Hello all!
I write to you from my warm and cozy hotel bed in Philly. It's 12:30 am on Saturday, and we leave for UKRAINE in just hours! It's amazing that this event is finally here...it's been so long in coming! I am thrilled to finally be on the "final descent" of this long application journey. Now it's time for the real thing!
So, these last two days have been "orientation." There are 72 people in my group to Ukraine; the second group of 70+ volunteers this year! Turns out, Ukraine is the largest Peace Corps program in the world nowadays, and it's got great resources for people of all abilities and passions.
And talk about great people! If i ever had the inkling that I was world-traveled, it's because I hadn't met these people. My new roommate lived in a non-English speaking Moroccan home, another guy is learning Sanskrit, two people already speak fluent Russian, a 60+ lady has run marathons and another 60+ couple is serving their SECOND term. Seriously, these people rock. I'm not sure why this surprises me, but I am making friends here! I guess I didn't expect it...perhaps it's a defense mechanism to expect the "worst," but it's great. There are so many life stories in these new friends, and I know it's only the tip of the iceberg, to use a tired expression yet again. I am amazed at the vulnerability in this group, and the willingness to stretch them/our selves.
I hope to be able to share more and more as my life progresses, and I know I will, but for the moment, I'm exhausted. We're up early tomorrow to leave for JFK in NY, en route to first Frankfurt and then Kyiv! We will have a two-day retreat somewhere near Kyiv and then our host families will come and take us away. None of us have any idea where exactly we'll be, but no one seems too bothered by it. And it's a really great observation, I think.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sar in DC
Hello from DC!
I'm typing at my friend, Stef's, computer after a day of touring the shops in DC. Just to keep you all up to speed, here's how my last week or so has gone:
Alb to see family! I spent a LOVELY night chatting with Ingrid who very sweetly gave up her sleep for our conversation. I even got to tag along with her to work the next day and see some BBBS in action! Woo hoo!
I then spent several hours hanging out with Beth, Eric, Nolan and new baby Claire! I can't stress enough how wonderful Nolan is, or how great it was to see him again before I take off. I can't remember the last time I held a baby as small/young as Claire (she was two weeks when i was there!) and she is just beautiful. I got the bonus-round of a good chat with Eric and some stupendous directions to the airport, as well!
From Alb I went to Scottsdale for time with the folks. Sue and I got some quality time with coffee, shopping and getting our toes done. I even got the very CA-inspired flower on each of my big toes...replete with a sparkle! Very fun! My dad and I hiked on Thursday morning, which would have been even awesomer if I hadn't been to In N Out more times than I've been running in the last month or so... We had a great conversation on the way down (that's when I could keep up) and went out for breakfast after. I treasure the time I had there.
And then on to DC to hang out with Stef. I had a pit stop in Philly where I was treated to a great dinner by my aunt, and since then it's been great hanging out with Stef and seeing her wonderful grown-up life. Early Thursday morning I head back to Philly to go to Peace Corps orientation, and THAT'S when it'll really begin.
People ask if I'm excited, and I really can't say whether I am or not. It doesn't seem quite real, but I'm sure it will once I see some big sign about registration/sign-in and receive my orientation schedule. I'm hoping all my US loose ends are tied up and that I didn't over-pack or forget anything crucial. I'm also hoping I'm "ready," though I know that's a forever-elusive state of being. I once had a friend tell me how excited he was for me that I'd be heading out on this journey because I could go out as Sarah and just Sarah, without all the "trappings" of my life. I'm now trying to process what that is...how do I reconcile what is my past and who I am? I'm feeling a little anxious about answering that question with my impending deadline, truth be told. It also doesn't matter, since I am who I am and I bring what I am and I'll be who I am.
Alright, enough with the existential hoo-ha! I hope to keep up this blog while I'm overseas, and will probably try to arrange a Seth-like system in which I choose a particular day on which I will blog. We'll see about that, and I'll keep you posted!
I'm typing at my friend, Stef's, computer after a day of touring the shops in DC. Just to keep you all up to speed, here's how my last week or so has gone:
Alb to see family! I spent a LOVELY night chatting with Ingrid who very sweetly gave up her sleep for our conversation. I even got to tag along with her to work the next day and see some BBBS in action! Woo hoo!
I then spent several hours hanging out with Beth, Eric, Nolan and new baby Claire! I can't stress enough how wonderful Nolan is, or how great it was to see him again before I take off. I can't remember the last time I held a baby as small/young as Claire (she was two weeks when i was there!) and she is just beautiful. I got the bonus-round of a good chat with Eric and some stupendous directions to the airport, as well!
From Alb I went to Scottsdale for time with the folks. Sue and I got some quality time with coffee, shopping and getting our toes done. I even got the very CA-inspired flower on each of my big toes...replete with a sparkle! Very fun! My dad and I hiked on Thursday morning, which would have been even awesomer if I hadn't been to In N Out more times than I've been running in the last month or so... We had a great conversation on the way down (that's when I could keep up) and went out for breakfast after. I treasure the time I had there.
And then on to DC to hang out with Stef. I had a pit stop in Philly where I was treated to a great dinner by my aunt, and since then it's been great hanging out with Stef and seeing her wonderful grown-up life. Early Thursday morning I head back to Philly to go to Peace Corps orientation, and THAT'S when it'll really begin.
People ask if I'm excited, and I really can't say whether I am or not. It doesn't seem quite real, but I'm sure it will once I see some big sign about registration/sign-in and receive my orientation schedule. I'm hoping all my US loose ends are tied up and that I didn't over-pack or forget anything crucial. I'm also hoping I'm "ready," though I know that's a forever-elusive state of being. I once had a friend tell me how excited he was for me that I'd be heading out on this journey because I could go out as Sarah and just Sarah, without all the "trappings" of my life. I'm now trying to process what that is...how do I reconcile what is my past and who I am? I'm feeling a little anxious about answering that question with my impending deadline, truth be told. It also doesn't matter, since I am who I am and I bring what I am and I'll be who I am.
