Wow, two posts in two days. You should all feel very special. After yesterdays blog, which was considerably more depressing than usual (it’s been a hard few weeks), I did some thinking. The title of this post might make one think I’m going to rail into Peace Corps, I’m not. I love Peace Corps, I love what it stands for, and I love the opportunity it has given me. I’m going to stress “opportunity” here, because it’s results and satisfaction are not handed to me. I won’t speak for all volunteers, but I will certainly speak for myself. Sometimes I forget that this IS Peace Corps. It’s not supposed to be simple, and things aren’t supposed to just fall into place. Sometimes I think, “I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer, this is entitled to me”, well not so much think actively, but passively. Maybe we do have Peace Corps to blame for that a bit. We are coddled by our government considerably, and despite our many hardships on a day to day basis, we were well trained for it, and often have our back, as opposed to us solving the problems ourselves. They spent a lot of money getting us here and making sure we had the tools to succeed. But, sometimes I don’t see it as enough, sometimes I want/think I deserve more. Why? Well, because I’m an American, or because I’m Peace Corps. I am OBSESSED with the label of “Peace Corps”, that sometimes I forget why I’m REALLY here. It’s an easy trap to fall into, but nonetheless a particularly dangerous one.
There are so many benefits to being a Volunteer that it’s not nearly as big of a sacrifice as it was 10, 15, 30, 50 years ago. There are hardships everywhere; we must make sacrifices everywhere, and every day. For example, do I go home and relax with my Nook, or a nice movie? Or do I stay after school with that one annoying child? Usually I pick the child, but out of a sense of necessity, and not duty or a feeling of love/kindness. I think I forgot the real reasons I joined Peace Corps, helping others, learning about a fascinating new place (which Georgia is, one must only check out their food, dance and music).
To all of the other Volunteers that might relate to me in some way (if you don't, good for you, you are further along than me). Remember your reasons for being here; don’t let a few hardships/the cold ruin your perception of what can be extremely rewarding. For me, it is often the inability to concentrate on anything substantial that sometimes hurts me, but maybe I with a little more sacrifice, and a little less sense of entitlement I can do more. Oh, organization would help to… maybe self-motivation. And a boatload of Aderall (just playin’).
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tom Vs. ADD
For someone with enough time on his hands to watch all the episodes of The Office and Bones in one day, I would like to feel productive and write in my blog. Especially considering today is Thanksgiving and there’s a lot I should be thankful for. Let me stress the “should”, because lately I’ve found myself in a bit of a pessimistic mood. Maybe it’s the changing weather; maybe it’s the everyday occurrences in town and school that are driving me nuts. Or maybe it’s sometimes just myself not doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Here’s a secret, basically my entire family are some of the biggest procrastinators in the world, but somehow able to achieve quite a bit. I on the other hand can’t get anything done.
I work well when I have a structure to work around. When I wrestled I had a whole structure that kept me busy, and therefore I had to balance my time and work. Same thing when I was in ROTC, waking up three days a week at 5am meant I had to do my work earlier. Though after all those structures disappeared my grades in college fell… big time. Reading a book became a marathon, and don’t even get me started on my coping mechanisms in class (my doodles were well known, and a laptop in class is dangerous). In my entire four years of college, I successfully read… 10 books (3 of those were for my senior thesis), and I was a history major! I sat down to read, and then I said “Hmm, I should probably make food” or “There’s an awesome show about the evolution of ants in ant farms” or “Halo” or “Hey! Look, a butterfly!”
As a Peace Corps Volunteer this makes things a ton more difficult. Because, it requires me to be completely self-motivated and a self starter. With ADD it's like asking an alcoholic to walk into a bar, order a drink, but not drink it. Distractions are everywhere. There are so many distractions, and even some things you wouldn’t think (I spent 2 hours trying to name every stuffed animal my host mother left in my room, or even better, reading all the Peace Corps manuals... from ORIENTATION). I kind of wish I didn’t have my computer, the internet, or movies. I deleted all games, and set up parental controls to keep myself from playing chess or internet checkers/backgammon (not going to suck me in again you fiends), but if you don’t want to do your work, you will ALWAYS find a way of not doing it. Here are the things I should be doing:
1) Lesson plan daily and create activities
2) Study Georgian
3) Exercise daily (I did it real well in the States, and I have the equipment, now I need the motivation)
4) Write in my journal daily
5) Work on finding money for projects
6) Do projects
7) Tutor
8) Integrate more in my community and meet new people
9) Call friends in Peace Corps (I have a bit of a reputation apparently as being a recluse… strange)
Here is a list of things I’m doing instead of those things:
1) Play Sudoku
2) Read (now that it isn’t for class I read a ton)
3) Watch movies
4) Watch TV shows
5) Facebook
6) Clean my room (occasionally)
7) Stare at nothing
8) Walk in circles around my room
9) Wiki searches
10) CNN.com
11) Eating the peanut butter Lora sent me
So, I’m sure many of the other volunteers share the same troubles as me. So many hours in the day, so many hours to waste. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I work well when I have a structure to work around. When I wrestled I had a whole structure that kept me busy, and therefore I had to balance my time and work. Same thing when I was in ROTC, waking up three days a week at 5am meant I had to do my work earlier. Though after all those structures disappeared my grades in college fell… big time. Reading a book became a marathon, and don’t even get me started on my coping mechanisms in class (my doodles were well known, and a laptop in class is dangerous). In my entire four years of college, I successfully read… 10 books (3 of those were for my senior thesis), and I was a history major! I sat down to read, and then I said “Hmm, I should probably make food” or “There’s an awesome show about the evolution of ants in ant farms” or “Halo” or “Hey! Look, a butterfly!”
As a Peace Corps Volunteer this makes things a ton more difficult. Because, it requires me to be completely self-motivated and a self starter. With ADD it's like asking an alcoholic to walk into a bar, order a drink, but not drink it. Distractions are everywhere. There are so many distractions, and even some things you wouldn’t think (I spent 2 hours trying to name every stuffed animal my host mother left in my room, or even better, reading all the Peace Corps manuals... from ORIENTATION). I kind of wish I didn’t have my computer, the internet, or movies. I deleted all games, and set up parental controls to keep myself from playing chess or internet checkers/backgammon (not going to suck me in again you fiends), but if you don’t want to do your work, you will ALWAYS find a way of not doing it. Here are the things I should be doing:
1) Lesson plan daily and create activities
2) Study Georgian
3) Exercise daily (I did it real well in the States, and I have the equipment, now I need the motivation)
4) Write in my journal daily
5) Work on finding money for projects
6) Do projects
7) Tutor
8) Integrate more in my community and meet new people
9) Call friends in Peace Corps (I have a bit of a reputation apparently as being a recluse… strange)
Here is a list of things I’m doing instead of those things:
1) Play Sudoku
2) Read (now that it isn’t for class I read a ton)
3) Watch movies
4) Watch TV shows
5) Facebook
6) Clean my room (occasionally)
7) Stare at nothing
8) Walk in circles around my room
9) Wiki searches
10) CNN.com
11) Eating the peanut butter Lora sent me
So, I’m sure many of the other volunteers share the same troubles as me. So many hours in the day, so many hours to waste. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tom vs. The Popular Kids
So I have something surprising to tell everyone back in America. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have not cured the town’s sick, built a stadium with only a pocketknife and clothes pins, built a bridge (Volunteer’s shot out) convinced people to adopt western style education, enacted programs to reduce unemployment by 100%, or even find enough books for all my students. I think I came to Georgia with a few misconceptions, good and bad, that have been/are being put to the test.
First, I had a feeling I’d be a lot more remote. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I can walk to the corner store and buy whatever I want, and we still kill our own chickens for meat, but I have fairly reliable electricity, water, even internet (that I pay out the butt for). I have more or less, everything I need (though my X-Box would be nice). My first two months I squatted over a hole, now I have porcelain toilets and bathtubs. An electric hot water heater (that is currently struggling to combat the increasing coldness) keeps me warm in the shower. What else do I need? I thought I might be somewhere where I’d dig my own well, latrine, maybe even a straw hut. Not here. The Soviets left decent housing and living conditions for the towns.
Second, I have yet to solve, or even identify the majority of what my community needs. Sure, improving trash collection, building a library, improving the community center are all interesting things, but nobody seems interested in them. If a Georgian in Keda is reading this: “WHAT DO YOU NEEEEEDDDD!!!!”
Third, I am not universally accepted and loved. Being an American in a town of 3,000 people in Georgia is a lot like being the popular kid in high school, but with a lot less girls. Some people love you, and they know what kind of person I am. Some people love me, but have never spoken to me. Some people hate me, and they know me a little bit, but for whatever reason (I didn’t drink with them at 9AM, I refused their cigarettes, I accidently said “sheni deda” and told them “I f***ed your mother” instead of “deda sheni” for "your mother"). Some people hate me, but have never met me before.
For example I had a run-in with some younger 20-something guys that asked me the usual, highly inappropriate questions. When I responded that I did not want to go to a prostitute they began to taunt me. Now, I don’t think STI’s are a laughing matter. Nor do I think the exploitation women for one’s own pleasure is okay. I couldn’t actually say this, so I just smiled, nodded, and walked to do some adult English classes. I don't have to justify my being here in Georgia to anyone, and sure they think they're being funny, but I'm here to do a job. Even if my effort doesn't amount to as much as I would have hoped, I'm still here to do it, and I'm proud/happy to be in such a welcoming country.
Now as for the girls, well girls may be interested, but it’s a BAD idea on my part, and something I personally stay away from. I always get the relationship/love questions: “Do you have love?” “Have you ever been in love?” “Are you going to get married?” “Do you want to marry a Georgian?” “What do you think of Georgian girls?” “What do you think of my daughter?” “Please, take a Georgian back to America” “Why did you and your girlfriends break up?” “Do you still love them?” Now I used to answer like this: “No” “yes” “probably” “I don’t know”” girls everywhere are great” “huh? I don’t understand” “huh? I don’t understand” “Because we weren’t right together, because we were bored, because we weren’t in love anymore, because I wanted to come to Georgia” and “No” respectively. Well most of these answers are fine, but people aren’t interested in them so much. So for example, take this question: “What do you think of Georgian girls?” Me: “I love them, they’re beautiful, smart, and amazing!” Question: “Do you want to marry a Georgian?” Me: “Have somebody in mind?” These responses generally generate more excitement, and people like to hear them. I feel good because they love me for it, and it’s a feel good fest.
I’m tired of writing now. I’m going to Batumi tomorrow to get my residence card, then Tbilisi next week for some awesome Peace Corps events. Will write more about my adventures later.
First, I had a feeling I’d be a lot more remote. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I can walk to the corner store and buy whatever I want, and we still kill our own chickens for meat, but I have fairly reliable electricity, water, even internet (that I pay out the butt for). I have more or less, everything I need (though my X-Box would be nice). My first two months I squatted over a hole, now I have porcelain toilets and bathtubs. An electric hot water heater (that is currently struggling to combat the increasing coldness) keeps me warm in the shower. What else do I need? I thought I might be somewhere where I’d dig my own well, latrine, maybe even a straw hut. Not here. The Soviets left decent housing and living conditions for the towns.
Second, I have yet to solve, or even identify the majority of what my community needs. Sure, improving trash collection, building a library, improving the community center are all interesting things, but nobody seems interested in them. If a Georgian in Keda is reading this: “WHAT DO YOU NEEEEEDDDD!!!!”
Third, I am not universally accepted and loved. Being an American in a town of 3,000 people in Georgia is a lot like being the popular kid in high school, but with a lot less girls. Some people love you, and they know what kind of person I am. Some people love me, but have never spoken to me. Some people hate me, and they know me a little bit, but for whatever reason (I didn’t drink with them at 9AM, I refused their cigarettes, I accidently said “sheni deda” and told them “I f***ed your mother” instead of “deda sheni” for "your mother"). Some people hate me, but have never met me before.
For example I had a run-in with some younger 20-something guys that asked me the usual, highly inappropriate questions. When I responded that I did not want to go to a prostitute they began to taunt me. Now, I don’t think STI’s are a laughing matter. Nor do I think the exploitation women for one’s own pleasure is okay. I couldn’t actually say this, so I just smiled, nodded, and walked to do some adult English classes. I don't have to justify my being here in Georgia to anyone, and sure they think they're being funny, but I'm here to do a job. Even if my effort doesn't amount to as much as I would have hoped, I'm still here to do it, and I'm proud/happy to be in such a welcoming country.
Now as for the girls, well girls may be interested, but it’s a BAD idea on my part, and something I personally stay away from. I always get the relationship/love questions: “Do you have love?” “Have you ever been in love?” “Are you going to get married?” “Do you want to marry a Georgian?” “What do you think of Georgian girls?” “What do you think of my daughter?” “Please, take a Georgian back to America” “Why did you and your girlfriends break up?” “Do you still love them?” Now I used to answer like this: “No” “yes” “probably” “I don’t know”” girls everywhere are great” “huh? I don’t understand” “huh? I don’t understand” “Because we weren’t right together, because we were bored, because we weren’t in love anymore, because I wanted to come to Georgia” and “No” respectively. Well most of these answers are fine, but people aren’t interested in them so much. So for example, take this question: “What do you think of Georgian girls?” Me: “I love them, they’re beautiful, smart, and amazing!” Question: “Do you want to marry a Georgian?” Me: “Have somebody in mind?” These responses generally generate more excitement, and people like to hear them. I feel good because they love me for it, and it’s a feel good fest.
