I am grateful to many people in my life, and am firmly aware that I would not be the person I am today without so much help, love, and support from my family and friends.
In particular, I want to thank my Uncle John for something: the desire to earn the things I need, the passion to enjoy the things I want, and the ability to tell the difference between the two. My life has indeed been privileged in comparison to the majority of my fellow man - I have never known true hunger or thirst, never been want for shelter or safety, and have always had an abundance of love. I don't presume to stand on any high horse and dictate what ideals people should and should not hold dear, but I would argue that knowing the difference between want and need, and honoring both respectively, is of utmost importance to true happiness.
This is not just preachy blog filler - I have a point, roundabout though it may be.
When I think of the things, people, places, and experiences I will miss most throughout 27 months in the PC, I realize that even having these things to miss, is a fortune. I do not worry that any of my basic needs will not be met in the PC despite that this may not be the case for those I am trying to help. I know that so many of the wants and frivolities of my life will in al likelihood return quickly once my service is complete.
Given all this, I want to make a list of the top ten things I (think) will miss during my service. It would be far too easy to simply list these things in this post, and if I count down this top ten then it will be really suspenseful to see what my number one is, so I am artfully extending this idea throughout ten posts for your benefit.
Ill give you a taste though...
Number ten on the list of things I will miss most is my DVD collection. I am a serious movie guy - I can watch virtually any genre and enjoy it on some level. Of course, I happen to think my personal collection to be of primo caliber, which is why I will miss it. I mean where else can you find a copy of Caddyshack, Beverly Hills Ninja, Jaws, virtually every sci-fi film worth mentioning, AND You've Got Mail in one place? You'd probably need to go to a Blockbuster (do they still exist?) to find this kind of awesome variety.
For me, movies call up much deeper emotions and memories in much the same way certain smells can conjure up thoughts and feelings out of the blue. Movies for me are a way to bond with friends and family, provide a window through which to examine how things are and how they could be, and provide a means to put your brain in neutral and shirk the bonds of real life for a brief moment.
While I have many others methods of relieving stress that will hopefully be able to practice in the PC, reading, writing, running, and studying do not sound nearly as rejuvenating and ideal as popping in a favorite flick and feasting on cinematic glory.
While my personal movie collection is number ten on the list of things I will miss most while in the PC, an honorable mention should certainly go to catching a new movie at the theater. Kate and I are really great spouses to each other in this department. We are really fair with our movie selections, and even if she or I disagree on the movie selection (which really does not happen too often), we each enjoy each-others' selections with full vigor.
Going to catch the latest film is one of my favorite things to do. Beyond that, movies are so culturally defining. We embrace and reflect movies as we embrace and reflect food or music. Missing out on two years of movie-going is like missing out on a chance to observe and take part in the history of one's own culture. This thought is almost scary to me.
A great solace however, is that while part of my own American culture may escape me while I am away, I will gain an understanding, and hopefully passion for, an entirely new one to me. Will a dubbed Sino-Cambodian flick serve to calm my nerves as much as the experience of the Big Lebowski? Will I get the same rush from non-stop kung-fu movies as I do from Empire Strikes Back (the whole Darth Vader as Luke's father scene still makes my knuckles white every time...)?
Any PCVs or RPCVs out there miss movies while they are/were gone? How did you cope?!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Cooking in Cambodia (I hope...)
If I have not made it known yet, one thing about me that you should know is that I really enjoy cooking. Fortunately for me, I was instructed by some pretty competent chefs in my youth which contributed to my love of cooking and skill level in the kitchen.
By no means would I say I am a great cook, but I think I am a good one. My cooking philosophy resolutely rests on the premise that you do not need a recipe and failure breeds success. I wouldn't say that I never use recipes, but I seldom rely on them beyond an initial glance at ingredients and cooking times. This helps me to really learn about making the dish I am making, kind of like learning a foreign vocabulary word. Rote memorization only goes so far, it is the practice of recalling the word in random but appropriate contexts that helps solidify the brain's reliance on a new word-idea-pronunciation.