Alright, enough with the existential hoo-ha! I hope to keep up this blog while I'm overseas, and will probably try to arrange a Seth-like system in which I choose a particular day on which I will blog. We'll see about that, and I'll keep you posted!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
just a moment...
to stand in the middle of the rest of my earthly possessions which happen to be scattered EVERYWHERE and i'm leaving tomorrow and i need to have a moment of freak-out because it's not even about the people i'm leaving yet to whom i have been spending the last few days saying goodbye. i just needed the world to know that i'm having a moment.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
"Hey, so I've got this great..."
If you are anywhere near the top 25 people in my most recent calls, you've gotten that question at least once in the last month or so. Or, like Jill and Seth, you've grown accostomed to me showing up with Trader Joe's bags full of food or clothes or cleaning supplies or stuff you've loaned me. The stuff that doesn't fit in the bags, i.e. my bike, or the futon, or my papisan chair, well, that gets loaded into the Subaru and hauled in under the sweltering heat (seriously, why do people move in the SUMMER?!) The bags of clothes are the most fun, as it's almost a fashion party of who fits what and what will match what who already owns. Most stuff is for keeps, but there are also a few semi-loaners out there. And all of these things are really great. Just really great stuff.
It came as a complete shock the first time someone said "no" to the "do you want..." call. I even prefaced it by informing the person (it was my brother) that the object (my papisan chair) I was parting with was great. He said, "No, I don't think I want it. I mean, if you really can't get rid of it, I'll take it. But...." What?! It's great! What do you mean you don't want it, AND that I might have a hard time getting someone else to want it? Surely people are lining up outside the door just clamoring for this great thing! Right?
Turns out, I think it's great. And this opinion is not universal. In my progress toward leaving the country for 2+ years, I've had to process my attachments to stuff. Most of it, I'm finally realizing, is special to me, because I like its function or the memory of how I acquired it. I couldn't see how people might not want it, because I couldn't see that it might not even be important to me in a few years. And once I realized that, I began pitching.
With only a day to be moved out of our SECOND apartment on Argonne, I began to separate. Stuff that had value, worth, possible usefulness to other people, and that was declined by my top-25-calls, went into the garage sale pile (I think I may have doubled this pile with my additions alone!). Other stuff was rifled through, a TON of kitchen/house stuff was taken away by my friend, Michelle, and then the leftovers were put into the alley (provided they couldn't bring in a buck or two at the garage sale). Then the garbage. WHEW! I threw away BAGS of little things. Kelly always jokes that I should have been around in the Depression because I won't get rid of something that might have usefulness at some point. But in the last few hours before we had to be out of our apartment, I was on a roll. And it felt good.
I can only hope that the stuff I've passed on to other people will be helpful to them and that they will find enjoyment in using it. And the people who go to the garage sale and get a great top for $1 or a set of decorative pillows for $2 will be happy with their bargain. But what I REALLY hope is that it's not the stuff that matters about me...but rather who I am and what I do that actually contributes to humanity. I don't want to just take up space, I want to matter. And THAT'S what's great.
So, Kelly and I are out of the apartment. I've set aside what I plan to pack and sorted through the rest. I'm storing 2 boxes. Like a turtle always carries their home, I've got a big backpacker's backpack and a sleeping bag. I'm lightened and free, unsure of what this road holds, but ready to matter.
It came as a complete shock the first time someone said "no" to the "do you want..." call. I even prefaced it by informing the person (it was my brother) that the object (my papisan chair) I was parting with was great. He said, "No, I don't think I want it. I mean, if you really can't get rid of it, I'll take it. But...." What?! It's great! What do you mean you don't want it, AND that I might have a hard time getting someone else to want it? Surely people are lining up outside the door just clamoring for this great thing! Right?
Turns out, I think it's great. And this opinion is not universal. In my progress toward leaving the country for 2+ years, I've had to process my attachments to stuff. Most of it, I'm finally realizing, is special to me, because I like its function or the memory of how I acquired it. I couldn't see how people might not want it, because I couldn't see that it might not even be important to me in a few years. And once I realized that, I began pitching.
With only a day to be moved out of our SECOND apartment on Argonne, I began to separate. Stuff that had value, worth, possible usefulness to other people, and that was declined by my top-25-calls, went into the garage sale pile (I think I may have doubled this pile with my additions alone!). Other stuff was rifled through, a TON of kitchen/house stuff was taken away by my friend, Michelle, and then the leftovers were put into the alley (provided they couldn't bring in a buck or two at the garage sale). Then the garbage. WHEW! I threw away BAGS of little things. Kelly always jokes that I should have been around in the Depression because I won't get rid of something that might have usefulness at some point. But in the last few hours before we had to be out of our apartment, I was on a roll. And it felt good.
I can only hope that the stuff I've passed on to other people will be helpful to them and that they will find enjoyment in using it. And the people who go to the garage sale and get a great top for $1 or a set of decorative pillows for $2 will be happy with their bargain. But what I REALLY hope is that it's not the stuff that matters about me...but rather who I am and what I do that actually contributes to humanity. I don't want to just take up space, I want to matter. And THAT'S what's great.
So, Kelly and I are out of the apartment. I've set aside what I plan to pack and sorted through the rest. I'm storing 2 boxes. Like a turtle always carries their home, I've got a big backpacker's backpack and a sleeping bag. I'm lightened and free, unsure of what this road holds, but ready to matter.
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