I’m tired of writing now. I’m going to Batumi tomorrow to get my residence card, then Tbilisi next week for some awesome Peace Corps events. Will write more about my adventures later.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Life
I know it’s been awhile since I last updated, but a lot has happened since my last entry. Well maybe not a lot, but enough good and bad that I haven’t updated. A few days after my last entry I went to Beshumi with Duri and his family, Beshumi is a mountain resort village near the Turkish border. The houses aren’t really like houses, more like shacks lined up around each others. I was there for three nights and I met a lot of interesting people, but I also felt completely cramped in the house. There was no chance for me to sit alone, relax, and recoup my energy. The only chance I had alone was listening to my iPod while sitting on a Marshutka with 20 other people.
On the last day we went to Vardzia, a cave city built into the side of a mountain. Vardzia was a monastery built in 1185 by the famous Queen Tamar (who also built several bridges near me) to protect over six-thousand apartments from the Mongols. Though, 100 years later an earthquake destroyed most of the monastery and exposed it to the outside. In the 16th century the Persians took over the area and essentially ended the life of the monastery. Monks run it now and it’s a big tourist site in Georgia. There are pictures on Facebook for those that are interested. After Vardzia I continued my summer by studying Georgian, meeting Georgians, and just overall good times.
In late August I was in Tbilisi for a Peace Corps Wellness Event to get us ready for the upcoming school year. Tbilisi was a good time, and I had a few packages waiting for me, which made it 10000x better. It was also nice meeting all the other volunteers I hadn’t seen in a while.
When I returned home on Sunday there was a mini supra for my host father’s brother who had come in from Moscow. A supra here and there is nice, but it’s a little annoying ALWAYS being the center of attention. I know everyone is glad I’m here and I appreciate the hospitality, but I really am a much more private person. Oh, well.
At the beginning of that week I felt refreshed and ready to take on my summer camp, a seven day English camp for the students at the school. That was until I heard the news about my favorite high school teacher and friend, Brian Welsh who died as a victim of suicide. Mr. Welsh was always a great teacher, and a supportive coach. He knew what each of his students needed, whether a pat on a back, or kick in the ass. His classes were lively and discussion based. He was the reason I got into teaching in the first place and a man with many talents, but many flaws as well. I looked forward to maybe teaching with him at South when I got older. It’s hard to tell how much pain someone is really in, but also remember that nobody how messed up things to seem, life is long, and no matter how hard it is, life has its ups and downs. Here’s to the greatest teacher/coach West Windsor-Plainsboro South has ever had.
But the Peace Corps life doesn’t live you with much time to mope, and Georgians are always worried if you seem sad, so I quickly got up and went to work. The summer camp went really well. I had about 20 students show up, and we played dodge ball, Uno, Twister, capture the flag, and a variety of other children games. We also had a day where I talked about trash and waste; the children made signs and hung them up around town. It seemed productive, until I watched one of my students throw a Coke bottle in the river the next day… sigh… My Peace Corps friend, Alissa came to help out on my last 2 days of camp. We started it with the human knot, but then promptly moved to a relay race. By relay race, I mean we played beer pong, but with water! Pictures are on Facebook, but the kids LOVED it, and their excitement at every shot was amazing (of course I taught the adult version later that night to Georgian friends and neighbors). The last day I had a talent show, and a group of four girls sang song, danced, and put on the most amazing performance I thought wasn’t possible. So of course the won, and got Snickers as prizes.
School started the next week, and I’ve been observing my first two weeks, but now I’m selecting my classes and am getting down to business. I can already tell it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m already trying to use some strategies I learned from “Maynard” Welsh. Right now the kids aren’t used to my sometimes strange outbursts (they are used to the Soviet style teaching), but slowly they are catching on to me walking into doors to teach them the word “stupid”.
So that’s the news from this side of the world. Until next time (a month from now).
Oh, P.S. lock the door when you change OR use the toilet. Both my host parents decide walking in is much easier than knocking and have therefore succumbed to my uncontrollable laughter of embarrassment mixed with curse words.
On the last day we went to Vardzia, a cave city built into the side of a mountain. Vardzia was a monastery built in 1185 by the famous Queen Tamar (who also built several bridges near me) to protect over six-thousand apartments from the Mongols. Though, 100 years later an earthquake destroyed most of the monastery and exposed it to the outside. In the 16th century the Persians took over the area and essentially ended the life of the monastery. Monks run it now and it’s a big tourist site in Georgia. There are pictures on Facebook for those that are interested. After Vardzia I continued my summer by studying Georgian, meeting Georgians, and just overall good times.
In late August I was in Tbilisi for a Peace Corps Wellness Event to get us ready for the upcoming school year. Tbilisi was a good time, and I had a few packages waiting for me, which made it 10000x better. It was also nice meeting all the other volunteers I hadn’t seen in a while.
When I returned home on Sunday there was a mini supra for my host father’s brother who had come in from Moscow. A supra here and there is nice, but it’s a little annoying ALWAYS being the center of attention. I know everyone is glad I’m here and I appreciate the hospitality, but I really am a much more private person. Oh, well.
At the beginning of that week I felt refreshed and ready to take on my summer camp, a seven day English camp for the students at the school. That was until I heard the news about my favorite high school teacher and friend, Brian Welsh who died as a victim of suicide. Mr. Welsh was always a great teacher, and a supportive coach. He knew what each of his students needed, whether a pat on a back, or kick in the ass. His classes were lively and discussion based. He was the reason I got into teaching in the first place and a man with many talents, but many flaws as well. I looked forward to maybe teaching with him at South when I got older. It’s hard to tell how much pain someone is really in, but also remember that nobody how messed up things to seem, life is long, and no matter how hard it is, life has its ups and downs. Here’s to the greatest teacher/coach West Windsor-Plainsboro South has ever had.
But the Peace Corps life doesn’t live you with much time to mope, and Georgians are always worried if you seem sad, so I quickly got up and went to work. The summer camp went really well. I had about 20 students show up, and we played dodge ball, Uno, Twister, capture the flag, and a variety of other children games. We also had a day where I talked about trash and waste; the children made signs and hung them up around town. It seemed productive, until I watched one of my students throw a Coke bottle in the river the next day… sigh… My Peace Corps friend, Alissa came to help out on my last 2 days of camp. We started it with the human knot, but then promptly moved to a relay race. By relay race, I mean we played beer pong, but with water! Pictures are on Facebook, but the kids LOVED it, and their excitement at every shot was amazing (of course I taught the adult version later that night to Georgian friends and neighbors). The last day I had a talent show, and a group of four girls sang song, danced, and put on the most amazing performance I thought wasn’t possible. So of course the won, and got Snickers as prizes.
School started the next week, and I’ve been observing my first two weeks, but now I’m selecting my classes and am getting down to business. I can already tell it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m already trying to use some strategies I learned from “Maynard” Welsh. Right now the kids aren’t used to my sometimes strange outbursts (they are used to the Soviet style teaching), but slowly they are catching on to me walking into doors to teach them the word “stupid”.
So that’s the news from this side of the world. Until next time (a month from now).
Oh, P.S. lock the door when you change OR use the toilet. Both my host parents decide walking in is much easier than knocking and have therefore succumbed to my uncontrollable laughter of embarrassment mixed with curse words.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tom vs. The Kind Man
This isn't exactly anything bad, in fact it's very good, but I have to write this down before I forget. I was sitting in my neighbors house eating and practicing my Georgian when an older gentleman from Batumi comes in. He is going to be doing some work on my neighbors house in their village, and he came by. I spent some time talking with him and he started to say I really liked me and wanted to buy my a gift. I never met this man before, but I said "No, no, you don't need to do that." Well he did anyway, he bought me some bananas and chocolate.
Later that evening I found out that this man was homeless. He sold his house to pay for his daughters medical bills, his wife left him, and he has three children to care for. This man went out of his way to buy ME gifts. I was so embarrassed, but my neighbors assured me that it's fine, and the man did it because he liked me very much when I spoke to him in Georgian. Sure, sometimes you get ripped off on the taxi or marshutka, but this is Georgia, and this is Georgian hospitality.
This is a pretty common thing in Georgia. Most people will go way out of their way, and do it with a smile on their face just because they like you, or want you to be happy. Sometimes I forget this, and it comes off as annoying, but after this I just remember that most people would spend their entire life savings to give you what you what you need. It's something I'm not used to, and is incredibly awkward to deal with.
Sometimes receiving is harder than giving is definitely true.
Later that evening I found out that this man was homeless. He sold his house to pay for his daughters medical bills, his wife left him, and he has three children to care for. This man went out of his way to buy ME gifts. I was so embarrassed, but my neighbors assured me that it's fine, and the man did it because he liked me very much when I spoke to him in Georgian. Sure, sometimes you get ripped off on the taxi or marshutka, but this is Georgia, and this is Georgian hospitality.
This is a pretty common thing in Georgia. Most people will go way out of their way, and do it with a smile on their face just because they like you, or want you to be happy. Sometimes I forget this, and it comes off as annoying, but after this I just remember that most people would spend their entire life savings to give you what you what you need. It's something I'm not used to, and is incredibly awkward to deal with.
Sometimes receiving is harder than giving is definitely true.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tom vs. His Personality
There's something awfully strange going on. Well, I wouldn't say strange... just more of a change. Everyone you talk to tells you that you're never the same after two years in the Peace Corps. That the people you once considered friends don't understand you, and you don't understand them. Your perception of normal change as well and therefore you don't take for granted all the nice little things you have... Like peanut butter and nachos. I always figured that this change would be more of a gradual thing, that I won't even notice how my thoughts and opinions on things change. Alas, it is not so, here are lists of some things I've find that have taken a complete 180.
My need for personal space has skyrocketed. For a long time I was always an extrovert, I liked people, being around them, it energized me. This isn't true for me anymore. Sure, you could say it's because my language skills don't give me the opportunities to socialize like I usually do. Well, this even goes for other PCVs. I went to Kobuleti the other day, the first time I spent time with other volunteers in two weeks. I just need more time to myself now, to think things through, quietly panic, read, study Georgian (usually for several hours a day), or just relax and stare up at my ceiling to be swiftly taken into my own thoughts. After spending the day in Kobuleti, or at the river with my friend Nato, nothing make me more excited than the thought of coming back and being completely and utterly alone.
I decided to retake the Myers-Briggs test that many of you know I enjoy. Since I’ve taken it (2002), I’ve usually been in the ENFJ, or the ENFP, depending on whether I was in a relationship or not. Here is what they say about ENFP’s:
ENFPs are friendly folks. Most are really enjoyable people. Some of the most soft-hearted people are ENFPs.
ENFPs have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Som etimes they may even appear intoxicated when the "switch" is flipped.
One study has shown that ENFPs are significantly overrepresented in psychodrama. Most have a natural propensity for role-playing and acting.
ENFPs like to tell funny stories, especially about their friends. This penchant may be why many are attracted to journalism. I kid one of my ENFP friends that if I want the sixth fleet to know something, I'll just tell him.
ENFPs are global learners. Close enough is satisfactory to the ENFP, which may unnerve more precise thinking types, especially with such things as piano practice ("three quarter notes or four ... what's the difference?") Amazingly, some ENFPs are adept at exacting disciplines such as mathematics.
Friends are what life is about to ENFPs, moreso even than the other NFs. They hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being victimized by less caring individuals. ENFPs are energized by being around people. Some have real difficulty being alone , especially on a regular basis.
One ENFP colleague, a social worker, had such tremendous interpersonal skills that she put her interviewers at ease during her own job interview. She had the ability to make strangers feel like old friends.
ENFPs sometimes can be blindsided by their secondary Feeling function. Hasty decisions based on deeply felt values may boil over with unpredictable results. More than one ENFP has abruptly quit a job in such a moment.
Here is the ENFJ profile:
ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.
ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.
ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.
Now, I’m not sure if this is totally accurate, but I’m scored as an INTJ, they make up less than 1% of the population and are known as the Rational Masterminds:
To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.
INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.
INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.
In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). INTJs can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.
Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations.
This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. :-) This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete', paralleling that of many Fs -- only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.
Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.
Anybody want to guess who I thought of when I read this one? My Father Steve Lyon exhibits many of the attributes of an INTJ. Now It says most are in engineering, interesting that I am not an engineer, though when I was younger I often switched between wanting to do computer programming and astrophysics (I loved black holes), but I found a nice niche in history and teaching. I can’t say that this is really me, because like I said, I’m changing in many different ways and this may not hold true forever. We’ll see what happens I guess.
That was a lot for you all to read, so I’m going to save the rest of my spiel for later. Until then, good luck you crazy people! Oh, and take and extra shower for me.
My need for personal space has skyrocketed. For a long time I was always an extrovert, I liked people, being around them, it energized me. This isn't true for me anymore. Sure, you could say it's because my language skills don't give me the opportunities to socialize like I usually do. Well, this even goes for other PCVs. I went to Kobuleti the other day, the first time I spent time with other volunteers in two weeks. I just need more time to myself now, to think things through, quietly panic, read, study Georgian (usually for several hours a day), or just relax and stare up at my ceiling to be swiftly taken into my own thoughts. After spending the day in Kobuleti, or at the river with my friend Nato, nothing make me more excited than the thought of coming back and being completely and utterly alone.
I decided to retake the Myers-Briggs test that many of you know I enjoy. Since I’ve taken it (2002), I’ve usually been in the ENFJ, or the ENFP, depending on whether I was in a relationship or not. Here is what they say about ENFP’s:
ENFPs are friendly folks. Most are really enjoyable people. Some of the most soft-hearted people are ENFPs.
ENFPs have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Som etimes they may even appear intoxicated when the "switch" is flipped.
One study has shown that ENFPs are significantly overrepresented in psychodrama. Most have a natural propensity for role-playing and acting.
