couple of months are the most difficult. Peace Corps has great support services for volunteers. I'll have access to a health team specifically for in-country PC volunteers. I'll get a physical and dental examine halfway through my term of service. I'll be taking anti-malarial drugs and have access to drugs/services needed to slay any of those pesky parasites I'll host over the next 27 months.

Not a “Fav Five,” but a common question.
What Language do they speak?

Malagasy. Its Madagascar's distinct language with influences from Indonesia, Kiswahili and Arabic (I think). Anyhow, French is also spoken in more populated areas and among the educated.

Till next time, Veloma!

Feb 3, 2008

Keep It Open

Hello!
This was created so I can be more "open" about my experience while serving in Madagascar. Access to the internet in order to post updates will most likely be rare and my schedule for the first two months is going to be intense during training (something like 10 hours a day, 6 days a week). But I imagine that I should stubble across internet access while in larger towns when I need to go to the bank and do other chores. Part of the excitement (and anxiety) are all those unknowns. The real danger is that it allows the imagination to run wild, the trick is being able to maintain a sense of openness in order to manage and aviod any false expectations. The truth is that I have no idea what to expect and know very little about what will be expected of me.
Cheers,