I have a similar attitude towards travel - the best finds (restaurants, beaches, people, foods) for me are often the ones I find while lost (or pretending I know where I am going). For the most part, I have a pretty high tolerance for uncertainty, so this outlook suits me.
With cooking, I love the idea that cooking is art, and art is unrestrained. Some of the best things I have made have been by gut instinct decisions counter to the recipe's directions or a serendipitous mistake made without the ability to rectify. More often than not, my dishes or concoctions, seem to just work out. I am not trying to give myself a pat of the back here or say that I am constantly reinventing a better wheel than has even existed before, I am just saying what works well for me.
A note of trepidation I have about serving in Cambodia is the prevalence of host family living situations, over the option of finding and renting your own accommodations. There are certain advantages to each. With a host family you are NEVER alone, which can be simultaneously great and terrible (especially for a young married couple); your language tends to improve dramatically as you have constant language partners who can correct your pronunciation, grammar, etc; there is a certain degree of safety associated with most host families as well as a bond that tends to be very strong.
My main concern here is not a deal breaker, only one of personal preference that I believe is an essential part of learning, and really enjoying, and new culture: if we live exclusively with a host family for the duration of our service, I may not have many chances to cook as a local. It is exciting to me to think that I could learn a totally different style of cooking with ingredients that I may never have at my disposal again.
Curious to know if any PCVs who have only lived with host families in the PC have found the experience frustrating because they weren't able to cook. Has anyone cooked for their home families? How did that go?
By no means would I say I am a great cook, but I think I am a good one. My cooking philosophy resolutely rests on the premise that you do not need a recipe and failure breeds success. I wouldn't say that I never use recipes, but I seldom rely on them beyond an initial glance at ingredients and cooking times. This helps me to really learn about making the dish I am making, kind of like learning a foreign vocabulary word. Rote memorization only goes so far, it is the practice of recalling the word in random but appropriate contexts that helps solidify the brain's reliance on a new word-idea-pronunciation.
I have a similar attitude towards travel - the best finds (restaurants, beaches, people, foods) for me are often the ones I find while lost (or pretending I know where I am going). For the most part, I have a pretty high tolerance for uncertainty, so this outlook suits me.
With cooking, I love the idea that cooking is art, and art is unrestrained. Some of the best things I have made have been by gut instinct decisions counter to the recipe's directions or a serendipitous mistake made without the ability to rectify. More often than not, my dishes or concoctions, seem to just work out. I am not trying to give myself a pat of the back here or say that I am constantly reinventing a better wheel than has even existed before, I am just saying what works well for me.
A note of trepidation I have about serving in Cambodia is the prevalence of host family living situations, over the option of finding and renting your own accommodations. There are certain advantages to each. With a host family you are NEVER alone, which can be simultaneously great and terrible (especially for a young married couple); your language tends to improve dramatically as you have constant language partners who can correct your pronunciation, grammar, etc; there is a certain degree of safety associated with most host families as well as a bond that tends to be very strong.
My main concern here is not a deal breaker, only one of personal preference that I believe is an essential part of learning, and really enjoying, and new culture: if we live exclusively with a host family for the duration of our service, I may not have many chances to cook as a local. It is exciting to me to think that I could learn a totally different style of cooking with ingredients that I may never have at my disposal again.
Curious to know if any PCVs who have only lived with host families in the PC have found the experience frustrating because they weren't able to cook. Has anyone cooked for their home families? How did that go?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Where are we going? Does it matter? It shouldn't.
Kate and my application to the Peace Corps timeline has been fairly unique from what I have read in other PC blogs. We are serving as a married couple so we knew it was bound to have some differences than most others (only about 10% of PCVs are married). I have already mentioned in previous posts that Kate has a blog that details, much better than I could, our precise timeline and the victories and challenges we have had along the way. But, its worth talking about some of these points here for the sake of my post topic.
Right now you could probably, technically define us as either invitees or nominees. Our respective online portals have been updated to show that Kate and I have indeed been invited, yet our actual invitation has been delayed at the PC office for about a week with no end in sight. C'est la vie. I flip-flop between feelings of relief that we are invited and the inner foot-stomping child in me that just wants it now.
