Jess writes:
Merry Christmas & Happy New Years to everyone!
If you're new to our blog, we hope our Christmas cards have directed you well! Please check back often as we plan to update regularly (at least during January... ha!) Not quite sure what our internet will look like in South Africa, but we'll try our best to keep everyone as updated as possible.
Speaking of updates... we've received our Staging emails today and we are set to leave for South Africa on January 28th, at 5:40pm!! We are also confirmed for staging in Washington D.C. on January 27th, at 12:30pm, and will be setting up our flight planes for that arrival tomorrow.
In January we will provide some more in-depth details concerning staging, training, contact info, blog specifics, etc. So stay tuned!
In the meantime, have a great New Years and we'll see you in 2010!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Ribbons on my Fingers
Jess writes:
Needless to say, I miss good ol' clam chowder (Cape Cod style, of course). The funny thing is, I didn't realize how much I missed good ol' clam chowder until our recent trip back to Massachusetts in October. I can honestly say that growing up, the smell of that creamy concoction wouldn't have made me blink an eye, and yet, our first afternoon in Concord, the mere whiff of that cup-o-wonderfulness made me swoon. Quite seriously.
I guess its got me thinking about what we miss in our day-to-day lives... and more importantly, what we forget to miss. (How could I have ever forgotten about the everyday beauty of Cape Cod clam chowder?) So I realize now, with our days to departure drawing nearer, that I am far more conscious of such things than in the past. That is, when I have gone someplace for an extended time before, I have been very aware of what I might miss, but never very aware of what I might forget to miss. It's a funny concept...
On my first trip to France - at a precarious age of 16 - I was very aware that I would miss talking to my friends for two to three hours every night and I would become quickly aware that my hair dryer was not compatible. And yet, even after that short trip, it was the feel of my dog's fur that made me feel most at home when I returned.
When I left for college - at a horribly more precarious age of 18 - I was certain that the lack of my own washer/dryer (and mom's help!) and a full fridge would be the greatest possible misery of life away. But after three months away, it was the way my body sank perfectly into the couch cushions to watch a family movie that reminded most of home.
Perhaps the most obvious examples are those that are most foreign - a year abroad, a trip to the other side of the world - these were months and years when it seemed like such a long, long time to be so far, far away. And at times, I missed everything about home. But still, I was always astonished at how much I had forgotten to miss when I returned... the smell of BBQ's, the ease of talking, the chill of air conditioning, driving a car (ha!)!!
And while Paris and Asia may seem the most exotic, the period of time spent "away" from some "home" that has struck me the most has been my time here, in Illinois. It is the first time, in my life, that I have felt the full effect of those things that I had forgotten to miss. And it wasn't until that trip back to Massachusetts that I found myself saying aloud, "Oh, I hadn't thought about ____(fill_in_the_memory)_____ in ____(fill_in_the_number)____ years!" It turns out, those statements kinda throw you off a bit...
So what's the point?
Well, I've come to realize that those super, uber important icons of home that we forget to miss aren't lost because of a lack of past memories, but quite the opposite, because of the creation of new ones. The last few years have helped me to realize that we spend a lot of our lives creating new "homes" wherever we go, and the great deal of time and effort that goes into that process leaves little room in our limited space that we call a memory for all the nuances of our previous "homes".
Thus, and most importantly, these last few years have taught me that because those super, uber important icons of home fade, we must be diligent about returning home, or to our many homes, in order to remember. So that the creation of a new home doesn't entirely replace the very special place of our homes before... So that the smell of stewing clam chowder doesn't fall so far to the past that we can't recognize its unique place in our life...
It reminds me: Before one departure, my mom bought me a placard that read, "Go out and see the world, but come home for love." I realize now how very important that sentiment is. We go out to college, to travel, to serve... but we come home for family, for friends, for memories... We come home for "home".
I look forward to our new home in South Africa... but I also look forward to those return trips home - to revisiting, in their various locations, the small pieces of ourselves that remain a part of those places and that remind us to miss them so carefully. Simply put, I look forward to remembering what I have forgotten to miss, so that I can miss it lovingly again.
Needless to say, I miss good ol' clam chowder (Cape Cod style, of course). The funny thing is, I didn't realize how much I missed good ol' clam chowder until our recent trip back to Massachusetts in October. I can honestly say that growing up, the smell of that creamy concoction wouldn't have made me blink an eye, and yet, our first afternoon in Concord, the mere whiff of that cup-o-wonderfulness made me swoon. Quite seriously.
I guess its got me thinking about what we miss in our day-to-day lives... and more importantly, what we forget to miss. (How could I have ever forgotten about the everyday beauty of Cape Cod clam chowder?) So I realize now, with our days to departure drawing nearer, that I am far more conscious of such things than in the past. That is, when I have gone someplace for an extended time before, I have been very aware of what I might miss, but never very aware of what I might forget to miss. It's a funny concept...
On my first trip to France - at a precarious age of 16 - I was very aware that I would miss talking to my friends for two to three hours every night and I would become quickly aware that my hair dryer was not compatible. And yet, even after that short trip, it was the feel of my dog's fur that made me feel most at home when I returned.
When I left for college - at a horribly more precarious age of 18 - I was certain that the lack of my own washer/dryer (and mom's help!) and a full fridge would be the greatest possible misery of life away. But after three months away, it was the way my body sank perfectly into the couch cushions to watch a family movie that reminded most of home.
Perhaps the most obvious examples are those that are most foreign - a year abroad, a trip to the other side of the world - these were months and years when it seemed like such a long, long time to be so far, far away. And at times, I missed everything about home. But still, I was always astonished at how much I had forgotten to miss when I returned... the smell of BBQ's, the ease of talking, the chill of air conditioning, driving a car (ha!)!!
And while Paris and Asia may seem the most exotic, the period of time spent "away" from some "home" that has struck me the most has been my time here, in Illinois. It is the first time, in my life, that I have felt the full effect of those things that I had forgotten to miss. And it wasn't until that trip back to Massachusetts that I found myself saying aloud, "Oh, I hadn't thought about ____(fill_in_the_memory)_____ in ____(fill_in_the_number)____ years!" It turns out, those statements kinda throw you off a bit...
