Chapter the First: So Just Another White Person Going To Tell People How To Live

      Well, that is one way of looking at it.  Am I just another white person going abroad to tell people how they should live their lives?  Yes.  No. Maybe.  I suppose the answer is dependent on who you are and why are you looking at me.  Furthermore, thank you for letting me know.  The concept of being just another white person telling people how to live has crossed my mind many times.  Over the weekend a more than stranger but not quite friend took the time to verbalize her totally valid thoughts to me while we were not having sex (however that is a different story entirely).   My response..."No."  Followed by a beautifully executed change of subject.
       So, Lynly here are my thoughts on the subject of being another white person going abroad to tell people how to live.  On paper, the Peace Corps has three main goals...

                        1.  Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
                               2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served.
                               3.  Helping promote a better understanding of peoples served on the part of Americans.

      As it turns out, the world is not a book and what looks great on paper has ambiguous applications in reality.  Which is perfect.  I constantly get asked by complete strangers why I decided to join the Peace Corps.  Honestly, because I wanted to, and I tend to do the things that I want. Whatever that means.  Yes, I am still trying to figure that out myself.  Also, perfect due to an abundance of wiggle room.   This endeavor has one certainty and that is uncertainty.  Therefore, I intend to focus on the present moment.  It seems like the best way to go.  I am here, I am now.  What am I going to do about it?  Aside, from not have sex. (Also, another story entirely.)


And now some words of wisdom from my tea:

       "Books have the same enemies as people:  fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content."
                            
                                                                                                                          -Paul Valery (1871-1945)

Prologue: The Days That Were Before This One

A Brief History...

March 2010- Submitted application Peace Corps application.
March 17, 2010- Interview.
March 22,  2010- Received nomination for teaching English in Sub-Saharan Africa leaving in November of 2010.
April 2010-  Received medical packet.
May 2010- Did something with said medical packet.
July 2010- Had to pee in a cup.  Again.  Apparently there is a right way and a wrong way to pee in a cup.
July 2010-  Medical clearance granted.
July 2010- File sent to the Office of Assessment and Placement.
August 6, 2010- Extended the invitation to become a Peace Corps trainee.
August 10, 2010- Lesotho!!!!  November 2, 1010.  English Teacher.
October 12, 2010- No Lesotho... due to security reasons the training group was cancelled.  Frown.
October 13, 2010- Invited to join a group leaving for Guyana in February 2011 as a Community Education Promoter.
February 14, 2011- May or may not leave for Guyana.  Cautiously optimistic about it.