Earlier in February we were actually given a choice of deployment dates when we were officially cleared to serve by our Placement Officer - to make a long and boring story short, we decided upon July 19th, 2011 and the region was Asia. Now, if you are an applicant, I would buy you a beer and shake your hand if you could look me in the eye and tell me that once the application process started really rolling, you didn't do some serious Internet-sleuthing to try and figure out what country your nomination date and region might equate to. I will admit that I did (do). Therefore, if you take the date we are supposed (don't jinx us) to be deployed, and factor in that Asia is our region, then you come up with Cambodia (which has been July 19th for a few years now).
Its not a secret to my friends and family that I preferred an Asia post - I focused on Asian studies in college, speak (very basic) Chinese and lived in Beijing during a semester abroad.
A confession: Until recently, I thought it really mattered where we were going to be deployed in the PC, and I'll admit that I was hoping for some countries over others. I don't feel that way anymore, and I haven't for some time. To be cliche (and quote Aerosmith), "Life's a journey, not a destination." I think that has always really been my mentality about the whole experience. I trust in the wisdom of the bureaucratically laced Peace Corps to send Kate and I to an area of the world in which we can be the most helpful. My temporary preference for some countries over others was really just a symptom of the world traveler in me making its preferences known. I started envisioning myself more in some parts of the world over others. This is a dangerous game to play.
Those that join the PC will likely be the kind of people who love to travel. To a large extent, this will serve volunteers well. Seasoned travelers have tricks and routines to help keep travel efficient and exciting. But the PC is not a trip, its not merely a way to indulge your inner restless soul, and its certainly not a vacation. The PC is a job that needs gettin' done, and a whole bunch of people have decided that you are the person to do it. That is really awesome. I don't take it lightly.
It turns out that I am a believer. All those corny slogans and goose-bump inducing stories of success and service resonate with me. What's more, they enthuse me. For the most part, I am a pretty mellow person and it takes a bit to get through my fog of cynicism. As a PCV I get an opportunity to help others that so many other Americans will never know. A privilege of the privileged. I complain a lot, if not aloud then internally, about the world as it is and how it could be a much better place. The chance to put my money where my mouth is, is incredibly appealing to me. In a really great way, I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. I didn't think it was possible to feel this way after four years of undergrad and two solemn year of Master's work studying international relations broke my spirit. Am I giddy?
All this being said, I think there is a balance to be found between serving in an area of the world that you may have some knowledge of or experience in and realizing that the reason that you are there at all is not to just collect another stamp in your passport, but to actually make a difference.
What's your take? Are you a believer or is the PC just an avenue to finally having your dream come true of sleeping under mosquito netting? Is there room for both?
Right now you could probably, technically define us as either invitees or nominees. Our respective online portals have been updated to show that Kate and I have indeed been invited, yet our actual invitation has been delayed at the PC office for about a week with no end in sight. C'est la vie. I flip-flop between feelings of relief that we are invited and the inner foot-stomping child in me that just wants it now.
Earlier in February we were actually given a choice of deployment dates when we were officially cleared to serve by our Placement Officer - to make a long and boring story short, we decided upon July 19th, 2011 and the region was Asia. Now, if you are an applicant, I would buy you a beer and shake your hand if you could look me in the eye and tell me that once the application process started really rolling, you didn't do some serious Internet-sleuthing to try and figure out what country your nomination date and region might equate to. I will admit that I did (do). Therefore, if you take the date we are supposed (don't jinx us) to be deployed, and factor in that Asia is our region, then you come up with Cambodia (which has been July 19th for a few years now).
Its not a secret to my friends and family that I preferred an Asia post - I focused on Asian studies in college, speak (very basic) Chinese and lived in Beijing during a semester abroad.
A confession: Until recently, I thought it really mattered where we were going to be deployed in the PC, and I'll admit that I was hoping for some countries over others. I don't feel that way anymore, and I haven't for some time. To be cliche (and quote Aerosmith), "Life's a journey, not a destination." I think that has always really been my mentality about the whole experience. I trust in the wisdom of the bureaucratically laced Peace Corps to send Kate and I to an area of the world in which we can be the most helpful. My temporary preference for some countries over others was really just a symptom of the world traveler in me making its preferences known. I started envisioning myself more in some parts of the world over others. This is a dangerous game to play.