So what's the point?
Well, I've come to realize that those super, uber important icons of home that we forget to miss aren't lost because of a lack of past memories, but quite the opposite, because of the creation of new ones. The last few years have helped me to realize that we spend a lot of our lives creating new "homes" wherever we go, and the great deal of time and effort that goes into that process leaves little room in our limited space that we call a memory for all the nuances of our previous "homes".
Thus, and most importantly, these last few years have taught me that because those super, uber important icons of home fade, we must be diligent about returning home, or to our many homes, in order to remember. So that the creation of a new home doesn't entirely replace the very special place of our homes before... So that the smell of stewing clam chowder doesn't fall so far to the past that we can't recognize its unique place in our life...
It reminds me: Before one departure, my mom bought me a placard that read, "Go out and see the world, but come home for love." I realize now how very important that sentiment is. We go out to college, to travel, to serve... but we come home for family, for friends, for memories... We come home for "home".
I look forward to our new home in South Africa... but I also look forward to those return trips home - to revisiting, in their various locations, the small pieces of ourselves that remain a part of those places and that remind us to miss them so carefully. Simply put, I look forward to remembering what I have forgotten to miss, so that I can miss it lovingly again.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tech Saavy? Not Always?
Jess Writes:
So we know the whole two-people-one-blog-lots-to-say thing is a little confusing for family and friends. So we are trying a new system for our blog:
First things first, we're just going to start adding "Jess Writes:" or "Adam Writes:" to the top of every blog - that should alleviate basic confusion - ha! Also, we now have two connected eBlogger accounts, which means that the "authorship" of the blog (found at the very bottom of any post) will differentiate between myself and Adam. For example, all the old posts (including this one) will says "Posted by Jess at such-and-such-time". From now on, posts from Adam will says "Posted by Adam at such-and-such-time" at the bottom. We are also working on figuring out how to add our eBlogger profile picture to the beginning of each post, but no promises there.
Hope this helps to alleviate the guessing game!!!
So we know the whole two-people-one-blog-lots-to-say thing is a little confusing for family and friends. So we are trying a new system for our blog:
First things first, we're just going to start adding "Jess Writes:" or "Adam Writes:" to the top of every blog - that should alleviate basic confusion - ha! Also, we now have two connected eBlogger accounts, which means that the "authorship" of the blog (found at the very bottom of any post) will differentiate between myself and Adam. For example, all the old posts (including this one) will says "Posted by Jess at such-and-such-time". From now on, posts from Adam will says "Posted by Adam at such-and-such-time" at the bottom. We are also working on figuring out how to add our eBlogger profile picture to the beginning of each post, but no promises there.
Hope this helps to alleviate the guessing game!!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Holiday Season
Hey everyone, it's Adam here. I would like to start this post by saying thank you to everyone that was able to attend the going away festivities. Jess and I were so happy to spend some time surrounded by our friends and family.
That brings me to what I wanted to talk about in this post: time. Being in the thick of the holiday season with the countdown to Christmas having begun, I am all of a suden accutely aware of exactly how much time Jess and I have left with family and friends, or rather how little time we have left. And as I have been thinking about this almost constantly over the last week as we enjoyed an amazing two day long Thanksgiving, I felt that I would put fingers to my keypad and let it out.
I can not begin to express to all of you how anxious and excited I am to depart for South Africa. There is the joy of knowing that our dreams have at last come true. There is the relief that all of our work and sacrifice have paid off. But there is something more that makes me anxious to leave. There is a drive deep inside of me to be in a culture entirely dissimilar to my own, to reach that state of culture shock that makes me wonder what it is I am doing there. It is those moments that I can hardly wait for. In those moments I will know for sure that all of this is really happening.
Though a part of me is so anxious to depart, there is the other part of me that is thinking of all the things I would like to do and all of the people that I would like to do them with before time runs out. Every decision that I make about what to do with my time has become a an important one. I don't want to waste a single moment that I have left. With dates already scheduled throughout December time feels shorter still. There is, in a more urgent way than ever before, so much to do and so little time. I am trying to spend as much quality time with my family as I can. Also, I am trying to make time to spend with friends, almost like stocking up on memories and coversation to last me through the coming drought. There is research and language lessons for the Peace Corps as well as slowly but surely assembling the stuff we need to bring with us. Then there is getting ready for the holidays with decorations and outings and such. Finally there are the tasks that suddenly seem mundane or almost pointless in light of the situation, like paying those last few bills.
It is an interesting paradox where every day taht passes takes away time that I desperately need in order to fit everything in and yet I am also exited that I am another day closer to departure. Even now I want to say that I hope departure comes quickly so the inner turmoil will end and yet I want time to slow a bit so that I can catch up. I think that at this point I can only begin to seize every oppurtunity to spend time with people and live like time is up, because I know that soon it will be.
That brings me to what I wanted to talk about in this post: time. Being in the thick of the holiday season with the countdown to Christmas having begun, I am all of a suden accutely aware of exactly how much time Jess and I have left with family and friends, or rather how little time we have left. And as I have been thinking about this almost constantly over the last week as we enjoyed an amazing two day long Thanksgiving, I felt that I would put fingers to my keypad and let it out.
I can not begin to express to all of you how anxious and excited I am to depart for South Africa. There is the joy of knowing that our dreams have at last come true. There is the relief that all of our work and sacrifice have paid off. But there is something more that makes me anxious to leave. There is a drive deep inside of me to be in a culture entirely dissimilar to my own, to reach that state of culture shock that makes me wonder what it is I am doing there. It is those moments that I can hardly wait for. In those moments I will know for sure that all of this is really happening.