ENFPs like to tell funny stories, especially about their friends. This penchant may be why many are attracted to journalism. I kid one of my ENFP friends that if I want the sixth fleet to know something, I'll just tell him.
ENFPs are global learners. Close enough is satisfactory to the ENFP, which may unnerve more precise thinking types, especially with such things as piano practice ("three quarter notes or four ... what's the difference?") Amazingly, some ENFPs are adept at exacting disciplines such as mathematics.
Friends are what life is about to ENFPs, moreso even than the other NFs. They hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being victimized by less caring individuals. ENFPs are energized by being around people. Some have real difficulty being alone , especially on a regular basis.
One ENFP colleague, a social worker, had such tremendous interpersonal skills that she put her interviewers at ease during her own job interview. She had the ability to make strangers feel like old friends.
ENFPs sometimes can be blindsided by their secondary Feeling function. Hasty decisions based on deeply felt values may boil over with unpredictable results. More than one ENFP has abruptly quit a job in such a moment.
Here is the ENFJ profile:
ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.
ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.
ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.
Now, I’m not sure if this is totally accurate, but I’m scored as an INTJ, they make up less than 1% of the population and are known as the Rational Masterminds:
To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.
INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.
INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.
In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). INTJs can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.
Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations.
This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. :-) This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete', paralleling that of many Fs -- only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.
Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.
Anybody want to guess who I thought of when I read this one? My Father Steve Lyon exhibits many of the attributes of an INTJ. Now It says most are in engineering, interesting that I am not an engineer, though when I was younger I often switched between wanting to do computer programming and astrophysics (I loved black holes), but I found a nice niche in history and teaching. I can’t say that this is really me, because like I said, I’m changing in many different ways and this may not hold true forever. We’ll see what happens I guess.
That was a lot for you all to read, so I’m going to save the rest of my spiel for later. Until then, good luck you crazy people! Oh, and take and extra shower for me.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tom vs. The Cactus; Tom vs. Karma; Tom vs. The Locked Door; Tom vs. The Mountain
Well I broke down and got the internet again, but only because so many interesting things have happened that I felt the overwhelming urge to let the 10 people that read my blog have a chance to know what’s going on. As some of you know, I am a big fan of the show Chuck. For those of you who do not know this show, it is about some regular guy who works at a Best Buy equivalent in California suddenly gets all the military secrets poured into his head and is forced to become a spy. He works with an unbelievably hot blonde that he falls in love with. This is not the point, though. Each episode is titled Chuck vs. *Insert interesting thing*, so I had the unoriginal idea of taking that concept for my blog.
Tom vs. Karma is well deserved for the past weeks adventures. It began last weekend when I was in Kvishkheti. I was visiting for what I thought was my friends’ wedding, but in fact only turned out to be his birthday, goes to show how much Georgian I understand. Well I’m at my former host mother sister’s house eating sunflower seeds and playing cards. I had a pile of sunflower seeds I was playfully throwing at everyone. Well I turned to throw the used seeds off the balcony, but the cactus next to me thought I was trying to pick a fight. So it decided to send about a dozen prickly things into my hand while I tossed the sunflower seeds off the roof. One managed to dig itself underneath my finger nail. I still don’t know if it’s out. So Cactus 1 Tom 0.
Then later we were playing Mgeli (wolf) and after getting my host sister really well, I was running away from her and managed to twist my ankle nicely. I limped home, but once again, Karma wants to fight me.
Then last Monday I was at the river with my neighbor (we’ll call her, Jules). I just got out of the water from an unsuccessful attempt at swimming against the current and sat down on a rock next to her. We were practicing some of my Georgian, learning words like “rock”, “tree”, “river”, etc. I see a wasp floating in the water and thought “poor guy”, but then he hopped out on the rock next to me. Despite my previous thought I didn’t want a wasp next to me, so I flicked him back into the water. Well sure enough, he comes out and walks up to me, so I flick him back, but this time into the current. I figured I had proven my triumph over nature, and bee. My mind floated back to learning words like “klde” and “khe” when I suddenly felt pain go across my leg and sure enough, there’s the wasp with his stinger shaking its venomous goodness into my calf. Before I could kill the thing it flew away. Wasp 1 Tom 0.
This has nothing to do with Karma, but the very next day I finished taking my shower and was relaxing in my room and slowly getting dressed. It’s unbelievably hot here, so if I can get away without clothes on I will certainly do it. I should have locked my door though, because sure enough my host mother walks in with a plate of over-cooked corn while I’m barely dressed. That was a fun conversation to have.
So on to the good stuff. On Sunday I went with my counterpart Duri, and his former volunteer Brian who was visiting, up to the top of the mountain near the Turkish border to see this mountain festival. Three months out of the year, villagers take their cows up this mountain so they can graze and what not, but they basically go drink copious amounts of alcohol and lay out in the sun. So that’s what we did for the day, oh and we climbed this mountain that Brian thought would be easy, but turned out to be rather vertical. I have some great pictures and videos. I should also mention that the road we took to get up this mountain was more or less a trail, and I spent a good portion of the ride convinced I was going to die, so I took a lot of video and pictures so the police would know what happened. But we lived, so now the videos will be good to show you people! Sweet!
What else have I done? Had a barbeque with some Georgian friends and members of the Batumi soccer club (they spend a month on vacation in Keda every year). Georgians can light some nice fires, better than most Eagle Scouts I would think.
Well, I’m tired and it’s time to be productive. Check out the new pictures on my Facebook.
Tom vs. Karma is well deserved for the past weeks adventures. It began last weekend when I was in Kvishkheti. I was visiting for what I thought was my friends’ wedding, but in fact only turned out to be his birthday, goes to show how much Georgian I understand. Well I’m at my former host mother sister’s house eating sunflower seeds and playing cards. I had a pile of sunflower seeds I was playfully throwing at everyone. Well I turned to throw the used seeds off the balcony, but the cactus next to me thought I was trying to pick a fight. So it decided to send about a dozen prickly things into my hand while I tossed the sunflower seeds off the roof. One managed to dig itself underneath my finger nail. I still don’t know if it’s out. So Cactus 1 Tom 0.
Then later we were playing Mgeli (wolf) and after getting my host sister really well, I was running away from her and managed to twist my ankle nicely. I limped home, but once again, Karma wants to fight me.
Then last Monday I was at the river with my neighbor (we’ll call her, Jules). I just got out of the water from an unsuccessful attempt at swimming against the current and sat down on a rock next to her. We were practicing some of my Georgian, learning words like “rock”, “tree”, “river”, etc. I see a wasp floating in the water and thought “poor guy”, but then he hopped out on the rock next to me. Despite my previous thought I didn’t want a wasp next to me, so I flicked him back into the water. Well sure enough, he comes out and walks up to me, so I flick him back, but this time into the current. I figured I had proven my triumph over nature, and bee. My mind floated back to learning words like “klde” and “khe” when I suddenly felt pain go across my leg and sure enough, there’s the wasp with his stinger shaking its venomous goodness into my calf. Before I could kill the thing it flew away. Wasp 1 Tom 0.
This has nothing to do with Karma, but the very next day I finished taking my shower and was relaxing in my room and slowly getting dressed. It’s unbelievably hot here, so if I can get away without clothes on I will certainly do it. I should have locked my door though, because sure enough my host mother walks in with a plate of over-cooked corn while I’m barely dressed. That was a fun conversation to have.
So on to the good stuff. On Sunday I went with my counterpart Duri, and his former volunteer Brian who was visiting, up to the top of the mountain near the Turkish border to see this mountain festival. Three months out of the year, villagers take their cows up this mountain so they can graze and what not, but they basically go drink copious amounts of alcohol and lay out in the sun. So that’s what we did for the day, oh and we climbed this mountain that Brian thought would be easy, but turned out to be rather vertical. I have some great pictures and videos. I should also mention that the road we took to get up this mountain was more or less a trail, and I spent a good portion of the ride convinced I was going to die, so I took a lot of video and pictures so the police would know what happened. But we lived, so now the videos will be good to show you people! Sweet!
What else have I done? Had a barbeque with some Georgian friends and members of the Batumi soccer club (they spend a month on vacation in Keda every year). Georgians can light some nice fires, better than most Eagle Scouts I would think.
Well, I’m tired and it’s time to be productive. Check out the new pictures on my Facebook.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Nachos...
I must apologize to everyone for my last post. I was reading it and I have no idea what I was talking about. Talk about poor proofreading (my college professors know about me and my lack of proofreading). Half of the sentences didn’t even make sense, and somehow I forgot articles, probably because Georgian doesn’t use articles and now I get confused. Or I’m just really bad at writing, which sounds like more sense.
I have talked too many of my friends and family about my current situation since leaving PST and Kvishkheti. If you’re interested in the story please feel free to ask me, but my blog is not the place for such sob stories. Nonetheless, for those who do know, the situation has improved and I thank everyone, both in Georgia and back in the USA for their support.
My birthday was last week, July 11, two days after my arrival here in Keda. It didn’t feel like my birthday, it honestly didn’t feel different than any other day. I still appreciate everybody’s “Happy Birthday”. So what did Tom Lyon do? Well I woke up nice and late, continued reading my “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” series, dabbled into Facebook, studied some Georgian, and generally did nothing. Around 4PM my neighbor called me to come over to her house, and when I arrived there was a whole table of food set up. So we ate, drank some homemade win (which I’m hoping to learn how to do before I leave). I came back around 11PM and my host family gave me a nice shirt, overall a good day.
I’ve been in Batumi, once with my neighbor friend to meet her friends. We had a good time. We swam in the water and dived for the mussels, which we cooked up on the beach and had a little picnic. Then we came back to Keda (with her friends) and had a supra at her house. That's all I'm going to say about that day.
The next day I met with one of my counterparts and the head of the educational resource center in Keda. We talked for a long time, and then he asked me if I wanted to come to his house for the night. I asked permission from Peace Corps; made sure my host family was okay with it and then went to his house in the village. He has a beautiful house, and a huge garden. His wife is also an English teacher at the school and they have some great children. We took a hike, but on the way down I lost my footing a cut my hand a bit. It’s healing well, but was quite embarrassing. At night we had a little supra and I helped his kids with their English, while they helped my pronounce Georgian words.
The weekend was nice, and relatively uneventful. This coming weekend I am going back to Kvishkheti for a wedding, it should be nice seeing my old host family, meeting my friends (my cluster mates former host brother) new wife, and relaxing back in village life.
Which brings me to a new point; I don’t miss the amenities of a nice toilet and shower. My village had an outhouse (that often smelled), and a shower with enough mold to give a family of elephants asthma. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it. Keda isn’t big, but I do have a flush toilet, a real tub, and a hot water heater (my old place had a hot water heater, too, but it was with a wood burning stove). Good times. I guess being here has taught me a bit about what’s important, and a nice bathroom and toilet (or even taking a shower everyday… or every five days) is not terribly important.
So what is important? Look below...
Nachos. Til next time...
I have talked too many of my friends and family about my current situation since leaving PST and Kvishkheti. If you’re interested in the story please feel free to ask me, but my blog is not the place for such sob stories. Nonetheless, for those who do know, the situation has improved and I thank everyone, both in Georgia and back in the USA for their support.
My birthday was last week, July 11, two days after my arrival here in Keda. It didn’t feel like my birthday, it honestly didn’t feel different than any other day. I still appreciate everybody’s “Happy Birthday”. So what did Tom Lyon do? Well I woke up nice and late, continued reading my “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” series, dabbled into Facebook, studied some Georgian, and generally did nothing. Around 4PM my neighbor called me to come over to her house, and when I arrived there was a whole table of food set up. So we ate, drank some homemade win (which I’m hoping to learn how to do before I leave). I came back around 11PM and my host family gave me a nice shirt, overall a good day.
I’ve been in Batumi, once with my neighbor friend to meet her friends. We had a good time. We swam in the water and dived for the mussels, which we cooked up on the beach and had a little picnic. Then we came back to Keda (with her friends) and had a supra at her house. That's all I'm going to say about that day.
The next day I met with one of my counterparts and the head of the educational resource center in Keda. We talked for a long time, and then he asked me if I wanted to come to his house for the night. I asked permission from Peace Corps; made sure my host family was okay with it and then went to his house in the village. He has a beautiful house, and a huge garden. His wife is also an English teacher at the school and they have some great children. We took a hike, but on the way down I lost my footing a cut my hand a bit. It’s healing well, but was quite embarrassing. At night we had a little supra and I helped his kids with their English, while they helped my pronounce Georgian words.
The weekend was nice, and relatively uneventful. This coming weekend I am going back to Kvishkheti for a wedding, it should be nice seeing my old host family, meeting my friends (my cluster mates former host brother) new wife, and relaxing back in village life.
Which brings me to a new point; I don’t miss the amenities of a nice toilet and shower. My village had an outhouse (that often smelled), and a shower with enough mold to give a family of elephants asthma. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it. Keda isn’t big, but I do have a flush toilet, a real tub, and a hot water heater (my old place had a hot water heater, too, but it was with a wood burning stove). Good times. I guess being here has taught me a bit about what’s important, and a nice bathroom and toilet (or even taking a shower everyday… or every five days) is not terribly important.
So what is important? Look below...
Nachos. Til next time...
Friday, July 9, 2010
Changes
I am finally sitting in the living room of my new house in Keda. I am here not as a guest, trainee, or tourist. As of today I officially became a volunteer. We took our oath (the same one the President takes), had a big fancy show, a group of us sang the US and Georgian National Anthems (without music), and then left with our new families to a strange new world. PST was comfortable, I loved my family, they loved me.