Those that join the PC will likely be the kind of people who love to travel. To a large extent, this will serve volunteers well. Seasoned travelers have tricks and routines to help keep travel efficient and exciting. But the PC is not a trip, its not merely a way to indulge your inner restless soul, and its certainly not a vacation. The PC is a job that needs gettin' done, and a whole bunch of people have decided that you are the person to do it. That is really awesome. I don't take it lightly.
It turns out that I am a believer. All those corny slogans and goose-bump inducing stories of success and service resonate with me. What's more, they enthuse me. For the most part, I am a pretty mellow person and it takes a bit to get through my fog of cynicism. As a PCV I get an opportunity to help others that so many other Americans will never know. A privilege of the privileged. I complain a lot, if not aloud then internally, about the world as it is and how it could be a much better place. The chance to put my money where my mouth is, is incredibly appealing to me. In a really great way, I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. I didn't think it was possible to feel this way after four years of undergrad and two solemn year of Master's work studying international relations broke my spirit. Am I giddy?
All this being said, I think there is a balance to be found between serving in an area of the world that you may have some knowledge of or experience in and realizing that the reason that you are there at all is not to just collect another stamp in your passport, but to actually make a difference.
What's your take? Are you a believer or is the PC just an avenue to finally having your dream come true of sleeping under mosquito netting? Is there room for both?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Gadgetgasm
My name is Chris (hi, Chris), and I am addicted to gadgets.
That feels really good, its been on my chest for a long time. I am not sure when my gadget addiction really came into existence, I suspect it is a side effect of my fondness (read: obsession) for James Bond, science fiction, and especially, for Batman.
My addiction to these often expensive and useful little tools has really begun to affect my marriage - whipping out my Leatherman each night before bed and telling it how pretty it is has started to concern my wife and I am getting tired of hiding Amazon and hiking store receipts in my sock drawer.
The upside? I am very nearly always prepared to simultaneously deal with a hangnail, plane crash, and nuclear apocalypse. My brain is wired to think pragmatically and with a specific eye for tightening and loosening the nuts and bolts of life (except for the times I fantasize myself as Batman). My love for gadgets springs from a desire to always be prepared and accomplish tasks as efficiently as possible.
In the Peace Corps, I will be relying on an intense knowledge of gadgets that until now, has only been a reason for my dearest family and friends to mock me incessantly. Who's laughing now?
I intend to make the obligatory Peace Corps Packing list post eventually, but for the time being, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite gadgets, and a few that I may try to clandestinely buy when Kate is distracted buying something practical like underwear or pants.
1. Gerber Crucial Tool - The thing I like best about good multi-tools, is when they function as they should. This compact little dynamo of efficiency has only a few basic tools (screwdrivers, knife, pliers, etc.) but they function so well, and are so thoughtfully integrated into the tool, that it has become my daily companion. There are few tasks I run into during my daily routine that this little guy won't help me complete. Extra credit to Gerber for incorporating its knife experience into this multi-tool (unlike SO many other multi-tools - when clipped to your pocket or hung from your belt, its very easy to get this tool out and operate the knife with one hand - quick and efficient.
2. Pelican VB3 Clip Light - Super light, compact, water resistant, and surprisingly bright for an LED. There is nothing more I could ask for from a gadget who's role is to provide light in unexpected situations. The deal clincher for me is the handy and strong clip on the back of the light that I use to secure it onto my watch band, hat lid, or other fixed surface and provides for hands free use.
3. Casio SGW100B Digital Watch - Not sure if an ordinary watch truly qualifies as a Bond-caliber gadget, but this one does. Besides keeping great time, it has an accurate magnetic compass, thermometer, every kind of alarm or dual time zone feature you might think of, and a reasonable price tag. I like the quality of the heavy duty nylon band and the scratch/water resistant body for the price tag as well.