Though a part of me is so anxious to depart, there is the other part of me that is thinking of all the things I would like to do and all of the people that I would like to do them with before time runs out. Every decision that I make about what to do with my time has become a an important one. I don't want to waste a single moment that I have left. With dates already scheduled throughout December time feels shorter still. There is, in a more urgent way than ever before, so much to do and so little time. I am trying to spend as much quality time with my family as I can. Also, I am trying to make time to spend with friends, almost like stocking up on memories and coversation to last me through the coming drought. There is research and language lessons for the Peace Corps as well as slowly but surely assembling the stuff we need to bring with us. Then there is getting ready for the holidays with decorations and outings and such. Finally there are the tasks that suddenly seem mundane or almost pointless in light of the situation, like paying those last few bills.
It is an interesting paradox where every day taht passes takes away time that I desperately need in order to fit everything in and yet I am also exited that I am another day closer to departure. Even now I want to say that I hope departure comes quickly so the inner turmoil will end and yet I want time to slow a bit so that I can catch up. I think that at this point I can only begin to seize every oppurtunity to spend time with people and live like time is up, because I know that soon it will be.
Friday, November 20, 2009
On Our Way To Being Truly Official
Hey everyone, it's Adam. Just wanted to make a final update before the going away party. Today Jess and I sent of our applications for Peace Corps passports and South African visas (thanks to K.C. for dropping them off to FedEx for us). Not the most exciting thing but it is another, and very important, step towards departure. We also sent our resumes and aspiration statements to the South Africa country desk. This is the first thing that the country directors will learn about us, so it's kinda like our new bosses meeting us for the first time. So that's kind of exciting. Of course the most exciting news is the going away party tomorrow. We are both so excited to see all of you that can make it. We are truly looking forward to spending the day celebrating with you. Stay tuned for more updates.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
It's Official...
Yesterday afternoon, Jess and I received our Invitation Kit from Peace Corps and, FINALLY, it's official! We will leave for 27 months of service in South Africa on January 28, 2010!!!!!!!!
SOME RANDOM SERVICE DETAILS (because we know you'll ask)...
- We will be stationed in one of the following provinces: 1. KwaZulu Natal (province on the eastern Indian ocean seaboard, bordering Mozambique & Swaziland), 2. Limpopo (northeastern province, home of Kruger National Park, bordering Mozambique, Zimbabwe & Botswana), Mpumalanga (between the previous two, bordering Mozambique only), or the Northwest Province (fittingly, in the northwestern region, bordering Botswana only).
- We will be working in the HIV/AIDS sector, doing outreach with our assigned communities. More specifically, we will be focusing on work with youth, CBOs (Community Based Organizations), and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations).
- Important dates (locations):
Staging Dates: Jan. 28th-29th, 2010 (Washington, D.C... we think)
Training Dates: Jan. 30th-March 29th, 2010 (Pretoria area)
Service Dates: March 30th, 2010-March 29th, 2012 (To be determined during Training)
SOUTH AFRICA DETAILS (because you might be interested)...
- South Africa is 1,233,404 sq. km, slightly larger than California & Texas combined (Lonely Planet, Africa Edition)
- South Africa is home to "one of the most magnificent groupings of wildlife anywhere on the planet" (Lonely Planet, Africa Edition), including over 800 types of birds. More specifically, South Africa is best known for "The Big 5", which are: 1. Black Rhino, 2. Cape Buffalo, 3. African Elephant, 4. Leopard, 5. Lion. As well as some other favorites - the Hippo, the Giraffe, the White Rhino, and the Cheetah. In addition, South Africa is less famous for another animal grouping, "The Little 5", which are: 1. Rhinoceros Beatle, 2. Buffalo Weaver, 3. Elephant Shrew, 4. Leopard Tortoise, 5. Ant Lion. (He he he!!! We like those!)
- Unfortunately, South Africa also plays host to the world's worst HIV/AIDS pandemic. South Africa is ranked #12 (out of 222) for countries with the highest death rates, with HIV/AIDS as the #1 cause of death in the entire country (CIA World Factbook).
SOME RANDOM RELATED LINKS (because you'll be bored at work sometime)...
- Lonely Planet (South Africa Page): http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-africa
- CIA World Factbook (South Africa Page): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html
- Peace Corps (South Africa Page): http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.wherepc.africa.southafrica
- Peace Corps Wiki (South Africa Page): http://www.peacecorpswiki.com/South_Africa
- Peace Corps Journals (South African Volunteers): http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/?showcountry,sf@blog
Well that should keep everyone busy for a while, but we'll be sure to blog again soon! Keep in touch and don't hesitate to comment or email before the departure!!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The "Peace Corps or Bust!" Yard Sale
We've officially set the date for our "Peace Corps or Bust!" Yard Sale on October 3rd & 4th!! Check out our Evite here:
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/CRDPHFUFZOGAJRWQENZW/YardSale
(If you have trouble opening the link, feel free to contact us with an email address where we can send a copy of the Evite. See email address below...)
We need your help spreading the word!!
You can help us by forwarding the Evite (or it's URL or Facebook link) to your friends, family, and co-workers. We also have available hard copy and .pdf flyers of the event for posting or emailing. The more people that attend, the more prepared we are for our departure!
And... if you have old stuff in your house that you've been looking to donate, we would be happy to take it off your hands! Anything you donate will help us to sell even more!!
Contact us at: BordAngeL4@hotmail.com or via our facebook account (see link at right).
Thank you in advance for your support! We hope to see you in October!!
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/CRDPHFUFZOGAJRWQENZW/YardSale
(If you have trouble opening the link, feel free to contact us with an email address where we can send a copy of the Evite. See email address below...)
We need your help spreading the word!!
You can help us by forwarding the Evite (or it's URL or Facebook link) to your friends, family, and co-workers. We also have available hard copy and .pdf flyers of the event for posting or emailing. The more people that attend, the more prepared we are for our departure!
And... if you have old stuff in your house that you've been looking to donate, we would be happy to take it off your hands! Anything you donate will help us to sell even more!!
Contact us at: BordAngeL4@hotmail.com or via our facebook account (see link at right).
Thank you in advance for your support! We hope to see you in October!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Lucky Number 3
So it's been a long time since we've written, I know. Of course, I figured these long absences would not happen until we were actually in the Peace Corps and had a good reason for blogging inconsistency... hmmm. But as August comes to a close, it's about time to at least try to do some catch up, so here goes...