Peace Corps asks you to change a lot very quickly. From the time of my invitation to departure I had a little under 6 weeks. PST was 10 weeks. It sucked saying goodbye back home, but now I had to do it again. My host mom in Kvishkheti has been crying on and off for the past 4 days, the last day of language class was like part of my life was being ripped apart. It was sad spending my last few nights with my cluster and the other volunteers.
The truth is, this is what I expected before I left, but I didn't take into account how much 10 weeks was going to define me. Maybe in a year I'll think differently. Despite all the hassle of PST, all the rules that made me want to rip out my hair, four hour language classes 6 days a week, being told where to go and when; PST was really awesome (I'm sure several volunteers will want to punch me in the throat for saying that).
PST also pushed me to try harder. Never in a million years did I think I could pass my language test. In order to pass your language test you need to at least scare in the Intermediate Low range. If you don't score that you are required to hire a tutor and then retake the test in 3 months. Three/Four weeks ago I scored Novice Mid/High. I had been struggling with the Georgian language since I arrive 10 weeks ago. Part of it was a complete lack of confidence in my ability, second guessing myself, and being to scared to make a mistake. Plus, as most of my friends and family know, I learn a bit differently. Instead of study ups and make huge leaps then stop. I learned to crawl and walk late, but when I started to crawl I walked very soon after. The same goes with my learning I just need a bit more time for everything to "click", and then I'm good. About 2 weeks ago something clicked and I've felt 100x more comfortable speaking and I understand so well, too. I took my final test on Wednesday and today I picked up my results: Intermediate Low!! So I'm excited about that. Am I beast at Georgian? Heck no. But I did have a 5 minute phone conversation with my Kvishkheti family. Considering we used to rely upon various grunts and gestures (mimicking throw up and diarrhea were fun) to be understood, this is a big positive step.
So now I settle into my new house, in a new town, and try to find useful things to do.
Nakhvamdis
Peace Corps asks you to change a lot very quickly. From the time of my invitation to departure I had a little under 6 weeks. PST was 10 weeks. It sucked saying goodbye back home, but now I had to do it again. My host mom in Kvishkheti has been crying on and off for the past 4 days, the last day of language class was like part of my life was being ripped apart. It was sad spending my last few nights with my cluster and the other volunteers.
The truth is, this is what I expected before I left, but I didn't take into account how much 10 weeks was going to define me. Maybe in a year I'll think differently. Despite all the hassle of PST, all the rules that made me want to rip out my hair, four hour language classes 6 days a week, being told where to go and when; PST was really awesome (I'm sure several volunteers will want to punch me in the throat for saying that).
PST also pushed me to try harder. Never in a million years did I think I could pass my language test. In order to pass your language test you need to at least scare in the Intermediate Low range. If you don't score that you are required to hire a tutor and then retake the test in 3 months. Three/Four weeks ago I scored Novice Mid/High. I had been struggling with the Georgian language since I arrive 10 weeks ago. Part of it was a complete lack of confidence in my ability, second guessing myself, and being to scared to make a mistake. Plus, as most of my friends and family know, I learn a bit differently. Instead of study ups and make huge leaps then stop. I learned to crawl and walk late, but when I started to crawl I walked very soon after. The same goes with my learning I just need a bit more time for everything to "click", and then I'm good. About 2 weeks ago something clicked and I've felt 100x more comfortable speaking and I understand so well, too. I took my final test on Wednesday and today I picked up my results: Intermediate Low!! So I'm excited about that. Am I beast at Georgian? Heck no. But I did have a 5 minute phone conversation with my Kvishkheti family. Considering we used to rely upon various grunts and gestures (mimicking throw up and diarrhea were fun) to be understood, this is a big positive step.
So now I settle into my new house, in a new town, and try to find useful things to do.
Nakhvamdis
The End of the Beginning
Tomorrow I take that big leap and become a true Peace Corps Volunteer (until this point I've been a "Trainee"). PST has been a rigorous time, imagine finals week that never ended, and if you think about it, PST is longer than the Army Basic Training. Not that it's anywhere near as physically or mentally demanding, but another 10 weeks of PST and I might dig my own foxhole, crawl in the fetal position, and cry... loudly. Okay, maybe not, but it was still hard.
PST was also a comforting time. Back home in America, whether working at the Nursery School, being unemployed, going to graduate school (minus student teaching), or being a student at AU I had a lot of free time. Sometimes the free time can be a real pain in the ass, because you'd go to sleep at night and go "shit, I didn't do anything worthwhile today, yesterday, last week, the past year..." and a mini panic attack would ensue as I tried to mentally force myself to do something worthwhile besides achieving level 70 in Call of Duty, or knowing I could totally own my 7 year old nephew in Halo 3 (which I don't think I could anymore). In PST I always felt useful in some way, shape, or form; even if I complained bitterly about being treated like a 7 year-old day in and day out. I will certainly miss some of the structure of PST, but more importantly I'll miss the closeness of my friends here.
Remember Freshman year of college when you get to the dorms excited but nervous to be doing something totally out of the ordinary? When you know many of your high school friendships won't last (I'm lucky enough to still talk to all my best high school friends on a regular basis), and you'll naturally grow apart. You look towards the people on your freshman floor. Certainly my freshman year, the epic "black hole" of Letts 6 became my best friends, and most remained so for the remaining four years. It's the same here in PST. I am within a 30 second walk of most of my cluster, and we find ourselves doing almost the same types of things as I did Freshman year. Then there are your friends in other dorms that you don't see as much, except on weekends at parties, or in class. That's what my friends from other clusters are like. I will miss having all of my friends really close, BUT i joined Peace Corps for the chance to grow as an individual. It's comfortable to be near people, to rely on them, to complain, joke, and act like we're freshman, but I've been there done that. It's time to move on the real reason I joined Peace Corps, which was to help the people and students of Georgia.
Now I'm not big into Top 10 lists, because I try to be much funnier than I actually am, but here's a few Top 10's.
Top 10 Experiences of PST
10. The bus ride from Tbilisi to our clusters and the anxiety that I felt. Then arriving in my village and dragging my bag 3/4 mile up a steep hill while thinking "What the hell did I get myself into"
9. The absurd amount of time we spend talking about our bowel movements. I know the bowel movement of at least half the TEFL Trainees. Just as they know I can squat for 45 minutes in my outhouse playing snake on my phone... Strange? Maybe. High score of all G-10's in snake? Yes.
8. The several supra's I have been to and at every one they ask me to make a toast. I use the only three words I know, "America", "Georgia", and "Friends"... They love this toast.
7. Losing about 15 pounds here and having my cluster (this was yesterday actually) say, "Tom, we want your butt back, please eat more".
6. Being asked to name every animal my family sees. My host cat I named "Persephone", and I've named three of the four kitten Persephone had "Brasdias", "Pericles", and "Aspasia". Now my family can't pronounce any of these names, so I don't think they'll stick.
5. Playing games with my host brother and sister, and finally being a big brother (which I must admit, I need to give credit to Dean for dealing with me for that long, I would have tied myself to a chair and left me outside, too).
4. Trying to unsuccessfully explain I cannot drink water out of the tap. Sometimes I do anyway... thinking about it now... maybe I've lost 15 pounds because I have a worm... hmmm. Maybe I should look into that. Just joookkiinnggg.
3. Eatting brains... pig or cow, I'm not quite sure.
2. My view (pictures to come)
1. Finishing PST.
Top 10 Things I Don't Miss About America
10. Oprah
9. The Twilight series
8. The variety of weird people you find at the Jersey Shore
7. Not knowing what to do during the day.
6. Waking up and facing the same boring house with the swimming pool.
5. 24-hour CNN
4. Selfish people
3. Walking around and not having every girl within 50 meters want to marry me (which also gets annoying)
2. Public transportation
1. The Twilight series deserves to be on this twice... because really... it just sucks
Top 10 Things I Miss About America
10. My privacy
9. Driving
8. Hoagie Haven
7. Taco Bell
6. Indian Food
5. Nachos
4. Going to New York City
3. Clean toilets (with seats that flush)
2. FDA approved food
1. Be able to drink out of the tap
PST was also a comforting time. Back home in America, whether working at the Nursery School, being unemployed, going to graduate school (minus student teaching), or being a student at AU I had a lot of free time. Sometimes the free time can be a real pain in the ass, because you'd go to sleep at night and go "shit, I didn't do anything worthwhile today, yesterday, last week, the past year..." and a mini panic attack would ensue as I tried to mentally force myself to do something worthwhile besides achieving level 70 in Call of Duty, or knowing I could totally own my 7 year old nephew in Halo 3 (which I don't think I could anymore). In PST I always felt useful in some way, shape, or form; even if I complained bitterly about being treated like a 7 year-old day in and day out. I will certainly miss some of the structure of PST, but more importantly I'll miss the closeness of my friends here.
Remember Freshman year of college when you get to the dorms excited but nervous to be doing something totally out of the ordinary? When you know many of your high school friendships won't last (I'm lucky enough to still talk to all my best high school friends on a regular basis), and you'll naturally grow apart. You look towards the people on your freshman floor. Certainly my freshman year, the epic "black hole" of Letts 6 became my best friends, and most remained so for the remaining four years. It's the same here in PST. I am within a 30 second walk of most of my cluster, and we find ourselves doing almost the same types of things as I did Freshman year. Then there are your friends in other dorms that you don't see as much, except on weekends at parties, or in class. That's what my friends from other clusters are like. I will miss having all of my friends really close, BUT i joined Peace Corps for the chance to grow as an individual. It's comfortable to be near people, to rely on them, to complain, joke, and act like we're freshman, but I've been there done that. It's time to move on the real reason I joined Peace Corps, which was to help the people and students of Georgia.
Now I'm not big into Top 10 lists, because I try to be much funnier than I actually am, but here's a few Top 10's.
Top 10 Experiences of PST
10. The bus ride from Tbilisi to our clusters and the anxiety that I felt. Then arriving in my village and dragging my bag 3/4 mile up a steep hill while thinking "What the hell did I get myself into"
9. The absurd amount of time we spend talking about our bowel movements. I know the bowel movement of at least half the TEFL Trainees. Just as they know I can squat for 45 minutes in my outhouse playing snake on my phone... Strange? Maybe. High score of all G-10's in snake? Yes.
8. The several supra's I have been to and at every one they ask me to make a toast. I use the only three words I know, "America", "Georgia", and "Friends"... They love this toast.
7. Losing about 15 pounds here and having my cluster (this was yesterday actually) say, "Tom, we want your butt back, please eat more".
6. Being asked to name every animal my family sees. My host cat I named "Persephone", and I've named three of the four kitten Persephone had "Brasdias", "Pericles", and "Aspasia". Now my family can't pronounce any of these names, so I don't think they'll stick.
5. Playing games with my host brother and sister, and finally being a big brother (which I must admit, I need to give credit to Dean for dealing with me for that long, I would have tied myself to a chair and left me outside, too).
4. Trying to unsuccessfully explain I cannot drink water out of the tap. Sometimes I do anyway... thinking about it now... maybe I've lost 15 pounds because I have a worm... hmmm. Maybe I should look into that. Just joookkiinnggg.
3. Eatting brains... pig or cow, I'm not quite sure.
2. My view (pictures to come)
1. Finishing PST.
Top 10 Things I Don't Miss About America
10. Oprah
9. The Twilight series
8. The variety of weird people you find at the Jersey Shore
7. Not knowing what to do during the day.
6. Waking up and facing the same boring house with the swimming pool.
5. 24-hour CNN
4. Selfish people
3. Walking around and not having every girl within 50 meters want to marry me (which also gets annoying)
2. Public transportation
1. The Twilight series deserves to be on this twice... because really... it just sucks
Top 10 Things I Miss About America
10. My privacy
9. Driving
8. Hoagie Haven
7. Taco Bell
6. Indian Food
5. Nachos
4. Going to New York City
3. Clean toilets (with seats that flush)
2. FDA approved food
1. Be able to drink out of the tap
Monday, July 5, 2010
Long Updates
Now it has been a long time since I've written in my blog. Three days ago I went to the Magti Store (the phone company) and paid 200 Lari to get the internet USB plug-in for my computer. I am now connected to the outside world, which is interesting to me, because I can be using an outhouse and a whole one minute, to surfing the latest gossip the next minute. I can look at Facebook, check my e-mail, and even kick butt in some ნარდი ("Nardi" or Backgammon).
Which conveniently brings me to my next point, learning the Georgian language is like being hit in the repeatedly with a steel pipe. Our LCF's (Language and Cultural Facilitators) are amazing, especially mine, but nonetheless the Georgian language is hard. Take for example the verb "I Travel"; it is spelled ვძგზავრობ but it sounds like "Vmgzavrob". Nonetheless, I have progressed quite well in the language, and I pick up new words and rules every day.
My technical training has gone alright, and I had the opportunity to teach several classes before the school year ended. Teaching in Georgia is very different than teaching in the United States, but I won't get into that more until I teach next school year. I am still in Pre-Service Training, but only for another week. I am in a village, Kvishkheti. It is a beautiful place, but I can't find it on Google Maps, but type in Borjomi and look north, then find Khashuri and look south. I'm right in there. I have the coordinates for my house, but I don't know if it's appropriate to post them online, so ask me and I can send them to you.
Last week my cluster mates (me and four girls) are leading a 4-day summer camp and we played games, tossed around a Frisbee, played Kickball, had water balloon games. It’s fun, but soooooo tiring. I buzzed my head and now I get sunburned on the top.
If you can’t tell, I wrote a bunch a few days ago and then saved it in a text file, but now I’m going to continue.