4. Simplehuman Bag Capsule - This lightweight and compact little number is a marvel in my mind. Inside the tube is a roll of plastic (think garbage bags). Simply pull out the plastic to the desired length and use the built-in cutting tool to separate the bag. Unfurl, and knot at one end. Instantly, you have a plastic bag that is just the right size - you can even seal the bag with another knot at the opposing end for undesirable materials like diapers, gifts from your pets, etc. Given the amount of waste I will likely face while in the PC and the unknown frequency of waste disposal opportunities, this gem is already in my "take" pile for the PC. The only drawback in my mind is that the gadget creates plastic bags, a non-renewable and environmentally harmful material.
5. Saddleback Briefcase - I cannot say enough about these bags and I had to include the medium that allows me to stylishly carry around all of my toys. For so long I yearned for one of these quality leather bags with nearly indestructible components, beautiful full grain boot leather (check their website saddlebackleather.com for a crash course in the finer points of leather goods and manufacturing), and 100-year, yes 100-year, warranty. First off, how is a 100-year warranty even possible these days? To me, it speaks volumes about the owner's faith in his own products and the simple and elegant kind of design that I thought did not exist anymore. Simply put, they are beautiful, smell incredible, and will outlive you. While these reasons alone may not get you further than a glance at the price tag, which is admittedly staggering, I dare you to put it on and not feel like Indiana Jones. Double dare you, in fact.
The products above, I will solemnly vouch for as a gadget addict. I think they will not only help me to serve those around me throughout my tenure as a Peace Corps Volunteer, but also make my life a littler easier while there. If nothing else, they are all pretty cool conversation starters.
Of course, I use any excuse to grab a new gadget, and that includes taking up new hobbies solely because the hobby itself requires an extensive use of gadgets. Beer brewing, hiking, and running are just some of my recent gadget-induced undertakings. But the Peace Corps...well that really breaks the mould. I mean, the potential use of gadgets while serving is practically limitless, and the ability to justify buying them is mind blowing.
Take this amazing little product I recently discovered while perusing an issue of Men's Journal:
Sugru - While the picture I pulled may not do it justice, if this little wonder putty does what it claims, then it has my undivided attention, and a small earmark on my next paycheck. From what I understand, Surgu is a kind of clay-like material that comes in a variety of colors, can be moulded into virtually any shape and adheres to pretty much any object. Once out of the airtight package, it cures in about 24 hours to a silicone-like consistency that is dishwasher safe, water proof, and 100% awesome. I can imagine that it could be used to fix a hole in the sole of your shoe, a snapped pair of sunglasses, or even a provide a quick modification to a handled gadget. Imagine that: a gadget-fixing-gadget. There are no words. My one concern is that the packaging kind of makes it look like a plastic explosive, which makes me worried that I might get tapped for the much-dreaded, "random" screening at airport security.
SteriPEN - Basically a water purification system that uses UV light to kill any pathogens, bacteria, etc. Obviously, putting this light in your would be drinking water is not going to remove any particulate or make it crystal clear if you are drinking from a muddy puddle. What it should do is keep you safe from any of the really scary germs and bugs floating in contaminated water sources or foreign taps. The PC provides various methods to clean water, but I can think of about a dozen hypotheticals when bottled water is more than an honest hike away and you need water now. I would really be curious to know if anyone has used this with any conclusive, positive results (though I think hearing about negative results might be more valuable) as there is really only one way to test this one.
Travelon 3 Speed Fan - My money is on us being deployed somewhere on the hot and humid side of the world. Since I tend to sweat like an Eskimo in Arizona, I want at least the illusion of having some type of climate control. At two pounds and about ten bucks, this guy might be my champion. Cheap and light enough that I can justify buying and brining it, but also looks like it moves a fair amount of air. It will have the added benefits of being small enough to be hung or mounted near my sleeping area (perhaps with Sugru?), loud enough to provide some nice white sleeping noise, and hopefully will keep some bugs out of that pesky spot right in your ear that prevents you from enjoying anything sleep has to offer. My bottom line here is that "its worth a shot."
I am begging and pleading for you to share with me your most used and relied upon gadgets that could help me in the PC or give me a nice gadget fix. Keep in mind I am slightly frugal/extremely cheap, so bonus for suggestions that don't break my bank (its a small and fragile bank, think non-profit salary).