I always remember hearing that "things in life often come in 3's", and this phrase has always irked me slightly because I figured that if you try hard enough, you can always find 3 related items that could fit a situation... right? (But then again, Dan Brown has shown us how the meticulous weaving of conincidences can change whole theories of numerology and theology... remember? And he did it fabulously!) Similarly, the phrase "3rd time's the charm" has always bugged me slightly, because I always figured that after two major failures, a reasonable person might consider other alternatives... fair enough? (But then again, we do live by the quip "If at first you don't succeed, try [that's 1], try [that's 2], try [that's 3!] again." And isn't that true American idealism?!)
So maybe these shouldn't be such bothersome little phrases....
Thus, ironically, Adam and I have recently been grasping tighter and tighter to these little phrases as we await our final confirmations for Peace Corps service. Let me explain:
THE "3RD TIMES THE CHARM" CUR(S)E:
1. We were told in 2007 that we might not qualify for service because we didn't have the correct work experience. This hit us hards. So we found jobs in applicable fields and, after 9 months in our new specialities, we were "qualified".
2. We were told in 2008 that we would need to finish our degrees in order to have the correct educational experiences. This was devastating. So we extended our deferral, finished our degrees, and now 11 months later, we are "qualified" again.
3. So is this our lucky try #3....? We'll see...
And as for the latter... THE "THINGS OFTEN COME IN 3'S" CUR(S)E:
1. We received our legal/placement clearance from the Peace Corps in May, 2009.
2. We received our dental clearance from the Peace Corps in July, 2009.
3. So is medical clearance our lucky item #3....? We'll see...
To be sure, while we have already been told that we are to leave for Africa in January, we will not be certain of our service for some time still. And again, to be sure, we wait not-so-patiently for those final confirmations.
Nevertheless, we keep up all our hopes that after nearly 3 years of waiting, we will hear in less than 3 months (which also happens to be about 3 months prior to departure) that we are set to leave for our 3-day domestic staging and our 3-month in-country training - the first and second phase of the 3-phase Peace Corps process which will define the next three years of our lives...
I'm still waiting to open up a fortune cookie that will tell me that, indeed, our lucky number is 3.
I always remember hearing that "things in life often come in 3's", and this phrase has always irked me slightly because I figured that if you try hard enough, you can always find 3 related items that could fit a situation... right? (But then again, Dan Brown has shown us how the meticulous weaving of conincidences can change whole theories of numerology and theology... remember? And he did it fabulously!) Similarly, the phrase "3rd time's the charm" has always bugged me slightly, because I always figured that after two major failures, a reasonable person might consider other alternatives... fair enough? (But then again, we do live by the quip "If at first you don't succeed, try [that's 1], try [that's 2], try [that's 3!] again." And isn't that true American idealism?!)
So maybe these shouldn't be such bothersome little phrases....
Thus, ironically, Adam and I have recently been grasping tighter and tighter to these little phrases as we await our final confirmations for Peace Corps service. Let me explain:
THE "3RD TIMES THE CHARM" CUR(S)E:
1. We were told in 2007 that we might not qualify for service because we didn't have the correct work experience. This hit us hards. So we found jobs in applicable fields and, after 9 months in our new specialities, we were "qualified".
2. We were told in 2008 that we would need to finish our degrees in order to have the correct educational experiences. This was devastating. So we extended our deferral, finished our degrees, and now 11 months later, we are "qualified" again.
3. So is this our lucky try #3....? We'll see...
And as for the latter... THE "THINGS OFTEN COME IN 3'S" CUR(S)E:
1. We received our legal/placement clearance from the Peace Corps in May, 2009.
2. We received our dental clearance from the Peace Corps in July, 2009.
3. So is medical clearance our lucky item #3....? We'll see...
To be sure, while we have already been told that we are to leave for Africa in January, we will not be certain of our service for some time still. And again, to be sure, we wait not-so-patiently for those final confirmations.
Nevertheless, we keep up all our hopes that after nearly 3 years of waiting, we will hear in less than 3 months (which also happens to be about 3 months prior to departure) that we are set to leave for our 3-day domestic staging and our 3-month in-country training - the first and second phase of the 3-phase Peace Corps process which will define the next three years of our lives...
I'm still waiting to open up a fortune cookie that will tell me that, indeed, our lucky number is 3.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
An Intervention
Whereas I've written for Adam and myself, together, in previous blogs, I feel the need to state first that this post is much more a "Jess" than a "Jess & Adam" post. In many ways, this is my own soapbox - a more personal, very passionate preoccupation of mine. And while Adam understands it fully (which I absolutely LOVE him for!), it is definitely an obsession of my own creation, rather than of "us".
The second edition of the 2009 "Hog" magazine (for those of us that don't "ride" - it's a magazine published by and for Harley Davidson Enthusiasts) grabbed my attention recently. Adam told me about an article chronicling the life of an Australian couple that have riden to/through 192 U.N. countries!! He thought I would like the article - he was right! - and that, in his words "Everyone should read this article" - right again. I feel similarly about a publication by the Peace Corps called "On the Homefront" (you can find it via the links in the "FAQ" post below).
It is with these two publications that I will try to guide my thoughts away from the blackhole that is rambling... here we go...
From Hog Magazine, Peter writes: "Many world travelers that we have encountered have had difficulty settling back into the 'real' world or 'normal' life... The personal challenges, hardship, achievements, and relationships they have endured by traveling all leave the more traditional lifestyle a little empty... It can become all but impossible to go back to your previous life... But that is not necessarily a bad thing."
In "On the Homefront", a returned Peace Corps volunteer writes, "Upon your return... you have so much to explain, but alas, your friends' and familys' capacity to absorb is not nearly matched by your need to recapitulate; they’re filled up before you’re even half empty. The typical returned Volunteer is a catharsis waiting (not so patiently) to happen."