Yesterday was had an awesome Fourth of July party ion Borjomi. We played the water balloon toss, three-legged race, egg on a spoon race, and a few others. We had some American food, ham sandwiches, chips and salsa, cherry pies, etc… We were allowed to take two host families members with us and I brought my host mom and host sister. I think they had fun, especially when I took my sister, Ani on the Ferris Wheel (though she wasn’t so pleased about me standing and rocking our cart. Then a group of us went into Borjomi to celebrate one of my cluster mate’s birthdays. Overall a very good day.
Today we drove into Tbilisi to see Hillary Clinton. We get to the Peace Corps Office around 1:00 (after a boiling hot Marshutka ride) and then wait around for a while before going to the Marriott to see her. As with all politicians she was late and we waited around for four hours in a boiling hot conference room. She finally comes, talks for 10 minutes then leaves. I took a bunch of pictures and got to shake her hand. The best part was after when we stopped at McDonalds and got myself a Big Mac, fries, and a strawberry milkshake.
PST ends on Friday. Then I’m off to my permanent site, Keda. Write more soon!
Which conveniently brings me to my next point, learning the Georgian language is like being hit in the repeatedly with a steel pipe. Our LCF's (Language and Cultural Facilitators) are amazing, especially mine, but nonetheless the Georgian language is hard. Take for example the verb "I Travel"; it is spelled ვძგზავრობ but it sounds like "Vmgzavrob". Nonetheless, I have progressed quite well in the language, and I pick up new words and rules every day.
My technical training has gone alright, and I had the opportunity to teach several classes before the school year ended. Teaching in Georgia is very different than teaching in the United States, but I won't get into that more until I teach next school year. I am still in Pre-Service Training, but only for another week. I am in a village, Kvishkheti. It is a beautiful place, but I can't find it on Google Maps, but type in Borjomi and look north, then find Khashuri and look south. I'm right in there. I have the coordinates for my house, but I don't know if it's appropriate to post them online, so ask me and I can send them to you.
Last week my cluster mates (me and four girls) are leading a 4-day summer camp and we played games, tossed around a Frisbee, played Kickball, had water balloon games. It’s fun, but soooooo tiring. I buzzed my head and now I get sunburned on the top.
If you can’t tell, I wrote a bunch a few days ago and then saved it in a text file, but now I’m going to continue.
Yesterday was had an awesome Fourth of July party ion Borjomi. We played the water balloon toss, three-legged race, egg on a spoon race, and a few others. We had some American food, ham sandwiches, chips and salsa, cherry pies, etc… We were allowed to take two host families members with us and I brought my host mom and host sister. I think they had fun, especially when I took my sister, Ani on the Ferris Wheel (though she wasn’t so pleased about me standing and rocking our cart. Then a group of us went into Borjomi to celebrate one of my cluster mate’s birthdays. Overall a very good day.
Today we drove into Tbilisi to see Hillary Clinton. We get to the Peace Corps Office around 1:00 (after a boiling hot Marshutka ride) and then wait around for a while before going to the Marriott to see her. As with all politicians she was late and we waited around for four hours in a boiling hot conference room. She finally comes, talks for 10 minutes then leaves. I took a bunch of pictures and got to shake her hand. The best part was after when we stopped at McDonalds and got myself a Big Mac, fries, and a strawberry milkshake.
PST ends on Friday. Then I’m off to my permanent site, Keda. Write more soon!
Friday, April 30, 2010
GEORGIA
Gamarjoba,
I'm now in Tbilisi. We are staying in a hotel called the "Countryside Hotel" in the affluent parts outside the capital. We got in on Wednesday afternoon and were greeted by our country director, the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, and the Georgian Minister of Education. We were also all hounded by the media that were taking pictures and interviewing volunteers. There were also some G-9's that greeted us. We went to a restaurant to have a traditional "supra" (minus the wine) and Georgian food is AMAZING. There's this cheesy bread that is amazing!
Yesterday we woke up early and had breakfast then meetings ALLLLLL day. We also had our first language class where I learned some simple phrases. I have to practice rolling my r's and just about everything else. After dinner we took a walk down our hill to a "grocery store" and I decided to buy some Georgian beer to practice my "Gamarjoba", "ra ghirs", and "madloba" (Hello, How much is it, and Thanks you). Back at the hotel we played backgammon, checkers, spit, asshole and just hung out. A couple of us were up until 1AM practicing our Georgian with the hotel staff and sounding like silly Americans.
I have ALOT of pictures, and have essentially become to unofficial picture taker here. This title has also earned me the current front runner in the bet on who will get bit by a dog first (because I'm always running around getting good angles).
Anyway more meetings are in order. I'll write more later.
I'm now in Tbilisi. We are staying in a hotel called the "Countryside Hotel" in the affluent parts outside the capital. We got in on Wednesday afternoon and were greeted by our country director, the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, and the Georgian Minister of Education. We were also all hounded by the media that were taking pictures and interviewing volunteers. There were also some G-9's that greeted us. We went to a restaurant to have a traditional "supra" (minus the wine) and Georgian food is AMAZING. There's this cheesy bread that is amazing!
Yesterday we woke up early and had breakfast then meetings ALLLLLL day. We also had our first language class where I learned some simple phrases. I have to practice rolling my r's and just about everything else. After dinner we took a walk down our hill to a "grocery store" and I decided to buy some Georgian beer to practice my "Gamarjoba", "ra ghirs", and "madloba" (Hello, How much is it, and Thanks you). Back at the hotel we played backgammon, checkers, spit, asshole and just hung out. A couple of us were up until 1AM practicing our Georgian with the hotel staff and sounding like silly Americans.
I have ALOT of pictures, and have essentially become to unofficial picture taker here. This title has also earned me the current front runner in the bet on who will get bit by a dog first (because I'm always running around getting good angles).
Anyway more meetings are in order. I'll write more later.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Staging
Hello. Now I have finally given away my blog address in a mass e-mail, so I assume I have at least... five followers (Mum, Dad, Cat, Jason, Vasav). Okay, I bet more of you might be reading, but oh well.
I'm at staging in Philadelphia right now. All I have to say, I'm SO happy I'm here right now. Everyone has been so amazing and awesome thus far. I have a room to myself, but so does the guy next door (his name is John), so we opened our doors and made a monster suite. John is a really cool guy who speaks Russian. He's offered to help me learn. Very cool indeed.
So Mum made me some popovers this morning, and then I had some last minute rearranging to do. Then a lot of sadness, a goodbye to my kitty, and a final time in my own room and bathroom. We drove to Philly and ate at a Chili's in King of Prussia before heading over to the Radisson. I went through registration to officially be a Peace Corps Trainee. Then we had 5 hours of meetings. At the end of all that a group of us went out for dinner and drinks at the Cheesecake Factory.
Tomorrow we get on the plane. The adventure begins...
I'm at staging in Philadelphia right now. All I have to say, I'm SO happy I'm here right now. Everyone has been so amazing and awesome thus far. I have a room to myself, but so does the guy next door (his name is John), so we opened our doors and made a monster suite. John is a really cool guy who speaks Russian. He's offered to help me learn. Very cool indeed.
So Mum made me some popovers this morning, and then I had some last minute rearranging to do. Then a lot of sadness, a goodbye to my kitty, and a final time in my own room and bathroom. We drove to Philly and ate at a Chili's in King of Prussia before heading over to the Radisson. I went through registration to officially be a Peace Corps Trainee. Then we had 5 hours of meetings. At the end of all that a group of us went out for dinner and drinks at the Cheesecake Factory.
Tomorrow we get on the plane. The adventure begins...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Why?
I've been asked by a few people why I am doing the Peace Corps. Sometimes all the asking, and the occasional "Oh my God, that's crazy, why are you doing that?" has me asking myself the same question. Maybe it's the angst and anxiety as I get closer and closer to the day I leave, but I've been doing a lot of thinking about the people that have been a part of my life through the years. It's weird to think that when I come home nothing will be the same. I won't be the same. My friends won't be the same. Many of my friends will have moved on to new things and won't be around when I return. It's comforting to know my family will still be around when I return, and although the relationships may change, I will always have a place to call home.
So, here's why. In college I minored in psychology. My junior year I took a class called Psychology of Well-Being. First of all, Well-Being is NOT happiness. Happiness is based on emotions, which can lead to trouble. Well-Being is a congruency of attitudes, behaviors, and emotions. According to Seligan, people can lead a "pleasant life", a "good life", and a "meaningful life". A pleasant life is the lower tier, and is associated with having fun. A good life is doing things that matter and connect you to your accomplishments and achievements. A meaningful life is the essence of you, a sense of meaning, and it connects you to a purpose. Up until now I have primarily led a "pleasant life". I would like to lead a more meaningful life where I can help others. This is why education has intrigued me.
I have also been blessed with a great life. I grew up in a close-knit family, I lived with relative ease, I had the opportunity to live and travel all over Europe (Austria twice, England once). I have been to three continents, and over 20 countries. For whatever reason, the universe has been good to me. It would be extremely selfish of me to continue to expect the universe to keep serving me a good life. It's time that I got out and did something for somebody else. College, graduate school, getting a job, it's all about me and nobody else. The Peace Corps is about giving back to the country and world that has provided me with so much. As JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."
Now of course there are selfish reasons to do the Peace Corps. I desire an adventure. I always have wanted an adventure. Backpacking the Muir Trail was my adventure as a teenager, but I need something else. I'm not ready to settle down, find a wife, and start my 401(k) just yet. I want my adventure now, and there's no better time for me to go. I also receive a stipend, readjustment allowance, non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs, teaching experience (for when I return), opportunity to learn one (maybe two) languages. There are plenty of amazing benefits to the Peace Corps, it's a job that I do overseas. It's an adventure. I'd rather do the Peace Corps than be a waiter, or work as a temp, or be some administrative assistant in Washington. It's just so interesting. So yes, maybe it can seem a little extreme and crazy to some people. Backpacking across Europe is an adventure right? Sure it is, but someone who does that isn't learning a new language or completely immersing themselves into a new culture.
The point is, the Peace Corps fulfills many of my life goals. For better or worse, I will never forget the coming two years, and I will be doing something to help those outside of myself.
So yes, there's selfish and selfless reasons. Some people might say there's no completely unselfish act.
So, here's why. In college I minored in psychology. My junior year I took a class called Psychology of Well-Being. First of all, Well-Being is NOT happiness. Happiness is based on emotions, which can lead to trouble. Well-Being is a congruency of attitudes, behaviors, and emotions. According to Seligan, people can lead a "pleasant life", a "good life", and a "meaningful life". A pleasant life is the lower tier, and is associated with having fun. A good life is doing things that matter and connect you to your accomplishments and achievements. A meaningful life is the essence of you, a sense of meaning, and it connects you to a purpose. Up until now I have primarily led a "pleasant life". I would like to lead a more meaningful life where I can help others. This is why education has intrigued me.
I have also been blessed with a great life. I grew up in a close-knit family, I lived with relative ease, I had the opportunity to live and travel all over Europe (Austria twice, England once). I have been to three continents, and over 20 countries. For whatever reason, the universe has been good to me. It would be extremely selfish of me to continue to expect the universe to keep serving me a good life. It's time that I got out and did something for somebody else. College, graduate school, getting a job, it's all about me and nobody else. The Peace Corps is about giving back to the country and world that has provided me with so much. As JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."
Now of course there are selfish reasons to do the Peace Corps. I desire an adventure. I always have wanted an adventure. Backpacking the Muir Trail was my adventure as a teenager, but I need something else. I'm not ready to settle down, find a wife, and start my 401(k) just yet. I want my adventure now, and there's no better time for me to go. I also receive a stipend, readjustment allowance, non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs, teaching experience (for when I return), opportunity to learn one (maybe two) languages. There are plenty of amazing benefits to the Peace Corps, it's a job that I do overseas. It's an adventure. I'd rather do the Peace Corps than be a waiter, or work as a temp, or be some administrative assistant in Washington. It's just so interesting. So yes, maybe it can seem a little extreme and crazy to some people. Backpacking across Europe is an adventure right? Sure it is, but someone who does that isn't learning a new language or completely immersing themselves into a new culture.
The point is, the Peace Corps fulfills many of my life goals. For better or worse, I will never forget the coming two years, and I will be doing something to help those outside of myself.
So yes, there's selfish and selfless reasons. Some people might say there's no completely unselfish act.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Less Than Three Weeks
Wow, three more weeks until I get on a plane to Istanbul, then from there to Tbilisi. I am still in the midst of packing, and according to the G9's (the group that's there already) we need this:
* 2-3 pairs of nice quality, professional-looking jeans
* 3-4 short-sleeved polos
* 4-5 Long-sleeved, knit, button-down dress shirts
* 1-2 light-weight short-sleeved button-downs
* 10 t-shirts(that can be used as undershirts and a couple sleeveless if you’re athletic)
* 8 pairs of black dress socks
* 4 pairs of athletic crew socks
* 3 pairs of knee-high ski socks (really warm)
* 3 pairs of athletic/basketball shorts (for exercise or sleep shorts)
* 1 pair of multi-purpose shorts (I packed khaki)
* 1-2 flannel shirts
* 1-2 flannel pajama bottoms (or fleece, the key being WARM)
* 1 casual belt and 1-2 dress belts
* 3 thermal tops
* 3 thermal pants
* 1 light pair of gloves
* 1 heavy pair of gloves
* 1 warm hoodie
* 1 warm hat
* 1 pair of thermally insulated slippers
* 1 pair of flip-flops (or shower shoes- key: something that can get wet and dry easily)
* 2 bathing suits
* 12-15 pairs of underwear
* 1 sturdy rain coat
* 2 sweaters (wool is good—you want something that can double as business casual)
* 1 thick scarf
* 1 heavy winter coat (think something you would feel comfortable skiing in)
* 1 pair of tennis shoes
* 1 pair of durable outdoor shoes (boots work—think hiking and snow friendly)
* 1 pair of dress shoes
* 1 pair of your favorite shoes (if you have them)
On top of that:
* Face lotion/aftershave- for some reason, ridiculously expensive
* Deodorant- bring enough for at least 6 months, since finding good deodorant here is a challenge unless you consider AXE good deodorant.