Images used in this post are from company websites of respective products and should be credited as such.
That feels really good, its been on my chest for a long time. I am not sure when my gadget addiction really came into existence, I suspect it is a side effect of my fondness (read: obsession) for James Bond, science fiction, and especially, for Batman.
My addiction to these often expensive and useful little tools has really begun to affect my marriage - whipping out my Leatherman each night before bed and telling it how pretty it is has started to concern my wife and I am getting tired of hiding Amazon and hiking store receipts in my sock drawer.
The upside? I am very nearly always prepared to simultaneously deal with a hangnail, plane crash, and nuclear apocalypse. My brain is wired to think pragmatically and with a specific eye for tightening and loosening the nuts and bolts of life (except for the times I fantasize myself as Batman). My love for gadgets springs from a desire to always be prepared and accomplish tasks as efficiently as possible.
In the Peace Corps, I will be relying on an intense knowledge of gadgets that until now, has only been a reason for my dearest family and friends to mock me incessantly. Who's laughing now?
I intend to make the obligatory Peace Corps Packing list post eventually, but for the time being, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite gadgets, and a few that I may try to clandestinely buy when Kate is distracted buying something practical like underwear or pants.
1. Gerber Crucial Tool - The thing I like best about good multi-tools, is when they function as they should. This compact little dynamo of efficiency has only a few basic tools (screwdrivers, knife, pliers, etc.) but they function so well, and are so thoughtfully integrated into the tool, that it has become my daily companion. There are few tasks I run into during my daily routine that this little guy won't help me complete. Extra credit to Gerber for incorporating its knife experience into this multi-tool (unlike SO many other multi-tools - when clipped to your pocket or hung from your belt, its very easy to get this tool out and operate the knife with one hand - quick and efficient.
2. Pelican VB3 Clip Light - Super light, compact, water resistant, and surprisingly bright for an LED. There is nothing more I could ask for from a gadget who's role is to provide light in unexpected situations. The deal clincher for me is the handy and strong clip on the back of the light that I use to secure it onto my watch band, hat lid, or other fixed surface and provides for hands free use.
3. Casio SGW100B Digital Watch - Not sure if an ordinary watch truly qualifies as a Bond-caliber gadget, but this one does. Besides keeping great time, it has an accurate magnetic compass, thermometer, every kind of alarm or dual time zone feature you might think of, and a reasonable price tag. I like the quality of the heavy duty nylon band and the scratch/water resistant body for the price tag as well.
4. Simplehuman Bag Capsule - This lightweight and compact little number is a marvel in my mind. Inside the tube is a roll of plastic (think garbage bags). Simply pull out the plastic to the desired length and use the built-in cutting tool to separate the bag. Unfurl, and knot at one end. Instantly, you have a plastic bag that is just the right size - you can even seal the bag with another knot at the opposing end for undesirable materials like diapers, gifts from your pets, etc. Given the amount of waste I will likely face while in the PC and the unknown frequency of waste disposal opportunities, this gem is already in my "take" pile for the PC. The only drawback in my mind is that the gadget creates plastic bags, a non-renewable and environmentally harmful material.
5. Saddleback Briefcase - I cannot say enough about these bags and I had to include the medium that allows me to stylishly carry around all of my toys. For so long I yearned for one of these quality leather bags with nearly indestructible components, beautiful full grain boot leather (check their website saddlebackleather.com for a crash course in the finer points of leather goods and manufacturing), and 100-year, yes 100-year, warranty. First off, how is a 100-year warranty even possible these days? To me, it speaks volumes about the owner's faith in his own products and the simple and elegant kind of design that I thought did not exist anymore. Simply put, they are beautiful, smell incredible, and will outlive you. While these reasons alone may not get you further than a glance at the price tag, which is admittedly staggering, I dare you to put it on and not feel like Indiana Jones. Double dare you, in fact.
The products above, I will solemnly vouch for as a gadget addict. I think they will not only help me to serve those around me throughout my tenure as a Peace Corps Volunteer, but also make my life a littler easier while there. If nothing else, they are all pretty cool conversation starters.