Travelling, visiting, "going places"... these are all funny things for many people... very different things to different people. And unfortunately, my busy mind has spent far too much time thinking about these things. And when people ask me "Why would you want to go to ____(fill in the blank)____?" or, my favorite question, "Why do you want to leave the U.S. so badly?" I often feel the urge to divulge my entire collection of thoughts on the subject. And yet, as described above, the mere mention of something interesting/different/better, elsewhere in the world, often fosters boredom and, in worse cases, even some disdain from others. I have often encountered such contemptful looks when attempting to describe an experience abroad. Thus, as I've learned the hard way, there is a very fine line between sounding "excited" about something foreign and sounding "elitist" about something foreign. And I admit that I have had a lot of difficulty in walking this line in a proper way. So often I, as other travelers have sympathized in the past, find myself simply not talking about travels, for fear of deciding vengefully that he or she is one of those that "just don't get it." It's challenging and often problem-causing with people of whom I am truly fond.
But perhaps some explication on the matter - that is, my wondering thoughts on the matter - may shed some light on the very precarious nature of a person who feels the need to... well... go, to see, to do.
As I have figured it, there are 2 types of people who "Go": Those that "visit places" and those that "travel" - now before anyone gets too upset at this line I've drawn in the sand - let me explain:
1. Those that "visit places": This is often the best kind of "Going". It is exact, it is measured, it is often well-planned. And because of all of this, it is often the most releaxing, the most enjoyable, the most rewarding in terms of seeing a new place and experiencing its sights, its sounds, its smells and tastes. I think this type of "Going" is wholly necessary for people - we need to "visit places" to see friends and family, to experience new worlds, to expand our horizons.
2. Those that "travel": This is a very different type of "Going". Traveling may have a start and end time, perhaps even a "to" and "from" ticket, but it is often not entirely planned and it is entirely un-exact. For this reason, travelling is difficult, it can be stressful, it is tiresome and often frustrating. But it is also the most rewarding way in which to truly experience a place. Many authors have written this sentiment far better than I ever could, but simply put, to get off a train and not know where you will be staying that night and to wake up the next morning in an entirely foreign place with no set plans is one of the most incredible feelings in all of the world. Traveling is stimulating, it is enlivening... and yet, when it is all said and done, you often need a "vacation" from your "travels" and, ironically, many travelers will talk about "visiting someplace" to recup.
Now, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to dig a little deeper into the "travel" aspect. Of those persons who "travel", there are also 2 types of people: Those that don't feel the "tug" and those that do feel the "tug" - you see:
1. Those that don't feel the "tug": What the heck is the tug? Right? The tug is that yearn, that burn, that need, to travel. For some, travelling can be a one-time thing, that "trip you took" in your youth that "life-altering experience" abroad. But, as Peter (again, from Hog Magazine), writes, "...these [persons] are very, very few in number."
2. Those that do feel the "tug": This is the majority. As Peter puts it, "For most, travel becomes a part of their life. Work is only a way to pay for it and everything else is often 'in-between trips'." And while I have travelled only a few places in my short adult life, I have never felt a "tug" quite like that to travel. I often find myself staring out the window at work wondering "when do I get to... go? where will I go?" I've actually described the feeling before as a "Restless Leg Syndrome" for your whole body - an itching to get up and... go! Luckily, Adam understand this about me and is excited to... go! too. Thank god.
Simply put, you either feel the "tug" or you don't - and either is fine. But the hardest thing about it all is that those who don't and those who do can find it hard to understand eachother. The first will think the other is frivolous, fool-hearty and the latter will think the other is close-minded or "just doesn't get it". From either side, this can be a risky relationship - yet again, the reason that the line between these two mindsets is so difficult to walk.
Finally, there is yet one more division that we must make. Of those who "travel" and who do feel the "tug", there is yet 2 more types of people: Those who "can't" and those who "can". This is by far the most effecting division:
1. Those who "can't": Even when the "tug" occurs, it is often not feasible to hop on a plane with your backpack and travel the world. We have jobs, we have kids, we have mortgages. And when life is full of other, very important priorities, travel quickly falls away from the top of the list. But...
2. Those who "can": There are those who can travel. Those without long-term jobs, young children, mortgages and other responsibilities. These are the people that can, and should (if they feel that "tug"), hop on a plane and travel the world. One of the most common things I've heard since Adam and I applied to the Peace Corps is "Well do it now, because after you have kids and a house you won't be able to." Typically my response to this is "I know - so I appreciate your support!" To put it bluntly, Adam and I have both said that we don't want to look back on this chapter of our lives - before the kids and the house and the jobs - and wonder "What if we had gone?" This is the time to do it, so we're doing it...
So in conclusion, my goal here was complex - I wanted to share my personal insights on "Going" and those who "Go", but also to show the true balance between all types of people. And while I can turn myself inside out and attempt to describe my own yearning to travel, I am not fully capable of expressing all sides adequately - so I only hope I did not lead any "Go-er" to feel out of the picture. Simply put, the world needs all these types of people, for if all persons were "travelers" of the extremist sense, nothing in this world would ever get done or stay constant. We need all those that grow the food, do the 9 to 5 on Wall Street, stay home to raise the kids - our civilizations would be lost without them. And on the other hand, we need the travellers - we need those that go out to see the world and come back with a new take on life, we need those that are moved by what they experience to do, to create, to make change. We need them all.
And while I may never be good at walking that fine line between myself and those of a different mindset, I will continue to try. It's part of who I am, because I want to share with those that I care so deeply about...
I am exploding at the seams to share with you the few wonders I've seen... because I love you and because I want you to feel that same sense of awe and enlightenment. I want you to know what this feeling of "being filled up by life" is like when you see mountains rising out of the ocean, when you see trees growing out of temples, when you see children's dirty feet. I want you to understand what it feels like to be so small in such a vast and incredible place. I want you to know this kind of love of the world as I feel it. And I'm sorry if I don't get it quite right, but I will still try to share, because I love you, I do.
If nothing else, I hope everyone can understand that, or accept that, about me.