* Razors- again, ridiculously expensive... bring enough for a few months
* Listerine/mouth wash- 250 ml will cost you around 7 dollars here. Think about it...
* Tooth floss- the PC gives us some, but if you’re picky bring your own
* Battery operated beard trimmer- pretty much any volunteer I know that has facial hair has bought one of these in-country or expressed a desire to buy one. Don't bring the 120 V plug in ones—they won't work well with a converter. Buy a battery operated one and you'll save tons of money on razors. Additionally, these are much cheaper to buy in the States than in Georgia and the quality is much better to boot. Also, this will help with the mustache contest. Yes, that's right, mustache contest.
Then some:
Computer – This is will be your best companion outside of your fellow volunteers and Georgian friends. It will be very
useful to have for work (especially BSE volunteers!), research, storing photos, receiving constant updates from the Peace Corps, and anything else you might encounter while you’re here. Also, Georgia has a 3G wireless internet service (Magtifix, you’ll see them everywhere once you get here, go to the Communication page for more info) that is available for those of you who need fast internet to Skype, Facebook, or just want to stay in touch with everyone back home in the States. It’s very easy to use and just plugs into a USB.
Adapters & Converters – Peace Corps will issue everyone one adapter (NOT a converter, see below), but it may be useful to bring some extras for other appliances. Georgia uses the 220-volt electricity and all “Europe” shaped adapters will work. Converters and power-strips may come in handy if you plan on charging several electronics at once. Here is a website that will acquaint you with what all this means. And here is a site where you can purchase additional adapters and converters.
Digital Camera – Though I’m sure most of you will be bringing one anyway, just make sure you pack it before you go! Georgia is full of amazing photo opportunities; nature, monuments, people, weddings, supras (Georgian feasts)…you get the picture. Volunteers have said that both battery-powered and built-in rechargeable batteries work great. There are plenty of places to buy AA and AAA batteries if needed.
Mp3 Player – Even if you’re not someone who enjoys running or working out, having an mp3 Player is crucial…especially for those inevitable long marshutka (minibus) rides. Though any mp3 Player will do the job, Apple’s iPod classic is worth mentioning because it has a 36 hour-long battery life and is easy to pack (click here for info). It might also be worth investing in a wall charger for your mp3 player if you don’t already have one, as they can really come in handy when traveling.
“If You Have Room”:
External Hard-Drive – All of the G9 volunteers who brought an external will tell you it’s one of their best investments. Over time you’ll find yourself accumulating tons of music, videos, pictures, etc. and it will be very nice to have the extra storage. In the unfortunate event that your computer crashes, you’ll also be grateful to have backed up your information. Here is a link to My Passport (a quality external hard –drive that’s both well priced and small enough to pack).
Memory Stick/Flash Drive - During your PST, Peace Corps will give a 2 GB Memory Stick to everyone. But depending on your site and assignment, where you might be delivering a lot of information to a fellow co-worker or need to show a classroom a certain movie clip, etc., it is very useful to have another flash drive with a little more room (8 GB or higher). Some Volunteers have 8 GB Memory Sticks that have proved very useful to them during their service.
Speakers – Though not necessary, speakers are great to have at home, volunteer gatherings, and most importantly, in your assignments. This is a link for great travel speakers, which are slim and give off amazing sound.
Hand-held Games – We hope that you will always have work to do and won’t need such a thing, but in case of emergency downtime, any Gameboy, PSP, or Nintendo DS would be the perfect fix.
And:
* Swiss Army knife or Leatherman. You will probably use every attachment often.
* Pictures of family. Every one will want to know where you're from. It's nice if you can show them some pictures.
* Mechanical pencils are hard to find here. You may want to use them in your PST language classes, so it might be a good idea to bring some.
* Hiking boots. I brought a pair of big insulated waterproof hiking boots. They were heavy, tough to pack, and I look kind of goofy tromping around my village in them. But they keep my feet really warm and they handle the snow and mud really well. You may have trouble finding them here and they would be expensive to mail. I would recommend bringing a pair.
* Ziploc bags and duct tape. Neither is available here and they are both really useful for a variety of functions.
* "Yak Trax" may be useful here in the winter (this past winter was mild, so we didn't have much ice). If you are worried about slipping on ice, you may want to bring a pair to help navigate the slippery surfaces. http://www.yaktrax.com/yakfacts5.aspx
* A good purse to carry around all the essentials and good backpack for traveling on the weekends, etc.
* Portable water filter- if you plan on doing a lot of hiking, this would be a good thing to bring along
* Backpack sleeping bag- the PC gives us giant sleeping bags, but a small one is nice when you visit other volunteers or go camping
* Exercise stuff- if you like to exercise, bring a jump rope, hand weights (if you like to box), and elastic bands. You won't have much time in PST for exercise, but this will be enough to get you by until you get to permanent site.
* Sunglasses
* Flashlight, headlamp, or reading light for the cold winter nights when you won’t want to get out of bed.
* Journal/Diary
* Books-Just bring your favorites or a series you plan on getting into, because they will weigh your luggage down and the Peace Corps Office in Tbilisi has a Volunteer library where past Volunteers have left hundreds of books.
* Any Sudoku puzzles or mind games. Also, as a gift idea, Georgians like to do Origami.
* Playing cards and card games like UNO or Phase 10.
* Board games
* DVD’s and Movies—Many volunteers brought some over on their external hard drives so as not to take up space. Don’t feel the need to bring burnable blank DVD/CDs. There are several places in Tbilisi where you may purchase those cheaply.
* Alarm Clock – May be useful, but not needed. Peace Corps will assign cell phones to all of the volunteers to use for the duration of their service. Most of the current volunteers just use the alarm clock on their cell phones.
Then I need:
* Spices. Bring your favorites or exotic ones; a wide variety of spices will be available at your local bazaar, including most basic utility spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, ground pepper, and so on). However, specialty items are not really available in Georgia (such as curry, ginger, vanilla, baking powder). A special addition from a resident Texan volunteer: if you like hot sauce BRING IT, because they really don’t have it here.
* Vegetable peeler & can opener
FINALLY, for my teaching:
* Books about teaching. I had never taught before coming to Georgia so I brought a few books about being a new teacher. While most of them were irrelevant to my experience here (they were about the challenges of teaching in the American school system), I did find some good ideas regarding classroom management and lesson design.
* Posters in English. Most classrooms are pretty bare and it might be nice to have something on the walls. Also, if you ever want your students to make their own posters, it's an excellent activity and you can use the poster you brought as a template.
* Old board games. It's a great activity to ask your students to create their own board games in order to practice their English. For this, it might help if you had an example of a board game, since I had to recreate them. I had luck with twister and shoots and ladders.
* Art supplies. My student's love art and I buy all of my supplies here. The quality is not that great but they are cheap. If you plan on making your own posters and visual aids, you might want to bring a few of the essentials.
* Markers, crayons, colored-pencils. Any of these are of poor quality here. I use mine all the time for making everything from flash cards to award certificates.
* A kite. I have tried several times to make kites with my students. None of them flew, but the kids really seemed to like the idea.
* Frisbees. Frisbee was a huge hit at the summer camp activities conducted during Pre-Service Training. It was one of the few games in which both boys and girls were interested.
* A football. You should have no trouble finding soccer and basketballs in Georgia, but I haven't been able to find a football.
* Origami. My students are experts and love folding paper air planes. You might be able to have fun teaching some basic origami.
* A book of at-home science experiments. This might give you a lot of interesting activities for your summer camp and after school programs.
* A book of magic. You won't impress the 11th graders by making a penny disappear, but your younger students will be amazed.
* A map. My students were very interested in where I was from. I also used it for a few activities, like giving directions and making your own map.
* Good scissors
* Masking tape
* STICKERS. These are the best motivating tools for kids of all ages in Georgia. You will be surprised how eager kids are to participate in activities or do their homework if it means they get a sticker.
IF YOU SKIPPED MOST OF THAT CONTINUE READING HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that this blog has been given out to anyone yet, but I typically talk to myself in that manner... so when you do finally read this you'll know how interesting my brain is. SO much to do, and I only have a fraction of the things listed on the site.
So how am I feeling about it all?? I'm just going with the motions to be honest. I am in Colorado visiting Lora and the kids for the last time. Before that I was in Florida visiting my Grandaddy and Nola; they are reaaaalllllyyyy please I'm doing this. The day before that Joe and I had our final Emotional Adventure at Bar-A in Belmar. I was DD, but that didn't stop Joe and I from making some moves on the dance floor. Although my moves were less moves, and more epileptic seizures while standing.
Nonetheless I have been doing what I normally do before making big transitions. I must admit, I am upset that the next Chuck that will be on will air on April 26. The Chuck last night was awesome!!
We also watched the NCAA Championship... well most of it. Such a good game, but I wish Butler had won... stupid Duke. Well I'm off to pack to go home today.
* 2-3 pairs of nice quality, professional-looking jeans
* 3-4 short-sleeved polos
* 4-5 Long-sleeved, knit, button-down dress shirts
* 1-2 light-weight short-sleeved button-downs
* 10 t-shirts(that can be used as undershirts and a couple sleeveless if you’re athletic)
* 8 pairs of black dress socks
* 4 pairs of athletic crew socks
* 3 pairs of knee-high ski socks (really warm)
* 3 pairs of athletic/basketball shorts (for exercise or sleep shorts)
* 1 pair of multi-purpose shorts (I packed khaki)
* 1-2 flannel shirts
* 1-2 flannel pajama bottoms (or fleece, the key being WARM)
* 1 casual belt and 1-2 dress belts
* 3 thermal tops
* 3 thermal pants
* 1 light pair of gloves
* 1 heavy pair of gloves
* 1 warm hoodie
* 1 warm hat
* 1 pair of thermally insulated slippers
* 1 pair of flip-flops (or shower shoes- key: something that can get wet and dry easily)
* 2 bathing suits
* 12-15 pairs of underwear
* 1 sturdy rain coat
* 2 sweaters (wool is good—you want something that can double as business casual)
* 1 thick scarf
* 1 heavy winter coat (think something you would feel comfortable skiing in)
* 1 pair of tennis shoes
* 1 pair of durable outdoor shoes (boots work—think hiking and snow friendly)
* 1 pair of dress shoes
* 1 pair of your favorite shoes (if you have them)
On top of that:
* Face lotion/aftershave- for some reason, ridiculously expensive
* Deodorant- bring enough for at least 6 months, since finding good deodorant here is a challenge unless you consider AXE good deodorant.
* Razors- again, ridiculously expensive... bring enough for a few months
* Listerine/mouth wash- 250 ml will cost you around 7 dollars here. Think about it...
* Tooth floss- the PC gives us some, but if you’re picky bring your own
* Battery operated beard trimmer- pretty much any volunteer I know that has facial hair has bought one of these in-country or expressed a desire to buy one. Don't bring the 120 V plug in ones—they won't work well with a converter. Buy a battery operated one and you'll save tons of money on razors. Additionally, these are much cheaper to buy in the States than in Georgia and the quality is much better to boot. Also, this will help with the mustache contest. Yes, that's right, mustache contest.
Then some:
Computer – This is will be your best companion outside of your fellow volunteers and Georgian friends. It will be very
useful to have for work (especially BSE volunteers!), research, storing photos, receiving constant updates from the Peace Corps, and anything else you might encounter while you’re here. Also, Georgia has a 3G wireless internet service (Magtifix, you’ll see them everywhere once you get here, go to the Communication page for more info) that is available for those of you who need fast internet to Skype, Facebook, or just want to stay in touch with everyone back home in the States. It’s very easy to use and just plugs into a USB.
Adapters & Converters – Peace Corps will issue everyone one adapter (NOT a converter, see below), but it may be useful to bring some extras for other appliances. Georgia uses the 220-volt electricity and all “Europe” shaped adapters will work. Converters and power-strips may come in handy if you plan on charging several electronics at once. Here is a website that will acquaint you with what all this means. And here is a site where you can purchase additional adapters and converters.
Digital Camera – Though I’m sure most of you will be bringing one anyway, just make sure you pack it before you go! Georgia is full of amazing photo opportunities; nature, monuments, people, weddings, supras (Georgian feasts)…you get the picture. Volunteers have said that both battery-powered and built-in rechargeable batteries work great. There are plenty of places to buy AA and AAA batteries if needed.
Mp3 Player – Even if you’re not someone who enjoys running or working out, having an mp3 Player is crucial…especially for those inevitable long marshutka (minibus) rides. Though any mp3 Player will do the job, Apple’s iPod classic is worth mentioning because it has a 36 hour-long battery life and is easy to pack (click here for info). It might also be worth investing in a wall charger for your mp3 player if you don’t already have one, as they can really come in handy when traveling.
“If You Have Room”:
External Hard-Drive – All of the G9 volunteers who brought an external will tell you it’s one of their best investments. Over time you’ll find yourself accumulating tons of music, videos, pictures, etc. and it will be very nice to have the extra storage. In the unfortunate event that your computer crashes, you’ll also be grateful to have backed up your information. Here is a link to My Passport (a quality external hard –drive that’s both well priced and small enough to pack).
Memory Stick/Flash Drive - During your PST, Peace Corps will give a 2 GB Memory Stick to everyone. But depending on your site and assignment, where you might be delivering a lot of information to a fellow co-worker or need to show a classroom a certain movie clip, etc., it is very useful to have another flash drive with a little more room (8 GB or higher). Some Volunteers have 8 GB Memory Sticks that have proved very useful to them during their service.