Of course, I use any excuse to grab a new gadget, and that includes taking up new hobbies solely because the hobby itself requires an extensive use of gadgets. Beer brewing, hiking, and running are just some of my recent gadget-induced undertakings. But the Peace Corps...well that really breaks the mould. I mean, the potential use of gadgets while serving is practically limitless, and the ability to justify buying them is mind blowing.
Take this amazing little product I recently discovered while perusing an issue of Men's Journal:
Sugru - While the picture I pulled may not do it justice, if this little wonder putty does what it claims, then it has my undivided attention, and a small earmark on my next paycheck. From what I understand, Surgu is a kind of clay-like material that comes in a variety of colors, can be moulded into virtually any shape and adheres to pretty much any object. Once out of the airtight package, it cures in about 24 hours to a silicone-like consistency that is dishwasher safe, water proof, and 100% awesome. I can imagine that it could be used to fix a hole in the sole of your shoe, a snapped pair of sunglasses, or even a provide a quick modification to a handled gadget. Imagine that: a gadget-fixing-gadget. There are no words. My one concern is that the packaging kind of makes it look like a plastic explosive, which makes me worried that I might get tapped for the much-dreaded, "random" screening at airport security.
SteriPEN - Basically a water purification system that uses UV light to kill any pathogens, bacteria, etc. Obviously, putting this light in your would be drinking water is not going to remove any particulate or make it crystal clear if you are drinking from a muddy puddle. What it should do is keep you safe from any of the really scary germs and bugs floating in contaminated water sources or foreign taps. The PC provides various methods to clean water, but I can think of about a dozen hypotheticals when bottled water is more than an honest hike away and you need water now. I would really be curious to know if anyone has used this with any conclusive, positive results (though I think hearing about negative results might be more valuable) as there is really only one way to test this one.
Travelon 3 Speed Fan - My money is on us being deployed somewhere on the hot and humid side of the world. Since I tend to sweat like an Eskimo in Arizona, I want at least the illusion of having some type of climate control. At two pounds and about ten bucks, this guy might be my champion. Cheap and light enough that I can justify buying and brining it, but also looks like it moves a fair amount of air. It will have the added benefits of being small enough to be hung or mounted near my sleeping area (perhaps with Sugru?), loud enough to provide some nice white sleeping noise, and hopefully will keep some bugs out of that pesky spot right in your ear that prevents you from enjoying anything sleep has to offer. My bottom line here is that "its worth a shot."
I am begging and pleading for you to share with me your most used and relied upon gadgets that could help me in the PC or give me a nice gadget fix. Keep in mind I am slightly frugal/extremely cheap, so bonus for suggestions that don't break my bank (its a small and fragile bank, think non-profit salary).
Images used in this post are from company websites of respective products and should be credited as such.
Motivations
The count down to deployment to the Peace Corps has begun for my wife and I - we are just about five months away. Before getting into the details of where we are going, what we will be doing, and perhaps most importantly, what we will likely be eating, I think it makes sense to take a step back to talk about how we got to this point.
I am not really talking about the "timeline" of when we got our medical check ups, when we had our first interview or heard that we were nominated. Kate has laid this out chronologically much better than I ever could. What I want to talk about is the decision to actually apply to the PC in the first place.
When Kate and I met our freshman year of college, it did not take take us long to realized how aligned we were in some of our major life goals, PC included.
It took us all of the first week of knowing each other to discuss joining the PC, and how it had been goals of both of ours individually since before high school. It took even less time after that for me to realize that serving with this cute Idaho native would be pretty awesome.
In retrospect I often wonder what drives people to join up and serve in the PC. It does not make a ton of sense from an economic standpoint to work for two years without pay; from a health perspective intestinal parasites and diarrhea for 27 months aren't exactly a walk in the park; and it clearly does not get you women...probably because of the aforementioned.
I suspect that there are those that slip through the arduous PC application process, and desire simply to delay the onset of the Real World after graduating college. Though I also suspect that these folks are either few and far between or are not truly prepared for the rigors of volunteering in the PC and end their service before fulfilling the 27 month commitment.