The second edition of the 2009 "Hog" magazine (for those of us that don't "ride" - it's a magazine published by and for Harley Davidson Enthusiasts) grabbed my attention recently. Adam told me about an article chronicling the life of an Australian couple that have riden to/through 192 U.N. countries!! He thought I would like the article - he was right! - and that, in his words "Everyone should read this article" - right again. I feel similarly about a publication by the Peace Corps called "On the Homefront" (you can find it via the links in the "FAQ" post below).
It is with these two publications that I will try to guide my thoughts away from the blackhole that is rambling... here we go...
From Hog Magazine, Peter writes: "Many world travelers that we have encountered have had difficulty settling back into the 'real' world or 'normal' life... The personal challenges, hardship, achievements, and relationships they have endured by traveling all leave the more traditional lifestyle a little empty... It can become all but impossible to go back to your previous life... But that is not necessarily a bad thing."
In "On the Homefront", a returned Peace Corps volunteer writes, "Upon your return... you have so much to explain, but alas, your friends' and familys' capacity to absorb is not nearly matched by your need to recapitulate; they’re filled up before you’re even half empty. The typical returned Volunteer is a catharsis waiting (not so patiently) to happen."
Travelling, visiting, "going places"... these are all funny things for many people... very different things to different people. And unfortunately, my busy mind has spent far too much time thinking about these things. And when people ask me "Why would you want to go to ____(fill in the blank)____?" or, my favorite question, "Why do you want to leave the U.S. so badly?" I often feel the urge to divulge my entire collection of thoughts on the subject. And yet, as described above, the mere mention of something interesting/different/better, elsewhere in the world, often fosters boredom and, in worse cases, even some disdain from others. I have often encountered such contemptful looks when attempting to describe an experience abroad. Thus, as I've learned the hard way, there is a very fine line between sounding "excited" about something foreign and sounding "elitist" about something foreign. And I admit that I have had a lot of difficulty in walking this line in a proper way. So often I, as other travelers have sympathized in the past, find myself simply not talking about travels, for fear of deciding vengefully that he or she is one of those that "just don't get it." It's challenging and often problem-causing with people of whom I am truly fond.
But perhaps some explication on the matter - that is, my wondering thoughts on the matter - may shed some light on the very precarious nature of a person who feels the need to... well... go, to see, to do.
As I have figured it, there are 2 types of people who "Go": Those that "visit places" and those that "travel" - now before anyone gets too upset at this line I've drawn in the sand - let me explain:
1. Those that "visit places": This is often the best kind of "Going". It is exact, it is measured, it is often well-planned. And because of all of this, it is often the most releaxing, the most enjoyable, the most rewarding in terms of seeing a new place and experiencing its sights, its sounds, its smells and tastes. I think this type of "Going" is wholly necessary for people - we need to "visit places" to see friends and family, to experience new worlds, to expand our horizons.
2. Those that "travel": This is a very different type of "Going". Traveling may have a start and end time, perhaps even a "to" and "from" ticket, but it is often not entirely planned and it is entirely un-exact. For this reason, travelling is difficult, it can be stressful, it is tiresome and often frustrating. But it is also the most rewarding way in which to truly experience a place. Many authors have written this sentiment far better than I ever could, but simply put, to get off a train and not know where you will be staying that night and to wake up the next morning in an entirely foreign place with no set plans is one of the most incredible feelings in all of the world. Traveling is stimulating, it is enlivening... and yet, when it is all said and done, you often need a "vacation" from your "travels" and, ironically, many travelers will talk about "visiting someplace" to recup.
Now, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to dig a little deeper into the "travel" aspect. Of those persons who "travel", there are also 2 types of people: Those that don't feel the "tug" and those that do feel the "tug" - you see:
1. Those that don't feel the "tug": What the heck is the tug? Right? The tug is that yearn, that burn, that need, to travel. For some, travelling can be a one-time thing, that "trip you took" in your youth that "life-altering experience" abroad. But, as Peter (again, from Hog Magazine), writes, "...these [persons] are very, very few in number."
2. Those that do feel the "tug": This is the majority. As Peter puts it, "For most, travel becomes a part of their life. Work is only a way to pay for it and everything else is often 'in-between trips'." And while I have travelled only a few places in my short adult life, I have never felt a "tug" quite like that to travel. I often find myself staring out the window at work wondering "when do I get to... go? where will I go?" I've actually described the feeling before as a "Restless Leg Syndrome" for your whole body - an itching to get up and... go! Luckily, Adam understand this about me and is excited to... go! too. Thank god.
Simply put, you either feel the "tug" or you don't - and either is fine. But the hardest thing about it all is that those who don't and those who do can find it hard to understand eachother. The first will think the other is frivolous, fool-hearty and the latter will think the other is close-minded or "just doesn't get it". From either side, this can be a risky relationship - yet again, the reason that the line between these two mindsets is so difficult to walk.
Finally, there is yet one more division that we must make. Of those who "travel" and who do feel the "tug", there is yet 2 more types of people: Those who "can't" and those who "can". This is by far the most effecting division:
1. Those who "can't": Even when the "tug" occurs, it is often not feasible to hop on a plane with your backpack and travel the world. We have jobs, we have kids, we have mortgages. And when life is full of other, very important priorities, travel quickly falls away from the top of the list. But...
2. Those who "can": There are those who can travel. Those without long-term jobs, young children, mortgages and other responsibilities. These are the people that can, and should (if they feel that "tug"), hop on a plane and travel the world. One of the most common things I've heard since Adam and I applied to the Peace Corps is "Well do it now, because after you have kids and a house you won't be able to." Typically my response to this is "I know - so I appreciate your support!" To put it bluntly, Adam and I have both said that we don't want to look back on this chapter of our lives - before the kids and the house and the jobs - and wonder "What if we had gone?" This is the time to do it, so we're doing it...