Speakers – Though not necessary, speakers are great to have at home, volunteer gatherings, and most importantly, in your assignments. This is a link for great travel speakers, which are slim and give off amazing sound.
Hand-held Games – We hope that you will always have work to do and won’t need such a thing, but in case of emergency downtime, any Gameboy, PSP, or Nintendo DS would be the perfect fix.
And:
* Swiss Army knife or Leatherman. You will probably use every attachment often.
* Pictures of family. Every one will want to know where you're from. It's nice if you can show them some pictures.
* Mechanical pencils are hard to find here. You may want to use them in your PST language classes, so it might be a good idea to bring some.
* Hiking boots. I brought a pair of big insulated waterproof hiking boots. They were heavy, tough to pack, and I look kind of goofy tromping around my village in them. But they keep my feet really warm and they handle the snow and mud really well. You may have trouble finding them here and they would be expensive to mail. I would recommend bringing a pair.
* Ziploc bags and duct tape. Neither is available here and they are both really useful for a variety of functions.
* "Yak Trax" may be useful here in the winter (this past winter was mild, so we didn't have much ice). If you are worried about slipping on ice, you may want to bring a pair to help navigate the slippery surfaces. http://www.yaktrax.com/yakfacts5.aspx
* A good purse to carry around all the essentials and good backpack for traveling on the weekends, etc.
* Portable water filter- if you plan on doing a lot of hiking, this would be a good thing to bring along
* Backpack sleeping bag- the PC gives us giant sleeping bags, but a small one is nice when you visit other volunteers or go camping
* Exercise stuff- if you like to exercise, bring a jump rope, hand weights (if you like to box), and elastic bands. You won't have much time in PST for exercise, but this will be enough to get you by until you get to permanent site.
* Sunglasses
* Flashlight, headlamp, or reading light for the cold winter nights when you won’t want to get out of bed.
* Journal/Diary
* Books-Just bring your favorites or a series you plan on getting into, because they will weigh your luggage down and the Peace Corps Office in Tbilisi has a Volunteer library where past Volunteers have left hundreds of books.
* Any Sudoku puzzles or mind games. Also, as a gift idea, Georgians like to do Origami.
* Playing cards and card games like UNO or Phase 10.
* Board games
* DVD’s and Movies—Many volunteers brought some over on their external hard drives so as not to take up space. Don’t feel the need to bring burnable blank DVD/CDs. There are several places in Tbilisi where you may purchase those cheaply.
* Alarm Clock – May be useful, but not needed. Peace Corps will assign cell phones to all of the volunteers to use for the duration of their service. Most of the current volunteers just use the alarm clock on their cell phones.
Then I need:
* Spices. Bring your favorites or exotic ones; a wide variety of spices will be available at your local bazaar, including most basic utility spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, ground pepper, and so on). However, specialty items are not really available in Georgia (such as curry, ginger, vanilla, baking powder). A special addition from a resident Texan volunteer: if you like hot sauce BRING IT, because they really don’t have it here.
* Vegetable peeler & can opener
FINALLY, for my teaching:
* Books about teaching. I had never taught before coming to Georgia so I brought a few books about being a new teacher. While most of them were irrelevant to my experience here (they were about the challenges of teaching in the American school system), I did find some good ideas regarding classroom management and lesson design.
* Posters in English. Most classrooms are pretty bare and it might be nice to have something on the walls. Also, if you ever want your students to make their own posters, it's an excellent activity and you can use the poster you brought as a template.
* Old board games. It's a great activity to ask your students to create their own board games in order to practice their English. For this, it might help if you had an example of a board game, since I had to recreate them. I had luck with twister and shoots and ladders.
* Art supplies. My student's love art and I buy all of my supplies here. The quality is not that great but they are cheap. If you plan on making your own posters and visual aids, you might want to bring a few of the essentials.
* Markers, crayons, colored-pencils. Any of these are of poor quality here. I use mine all the time for making everything from flash cards to award certificates.
* A kite. I have tried several times to make kites with my students. None of them flew, but the kids really seemed to like the idea.
* Frisbees. Frisbee was a huge hit at the summer camp activities conducted during Pre-Service Training. It was one of the few games in which both boys and girls were interested.
* A football. You should have no trouble finding soccer and basketballs in Georgia, but I haven't been able to find a football.
* Origami. My students are experts and love folding paper air planes. You might be able to have fun teaching some basic origami.
* A book of at-home science experiments. This might give you a lot of interesting activities for your summer camp and after school programs.
* A book of magic. You won't impress the 11th graders by making a penny disappear, but your younger students will be amazed.
* A map. My students were very interested in where I was from. I also used it for a few activities, like giving directions and making your own map.
* Good scissors
* Masking tape
* STICKERS. These are the best motivating tools for kids of all ages in Georgia. You will be surprised how eager kids are to participate in activities or do their homework if it means they get a sticker.
IF YOU SKIPPED MOST OF THAT CONTINUE READING HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that this blog has been given out to anyone yet, but I typically talk to myself in that manner... so when you do finally read this you'll know how interesting my brain is. SO much to do, and I only have a fraction of the things listed on the site.
So how am I feeling about it all?? I'm just going with the motions to be honest. I am in Colorado visiting Lora and the kids for the last time. Before that I was in Florida visiting my Grandaddy and Nola; they are reaaaalllllyyyy please I'm doing this. The day before that Joe and I had our final Emotional Adventure at Bar-A in Belmar. I was DD, but that didn't stop Joe and I from making some moves on the dance floor. Although my moves were less moves, and more epileptic seizures while standing.
Nonetheless I have been doing what I normally do before making big transitions. I must admit, I am upset that the next Chuck that will be on will air on April 26. The Chuck last night was awesome!!
We also watched the NCAA Championship... well most of it. Such a good game, but I wish Butler had won... stupid Duke. Well I'm off to pack to go home today.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Packing and Goodbyes
So I got my invitation on the 19th. I wasn't around because I was in DC visiting some of my old friends with Pham. I spent the first night hanging out with Erin and some of her friends around NOVA. At nights my parents told me my invitation arrived and I had Mum open it. Sure enough, as I thought it was Georgia. The next morning Erin made us some pancakes and we took a little walk around. After she went off somewhere else with friends, Pham and I got brunch and drove around for 2 hours looking for Harley's road. Finally I found it and we essentially waited for Harley to get back. We watched an insane amount of college b-ball. Cheered on and celebrated Northern Iowa as they tackled Kansas.
Then we got down with the get down. Don't ask about the rest of the night... good times in h-town.
Pham and I drove home that afternoon and I got a good look at my invitation packet. I was so full of angst and worry, but alas I accepted my invitation a few days later. As my brother Dean says "You've already crossed your Rubicon whether you realize it or not, so 'burn your bridges' and keep moving forward". Good advice.
This weekend I spent with my dad going backpacking in the Pine Barrens. We did a short 6 miles in, 6 miles out. I'm pretty sure this was the same trip I did as my first backpacking trip, but maybe not. It was fun, but VERY cold. I tried to start a fire with flint and steel, and I got really close, but things were pretty damp. Plus all I had were a few water proof matches. We got a fire going but it was soooo needy. All the other campsites complained about it, too. The night was good, but once again, very cold. From what I hear it'll be good practice for Georgia.
My fear about leaving comes and goes. To be honest, two years is a long time right now, but looking back in 15-20 years the two years I spend in Georgia will stand out whether for better or for worse. While if I was home the two years might only blend into the rest of my life. Plus, I have been waiting for my adventure for quite some time. I'm really not ready to settle down anytime soon, and this is soooo much better than substituting.
A little angst is nothing to be worried about. This is going to be at best an amazingly fun experience, and at worst a good learning opportunity.
Then we got down with the get down. Don't ask about the rest of the night... good times in h-town.
Pham and I drove home that afternoon and I got a good look at my invitation packet. I was so full of angst and worry, but alas I accepted my invitation a few days later. As my brother Dean says "You've already crossed your Rubicon whether you realize it or not, so 'burn your bridges' and keep moving forward". Good advice.
This weekend I spent with my dad going backpacking in the Pine Barrens. We did a short 6 miles in, 6 miles out. I'm pretty sure this was the same trip I did as my first backpacking trip, but maybe not. It was fun, but VERY cold. I tried to start a fire with flint and steel, and I got really close, but things were pretty damp. Plus all I had were a few water proof matches. We got a fire going but it was soooo needy. All the other campsites complained about it, too. The night was good, but once again, very cold. From what I hear it'll be good practice for Georgia.
My fear about leaving comes and goes. To be honest, two years is a long time right now, but looking back in 15-20 years the two years I spend in Georgia will stand out whether for better or for worse. While if I was home the two years might only blend into the rest of my life. Plus, I have been waiting for my adventure for quite some time. I'm really not ready to settle down anytime soon, and this is soooo much better than substituting.
A little angst is nothing to be worried about. This is going to be at best an amazingly fun experience, and at worst a good learning opportunity.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
INVITATION
So I got my medical clearance last week, and now I am getting an invitation. I was on a field trip with the Nursery School (a Sesame Street themed, Planetarium show) when I felt a vibrate in my pocket. At first I figured it was a text message, but it kept going past the usual three soft tones. I took a quick look at my phone and I recognized the 202 area code that I had become so accustomed to as a former DC resident. I knew it was the Peace Corps. I stepped out of line, looked at the head teacher and said "It's the Peace Corps, I'm gonna take this outside". So I pick it up (it was a nice day) and it's my Placement Officer. She mentioned the snafu that happened in with my nystagmus and that it was now okay and she wanted to ask me some questions about my file.
Her first question was about my interview. In my interview I mentioned my siblings experiences serving on LDS missions and how much a positive growth experience it was for them, and that I want to serve in the Peace Corps for similar reasons. So she wanted to clarify that I understood the Peace Corps' policy on proselytizing, despite me not being a member. I let her know that I understood and I wanted to do the Peace Corps so that I could focus on service.
The next thing she said was that I was highly qualified candidate as a secondary education teacher and she'd love to get me going towards the Peace Corps. She said that due to people delaying their applications they were wondering if I could leave a month earlier. As in April 26. Yes, that is only 6 weeks away... I told her I'd think about it and let her know by the end of the work day.
I called Cat on the way back from the field trip and asked her look up what country was leaving April 26 and meet us for lunch with the answer. Well Mum and I got to Fridays and waited for only a few seconds before I had to know, so I called Erin at work. Cat arrived at the same time as I called and she goes tauntingly exclaims "I know where Tom's going, I know where Tom's going". At about the same time I hear from Erin and Cat... Georgia.
I spend the whole lunch trying to decide... Armenia in late May, or Georgia in late April. When I got home I did some research, called Dave Lonardo, called Dad, read Wikipedia, CIA Factbook, and finally decided to go with Georgia. My main problem was feeling guilty about not being able to spend enough time with friends and family before leaving. But in the end I realized that Georgia will be a great experience, and when I COS I'll be out in time to travel and get a job at a school.
So in a day or two I should be getting an invitation package. Ready or not, here I coommeeee.
Her first question was about my interview. In my interview I mentioned my siblings experiences serving on LDS missions and how much a positive growth experience it was for them, and that I want to serve in the Peace Corps for similar reasons. So she wanted to clarify that I understood the Peace Corps' policy on proselytizing, despite me not being a member. I let her know that I understood and I wanted to do the Peace Corps so that I could focus on service.
The next thing she said was that I was highly qualified candidate as a secondary education teacher and she'd love to get me going towards the Peace Corps. She said that due to people delaying their applications they were wondering if I could leave a month earlier. As in April 26. Yes, that is only 6 weeks away... I told her I'd think about it and let her know by the end of the work day.
I called Cat on the way back from the field trip and asked her look up what country was leaving April 26 and meet us for lunch with the answer. Well Mum and I got to Fridays and waited for only a few seconds before I had to know, so I called Erin at work. Cat arrived at the same time as I called and she goes tauntingly exclaims "I know where Tom's going, I know where Tom's going". At about the same time I hear from Erin and Cat... Georgia.
I spend the whole lunch trying to decide... Armenia in late May, or Georgia in late April. When I got home I did some research, called Dave Lonardo, called Dad, read Wikipedia, CIA Factbook, and finally decided to go with Georgia. My main problem was feeling guilty about not being able to spend enough time with friends and family before leaving. But in the end I realized that Georgia will be a great experience, and when I COS I'll be out in time to travel and get a job at a school.
So in a day or two I should be getting an invitation package. Ready or not, here I coommeeee.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Medical Clearance... NOT.... Well okay, but first...
So I woke up on March 9th to an e-mail from the Peace Corps (for some reason every update e-mail is sent at 5AM exactly). I thought, "it's waaayyy too soon, they are letting me know that I'm missing something," and online all the toolkit said was "Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail."
So like anybody I went to work, I went to the gym, ate lunch, except I had this looming over my head like a hawk going after a little field mouse. I eventually come home to see an e-mail from the Education Desk:
Greetings from the Assessment & Placement Office at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC!
The Office of Medical Services has informed us that you have received your medical clearance. Over the next few weeks, your file will be reviewed by the Assessment & Placement Staff for further evaluation. This includes evaluation of technical skills, suitability and legal information. Upon completion of the assessment, you may be considered for an invitation. Please keep in mind that this stage in the process can be competitive as there are typically two applicants nominated for each spot available. Given this, an invitation is never guaranteed and applicants should make no plans to go overseas unless an invitation has been issued and you have spoken to headquarters staff to accept your invitation."
So I was pretty much a school boy at a video game store. So I was pretty excited, and that night I e-mailed an updated resume and details about the two jobs I work at now. So the next day I had the day off from school so I slept until 9. I woke up, got breakfast and such, but then I got a phone call. It was a 202 area code that I miss so much, and I knew it was the Peace Corps. The woman on the phone was really nice from OMS. She told me that Placement looked at my file and had some questions about my nystagmus, despite the fact I was already cleared. So she wanted me to write a personal statement to the effect of, "I'm not blind, and nystagmus won't affect my work." LAME. So I did that in the morning then faxed it to the Peace Corps that afternoon. She told me I had a Hold on my account because of it, but I haven't seen anything about it on my Toolkit.
I'm still hoping that I'll find out the deal within a couple weeks.
The next time I write I'll either have an invitation or I will be pretty sad....
So like anybody I went to work, I went to the gym, ate lunch, except I had this looming over my head like a hawk going after a little field mouse. I eventually come home to see an e-mail from the Education Desk:
Greetings from the Assessment & Placement Office at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC!
The Office of Medical Services has informed us that you have received your medical clearance. Over the next few weeks, your file will be reviewed by the Assessment & Placement Staff for further evaluation. This includes evaluation of technical skills, suitability and legal information. Upon completion of the assessment, you may be considered for an invitation. Please keep in mind that this stage in the process can be competitive as there are typically two applicants nominated for each spot available. Given this, an invitation is never guaranteed and applicants should make no plans to go overseas unless an invitation has been issued and you have spoken to headquarters staff to accept your invitation."
So I was pretty much a school boy at a video game store. So I was pretty excited, and that night I e-mailed an updated resume and details about the two jobs I work at now. So the next day I had the day off from school so I slept until 9. I woke up, got breakfast and such, but then I got a phone call. It was a 202 area code that I miss so much, and I knew it was the Peace Corps. The woman on the phone was really nice from OMS. She told me that Placement looked at my file and had some questions about my nystagmus, despite the fact I was already cleared. So she wanted me to write a personal statement to the effect of, "I'm not blind, and nystagmus won't affect my work." LAME. So I did that in the morning then faxed it to the Peace Corps that afternoon. She told me I had a Hold on my account because of it, but I haven't seen anything about it on my Toolkit.
I'm still hoping that I'll find out the deal within a couple weeks.
The next time I write I'll either have an invitation or I will be pretty sad....
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Timeline
January 2006 - My parents got on my case about what my long-term goals/plans are. It causes me to look towards the things I enjoy: ruffing it, service to others (yes, that is the boy scout in me), and travel. As a student at American University, the Peace Corps has a pretty intense presence on campus and in people's minds. I check out the website and decide that after college I am going to join.
May/Summer 2008 - I graduate, but instead of applying for the Peace Corps I enroll in graduate school to earn my MAT in Secondary Education. I decided I'd do it after graduating from TCNJ
Winter 2008/2009 - I begin to really long for something different and out of the ordinary from Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is great and all (Hoagie Haven is heaven), but I want to get out of my comfort zone. I begin the application online, but don't finish because of school and student teaching.
December 14, 2009 - I quickly fill out my forms and send them off. Along with my medical questionnaire. Yes, a year later, I was mainly trying to find a job after graduation.
December 28, 2009 - All of my recommendations are in (Thank you to Vasav, Charles McCready, and Mr. Hunt).
December 30, 2009 - My recruiter in New York calls me while I'm in Colorado for Christmas, we schedule an interview on the January 13.
January 13, 2010 - Interview and Nomination for Eastern Europe/Central Asia region teaching Secondary Education English.
January 14, 2010 - Set up my doctors appointments.
January 20, 2010 - Medical forms mailed to me.
January 28, 2010 - Arranged to have my blood drawn early so I wouldn't be wasting time.
February 4, 2010 - Eye doctor and dentist visit. I got new glasses, sweeeeeet.
February 5, 2010 - Physical, almost everything is done, but I need ALL the shots, and nobody can find my immunization history. It's with my old pediatrician. Doctor decides to order titers... Plus give me a tetanus and influenza vaccine. I have the PPD test. I get my titers done then. BIG snowstorm hits that shuts down Peace Corps.
February 8, 2010 - Mental health forms completed, I'm not crazy. In fact, according to my psychologist, I am very mentally healthy... very good to know.
February 5-14, 2010 - I constantly go back and forth to my doctors trying to get my information and get the doctor to fill everything out. I got my vaccination info, and brought it to them. PPD came out negative. Blood tests show I'm about as healthy as can be.
February 15, 2010 - Got my Polio booster and all forms. I triple check everything and send it off.
February 23, 2010 - OMS says they have received my information, and I am dentally cleared.
March 8, 2010 - Medical clearance.
March 9, 2010 - Education Desk e-mails me for updated information.
March 10, 2010 - Call from OMS, Placement wants some information about a medical issue. I am told that a hold is put on my account until I send in a personal statement. I write it quickly and fax it in.
March 16, 2010 - Call from PO, discuss a change of departure and given notice that an invitation is being FedExd to me.
May/Summer 2008 - I graduate, but instead of applying for the Peace Corps I enroll in graduate school to earn my MAT in Secondary Education. I decided I'd do it after graduating from TCNJ
Winter 2008/2009 - I begin to really long for something different and out of the ordinary from Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is great and all (Hoagie Haven is heaven), but I want to get out of my comfort zone. I begin the application online, but don't finish because of school and student teaching.
December 14, 2009 - I quickly fill out my forms and send them off. Along with my medical questionnaire. Yes, a year later, I was mainly trying to find a job after graduation.
December 28, 2009 - All of my recommendations are in (Thank you to Vasav, Charles McCready, and Mr. Hunt).
December 30, 2009 - My recruiter in New York calls me while I'm in Colorado for Christmas, we schedule an interview on the January 13.
January 13, 2010 - Interview and Nomination for Eastern Europe/Central Asia region teaching Secondary Education English.
January 14, 2010 - Set up my doctors appointments.
January 20, 2010 - Medical forms mailed to me.
January 28, 2010 - Arranged to have my blood drawn early so I wouldn't be wasting time.
February 4, 2010 - Eye doctor and dentist visit. I got new glasses, sweeeeeet.
February 5, 2010 - Physical, almost everything is done, but I need ALL the shots, and nobody can find my immunization history. It's with my old pediatrician. Doctor decides to order titers... Plus give me a tetanus and influenza vaccine. I have the PPD test. I get my titers done then. BIG snowstorm hits that shuts down Peace Corps.
February 8, 2010 - Mental health forms completed, I'm not crazy. In fact, according to my psychologist, I am very mentally healthy... very good to know.
February 5-14, 2010 - I constantly go back and forth to my doctors trying to get my information and get the doctor to fill everything out. I got my vaccination info, and brought it to them. PPD came out negative. Blood tests show I'm about as healthy as can be.
February 15, 2010 - Got my Polio booster and all forms. I triple check everything and send it off.
February 23, 2010 - OMS says they have received my information, and I am dentally cleared.
March 8, 2010 - Medical clearance.
March 9, 2010 - Education Desk e-mails me for updated information.
March 10, 2010 - Call from OMS, Placement wants some information about a medical issue. I am told that a hold is put on my account until I send in a personal statement. I write it quickly and fax it in.
March 16, 2010 - Call from PO, discuss a change of departure and given notice that an invitation is being FedExd to me.
Dental Clearance... Done
So I mailed my medical forms on the 15th, but the Peace Corps didn't notify me that they received them until the 23rd, but I was simultaneously given dental clearance. Not unexpected, my teeth are pretty awesome. So it also says:
"Peace Corps received the results of your physical exam on February 23, 2010. If the program you are nominated for is not scheduled to leave in the next 4 months you may not hear from Medical until the time of departure is closer. Currently those programs scheduled to leave in the next 4 months are being reviewed. For applicants leaving within 4 months Peace Corps may request additional medical information. Please respond quickly to these requests."
Since my program is scheduled to leave in late May, I should be getting priority, but we shall see. I am going to make a time-line for anyone who is interested in joining the Peace Corps. Right now I seem to be a little ahead of schedule, but that could easily change. Still, I find myself checking the Toolkit every other hour, sometimes to see if anything has been updated (which it never is, and they'd e-mail me if it did), but usually just to stare with amazement at all the check marks next to each thing I need to do.
Also, I find it interesting I am writing this. I haven't told any of my friends of family that I started this blog, so I really doubt anybody is reading it. Cathartic maybe? Oh well. I am going to try and figure out how I'm going to make this time-line.
"Peace Corps received the results of your physical exam on February 23, 2010. If the program you are nominated for is not scheduled to leave in the next 4 months you may not hear from Medical until the time of departure is closer. Currently those programs scheduled to leave in the next 4 months are being reviewed. For applicants leaving within 4 months Peace Corps may request additional medical information. Please respond quickly to these requests."
Since my program is scheduled to leave in late May, I should be getting priority, but we shall see. I am going to make a time-line for anyone who is interested in joining the Peace Corps. Right now I seem to be a little ahead of schedule, but that could easily change. Still, I find myself checking the Toolkit every other hour, sometimes to see if anything has been updated (which it never is, and they'd e-mail me if it did), but usually just to stare with amazement at all the check marks next to each thing I need to do.
Also, I find it interesting I am writing this. I haven't told any of my friends of family that I started this blog, so I really doubt anybody is reading it. Cathartic maybe? Oh well. I am going to try and figure out how I'm going to make this time-line.
Monday, February 15, 2010
It's Been A While
So quite a bit has happened since my last posting. I had my interview, which went pretty amazingly. I'm serious. The interview is supposed to only be 1-1.5 hours. I was there for over 2 hours and had a great conversation with two female volunteers. One of the girls served in Turkmenistan while the other one served in Romania. They were really nice, but they asked me a lot of questions that was meant to measure how dedicated, flexible, and capable I was. At the end of the interview the lead interviewer told me that she was planning on nominating me later that day for the Eastern Europe/Central Asia Region around the Caucasus mountains. If given an invitation I will be leaving in late May of this year. This would be VERY soon. All I had to say was "Sweet". They explained to me that be nominated does not mean a guarantee of me going, and I still had a long medical review process.
I immediately made me appointments for the doctor, eye doctor, and dentist. I got my medical forms about 2 weeks after my nomination. So about a week and a half ago I had all my appointments, but I still needed some shots and I had to find records of my immunizations. I also had to get some titers done. Then the snowstorm hit, and put me back a day or two. I just sent in my forms, about 25 days after receiving them. Now I'm freaking out about getting clearance.
Oh, I found out through all this that I have an extra wisdom tooth.
I immediately made me appointments for the doctor, eye doctor, and dentist. I got my medical forms about 2 weeks after my nomination. So about a week and a half ago I had all my appointments, but I still needed some shots and I had to find records of my immunizations. I also had to get some titers done. Then the snowstorm hit, and put me back a day or two. I just sent in my forms, about 25 days after receiving them. Now I'm freaking out about getting clearance.
Oh, I found out through all this that I have an extra wisdom tooth.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Beginning of a Journey
Well here we go...
I have never actually written a blog before. In fact, I used to look down on it. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for keeping track of your life, but I have a real journal to do that. I figured that I because I am planning one of the most important and defining moments of my life, I should let everyone else vicariously experience it, too. I am also creating this blog for other people who are considering taking the plunge into the Peace Corps, because it is quite a plunge (and I'm not even there yet). So if you want to understand the first-hand, real-time aspects of the process please continue reading.
So why the Peace Corps? Well I have seriously considered trying something like the Peace Corps since I was a Sophomore at American University. I really wanted to feel like I was making a difference in someone's life. Well after graduating I immediately went off to The College of New Jersey to get a Masters of Arts in Teaching and a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing in Secondary Education-Social Studies. I originally thought I was going to be a social studies teacher, and I still do, but the job market doesn't make that very easy. I also figured that I wanted an adventure, I wanted to do more with my life, and I wanted to provide a service.
I first started my application process in early 2009. I was still debating whether this was something I REALLY wanted to do. I feared missing friends, family, and the American life. Before I got into Graduate School I looked heavily into the Peace Corps, and I was worried about all the things I would miss. I knew more than anything else that I wanted to do this, and there's nothing holding me back anymore. I'm mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared... it only took a year and half to get there.
Still, I finally pushed the "Submit" button in Late December 2009 and I have my interview on Wednesday.
I'll let you all know how it goes...
I have never actually written a blog before. In fact, I used to look down on it. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for keeping track of your life, but I have a real journal to do that. I figured that I because I am planning one of the most important and defining moments of my life, I should let everyone else vicariously experience it, too. I am also creating this blog for other people who are considering taking the plunge into the Peace Corps, because it is quite a plunge (and I'm not even there yet). So if you want to understand the first-hand, real-time aspects of the process please continue reading.
So why the Peace Corps? Well I have seriously considered trying something like the Peace Corps since I was a Sophomore at American University. I really wanted to feel like I was making a difference in someone's life. Well after graduating I immediately went off to The College of New Jersey to get a Masters of Arts in Teaching and a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing in Secondary Education-Social Studies. I originally thought I was going to be a social studies teacher, and I still do, but the job market doesn't make that very easy. I also figured that I wanted an adventure, I wanted to do more with my life, and I wanted to provide a service.
I first started my application process in early 2009. I was still debating whether this was something I REALLY wanted to do. I feared missing friends, family, and the American life. Before I got into Graduate School I looked heavily into the Peace Corps, and I was worried about all the things I would miss. I knew more than anything else that I wanted to do this, and there's nothing holding me back anymore. I'm mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared... it only took a year and half to get there.
Still, I finally pushed the "Submit" button in Late December 2009 and I have my interview on Wednesday.
I'll let you all know how it goes...
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