So in conclusion, my goal here was complex - I wanted to share my personal insights on "Going" and those who "Go", but also to show the true balance between all types of people. And while I can turn myself inside out and attempt to describe my own yearning to travel, I am not fully capable of expressing all sides adequately - so I only hope I did not lead any "Go-er" to feel out of the picture. Simply put, the world needs all these types of people, for if all persons were "travelers" of the extremist sense, nothing in this world would ever get done or stay constant. We need all those that grow the food, do the 9 to 5 on Wall Street, stay home to raise the kids - our civilizations would be lost without them. And on the other hand, we need the travellers - we need those that go out to see the world and come back with a new take on life, we need those that are moved by what they experience to do, to create, to make change. We need them all.
And while I may never be good at walking that fine line between myself and those of a different mindset, I will continue to try. It's part of who I am, because I want to share with those that I care so deeply about...
I am exploding at the seams to share with you the few wonders I've seen... because I love you and because I want you to feel that same sense of awe and enlightenment. I want you to know what this feeling of "being filled up by life" is like when you see mountains rising out of the ocean, when you see trees growing out of temples, when you see children's dirty feet. I want you to understand what it feels like to be so small in such a vast and incredible place. I want you to know this kind of love of the world as I feel it. And I'm sorry if I don't get it quite right, but I will still try to share, because I love you, I do.
If nothing else, I hope everyone can understand that, or accept that, about me.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Road We've Traveled
In the beginning, Adam and I had travelled truly different roads through most our lives. The story would have gone like this: "he's a Midwest kid, she's an East Coast gal; he likes Radiohead, she likes Dave Mathews Band; he dreams of being a Sommelier, she dreams of being a UNICEF Director; he wants a flat in London, she wants an apartment in Paris; his travel list starts with Ireland, hers starts with Indonesia... and there might never have been a Once Upon a Time..."
And yet, somehow, in the Summer of 2005, our paths crossed and, yup, we kinda fell in love. Since then, we've been travelling a very busy, but wonderful and truly unique road together. We'd like to show you where we've been, so here goes...
This road is headed straight towards our first, real big adventure together, as we embark on a 27 month journey to... hmmm... somewhere (make sure to vote on the sidebar!!). Where we'll be headed, the roads may not be paved, like the ones that got us here, but we're excited to travel that road together. Now that you've seen where we're coming from, we hope you'll stick around to see where we're headed.
And yet, somehow, in the Summer of 2005, our paths crossed and, yup, we kinda fell in love. Since then, we've been travelling a very busy, but wonderful and truly unique road together. We'd like to show you where we've been, so here goes...
This road is headed straight towards our first, real big adventure together, as we embark on a 27 month journey to... hmmm... somewhere (make sure to vote on the sidebar!!). Where we'll be headed, the roads may not be paved, like the ones that got us here, but we're excited to travel that road together. Now that you've seen where we're coming from, we hope you'll stick around to see where we're headed.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
FAQs: Jess & Adam in the Peace Corps
Ever since we started this Peace Corps process, we get a lot of questions from friends and family. And ever since we got our regional placement, we've gotten even more of these really good questions. So here's our version of a "Frequently Asked Questions" post... "Everything you did (or didn't) want to know about Jess & Adam in the Peace Corps"! Enjoy!
Q: When are you going?
A: January, 2010. As for the exact date, we won't know that until 4-6 weeks prior to departure. Keep checking back here for updates, but we probably won't know for sure until November-December. Trust us, we're anxious too!!
Q: Where are you going?
A: "Eastern" or "Southern" Africa. As for the exact county, well, read above. But check out our poll on the right - those are the countries that are "open" in the Peace Corps in those regions. Let us know where you'd like to see us serve!! And of course... it could always change last minute!!
Q: How long will you be there?
A: 27 months - that is 3 months of in-country training (usually in the capitol city in your country assignment) and 24 months of on-site service (in your designated village, town, or city). So if we leave sometime in January, 2010, you can expect to see us back on this side of the pond sometime in April, 2012. Yup... it's a bit of time!
Q: What on earth are you going to be doing for 27 months?
A: Adam has been assigned to Youth Development (part of the Peace Corps' "Community Development" series) and I have been assigned to NGO Development (part of the Peace Corps' "Political Development" series). We have also been told that our region will most likely have a special focus on HIV/AIDS education, outreach, treatment, counseling, prevention, etc. Thus, I may be working with larger institutions that focus on these areas and Adam may be working more one-on-one with children or families affected by these areas. But anything goes... so we won't know what our actual work will be until we get our designated village, town, or city.
Q: Do you get to go together?
A: Yes! Thank goodness! But it is possible that we will be separated during the first 3 months of in-country training. We will be in different training groups (Adam for Youth Development, Me for NGO Development) and may only be in the same classes for language/culture training.
Q: Is it safe?
A: That's a biggie.... I don't think we'll tackle that one quite yet. See the links we attached below for more specifics on this one...
Q: Do you get paid while you're over there?
A: The short answer is: Yes. The Peace Corps is responsible for the following:
A: Oh, where do we begin?? How about these....:
Q: When are you going?
A: January, 2010. As for the exact date, we won't know that until 4-6 weeks prior to departure. Keep checking back here for updates, but we probably won't know for sure until November-December. Trust us, we're anxious too!!
Q: Where are you going?
A: "Eastern" or "Southern" Africa. As for the exact county, well, read above. But check out our poll on the right - those are the countries that are "open" in the Peace Corps in those regions. Let us know where you'd like to see us serve!! And of course... it could always change last minute!!
Q: How long will you be there?
A: 27 months - that is 3 months of in-country training (usually in the capitol city in your country assignment) and 24 months of on-site service (in your designated village, town, or city). So if we leave sometime in January, 2010, you can expect to see us back on this side of the pond sometime in April, 2012. Yup... it's a bit of time!
Q: What on earth are you going to be doing for 27 months?
A: Adam has been assigned to Youth Development (part of the Peace Corps' "Community Development" series) and I have been assigned to NGO Development (part of the Peace Corps' "Political Development" series). We have also been told that our region will most likely have a special focus on HIV/AIDS education, outreach, treatment, counseling, prevention, etc. Thus, I may be working with larger institutions that focus on these areas and Adam may be working more one-on-one with children or families affected by these areas. But anything goes... so we won't know what our actual work will be until we get our designated village, town, or city.
Q: Do you get to go together?
A: Yes! Thank goodness! But it is possible that we will be separated during the first 3 months of in-country training. We will be in different training groups (Adam for Youth Development, Me for NGO Development) and may only be in the same classes for language/culture training.
Q: Is it safe?
A: That's a biggie.... I don't think we'll tackle that one quite yet. See the links we attached below for more specifics on this one...
Q: Do you get paid while you're over there?
A: The short answer is: Yes. The Peace Corps is responsible for the following:
- The Peace Corps pays all volunteers a sufficient living stipend (based on local standards) to cover housing, clothing, food and basic transportation costs.
- Upon return, Peace Corps provides all volunteers with a "Readjustment Allowance", which totals just over $6,000 per person... so we will have something to get back on our feet!
A: Oh, where do we begin?? How about these....:
- The Peace Corps covers ALL medical & dental needs while in service - so no need for insurance for 2 whole years!! That'll be awesome...!
- Upon return, the Peace Corps also offers really good medical & dental coverage for the first 18 months that you are back and doing all your follow-up stuff domestically.
- All volunteers accumulate 2 days per month of vacation time while in service (totaling 48 days) to travel around or, of course, come home to visit!
- All RPCVs (that's "Returned Peace Corps Volunteers") get "Non Competitive" status for one year after service at any federal job... which means if we meet at least basic eligibility for the position, we will get the job over a non-RPCV candidate. If we get the job, we also start out getting paid more at these jobs than non-RPCV employees and can count our Peace Corps service towards our retirement credits.
- Oh, and did we mention we'll get the experience of being in the PEACE CORPS! Yeah, that's the one that really excites us!
Q: What about all the other nitty-gritty questions?
A: Take a look at the sites we've included below for some really great info! Also, check out the blogs that we're following (listed at right) to read more about Kara, Hotard & Sean who are currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers in Togo, Kazakhstan & Mauritania respectively!!!
- www.peacecorps.gov - everything you could ever want to know
- http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.faf - a selection of much more in-depth FAQs for friends and family of soon-to-be Peace Corps volunteers
- http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/faf/homefront.pdf- "On the Homefront" is a Peace Corps publication that describes what a friend or family member of a Peace Corps volunteer should expect before, during & after service - this one is great!
- http://www.peacecorpswiki.org/Peace_Corps_Wiki- a "wiki" about the Peace Corps, PCVs & RPCVs, and Peace Corps' countries of service
- http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/- journals, posts, publications and blogs of current and/or past Peace Corps volunteers
- https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors - "Peace Corps Partnership Program" uses individual donations to support Peace Corps volunteers' projects in-country - which means you can help us once we're over there!
Hope this helps to answer some of those burning questions! We'll keep you posted (ha! get it? posted!!) Much love!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Let's start at the beginning...
We couldn't stand eachother when we first met... you've heard the story. But that was only because we expected the other one to be like everyone else... and we couldn't quite figure it out when the other person wasn't quite the norm... but we liked it! So it was no surprise that Adam and I weren't the get-married-go-on-the-honeymoon-buy-a-house-get-a-job-and-start-a-family kind of couple. We knew we would do things a little bit differently...
Our first application to the Peace Corps was submitted in December, 2006. That seems about five lifetimes ago now... since then we've done a lot, accomplished a lot. We got engaged, moved three times, brainstormed pet and baby names, hosted parties, went to parties, held down 8 jobs all together, planned a wedding, got married, went to lots of other people's weddings, went broke, earned some money, attended classes...classes... and more classes, and we are arriving at the completion of our respective degrees. But throughout it all, in the back of our minds, there was the Peace Corps. The applications, the skills addendums, the medical paperwork, the background checks, the crushing deferment...
And after 2.5 years of potentially obnoxious perseverance, we received our regional placement. We got the call from Liz - our Chicago recruiter - in April: "They have a spot for you..." she said, "somewhere in eastern or southern Africa." That made for nearly 16 possible country assignments, but we didn't care. We knew it was Africa... that's what we had spent the last 2.5 years dreaming about... Africa.
So all we know now is that Adam will be doing "Youth Development" and I will be working towards "NGO Development" (that's Nongovernmental Organizations... for my non-poli-sci people.) And Africa... that's it.
But trust us, that's okay for now.
This blog will chronicle the months leading up to our country assignment - the myriad appointments, mountains of paperwork and constant (constant!) anxiety about finding out exactly when, exactly where, exactly how - as well, of course, as our adventures in the Peace Corps during service. We invite you to follow along the journey with us, as it begins here and, with any luck, continues for the rest of our lives...
Let life begin...
Our first application to the Peace Corps was submitted in December, 2006. That seems about five lifetimes ago now... since then we've done a lot, accomplished a lot. We got engaged, moved three times, brainstormed pet and baby names, hosted parties, went to parties, held down 8 jobs all together, planned a wedding, got married, went to lots of other people's weddings, went broke, earned some money, attended classes...classes... and more classes, and we are arriving at the completion of our respective degrees. But throughout it all, in the back of our minds, there was the Peace Corps. The applications, the skills addendums, the medical paperwork, the background checks, the crushing deferment...
And after 2.5 years of potentially obnoxious perseverance, we received our regional placement. We got the call from Liz - our Chicago recruiter - in April: "They have a spot for you..." she said, "somewhere in eastern or southern Africa." That made for nearly 16 possible country assignments, but we didn't care. We knew it was Africa... that's what we had spent the last 2.5 years dreaming about... Africa.
So all we know now is that Adam will be doing "Youth Development" and I will be working towards "NGO Development" (that's Nongovernmental Organizations... for my non-poli-sci people.) And Africa... that's it.
But trust us, that's okay for now.
This blog will chronicle the months leading up to our country assignment - the myriad appointments, mountains of paperwork and constant (constant!) anxiety about finding out exactly when, exactly where, exactly how - as well, of course, as our adventures in the Peace Corps during service. We invite you to follow along the journey with us, as it begins here and, with any luck, continues for the rest of our lives...
Let life begin...
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