My guess is that the motivation people have for joining up is the same thing that spurs people on to finish out the full 27 months: an honest and intrinsic desire to help others and improve lives in a real way; a curiosity of other cultures and a passion for learning about them; and a serious sense of adventure. I find myself struggling to think how one might join the PC, let alone be successful, without even one of these motivations.
I bring this up for a few reasons. First, as only my second blog post I think its important that you still get to know me and decide if my blog is right for you - its like our second date. The qualities I listed above, I think, are some of my best and I hope will resonate throughout this blog. So if you find yourself morally opposed to a sense of adventure, Ill save you some time, read no further.
Second, paraphrasing Socrates, I know that I don't know how difficult the PC will be (but I know it will be hard). I think any sane and honest person about to confront the kind of challenge that the PC holds will tell you that they know that some of the best and most frustrating days of their life are just ahead. Riding the good days is easy, but enduring through the tough ones will take something special. On those kind of days, I want something tangible to hold on to, and I think it helps to articulate that motivation here.
If you are or ever have been in the PC, I am interested in what motivated you to apply. Even better, on your worst day, what kept you from throwing in the towel?
I am not really talking about the "timeline" of when we got our medical check ups, when we had our first interview or heard that we were nominated. Kate has laid this out chronologically much better than I ever could. What I want to talk about is the decision to actually apply to the PC in the first place.
When Kate and I met our freshman year of college, it did not take take us long to realized how aligned we were in some of our major life goals, PC included.
This pic was one of our earlier shots, and as you might be able
to tell from my profile picture, it was a lot of hair ago for me.
It took us all of the first week of knowing each other to discuss joining the PC, and how it had been goals of both of ours individually since before high school. It took even less time after that for me to realize that serving with this cute Idaho native would be pretty awesome.
In retrospect I often wonder what drives people to join up and serve in the PC. It does not make a ton of sense from an economic standpoint to work for two years without pay; from a health perspective intestinal parasites and diarrhea for 27 months aren't exactly a walk in the park; and it clearly does not get you women...probably because of the aforementioned.
I suspect that there are those that slip through the arduous PC application process, and desire simply to delay the onset of the Real World after graduating college. Though I also suspect that these folks are either few and far between or are not truly prepared for the rigors of volunteering in the PC and end their service before fulfilling the 27 month commitment.
My guess is that the motivation people have for joining up is the same thing that spurs people on to finish out the full 27 months: an honest and intrinsic desire to help others and improve lives in a real way; a curiosity of other cultures and a passion for learning about them; and a serious sense of adventure. I find myself struggling to think how one might join the PC, let alone be successful, without even one of these motivations.
I bring this up for a few reasons. First, as only my second blog post I think its important that you still get to know me and decide if my blog is right for you - its like our second date. The qualities I listed above, I think, are some of my best and I hope will resonate throughout this blog. So if you find yourself morally opposed to a sense of adventure, Ill save you some time, read no further.
Second, paraphrasing Socrates, I know that I don't know how difficult the PC will be (but I know it will be hard). I think any sane and honest person about to confront the kind of challenge that the PC holds will tell you that they know that some of the best and most frustrating days of their life are just ahead. Riding the good days is easy, but enduring through the tough ones will take something special. On those kind of days, I want something tangible to hold on to, and I think it helps to articulate that motivation here.
If you are or ever have been in the PC, I am interested in what motivated you to apply. Even better, on your worst day, what kept you from throwing in the towel?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Introductions and caveats
This blog is an experiment for me. Many of the attributes and qualities that I think are vital to being a successful blogger - consistency, enthusiasm, an extroverted persona - are not qualities that I have in spades. I am also incredibly self-conscious about what I put in any sort of public domain. However, I believe that attempting new experiences is remarkably broadening, that failures lead to success, and that rejection without venture is ignorance. And for once, I think I have something worthwhile to say. So let's see if I can pull it off...
First some background and ground rules.
The impetus for writing this blog is pretty straight forward - I want to chronicle my rapidly approaching 27 month volunteer experience in the Peace Corps. I will be serving somewhere in Asia with my best friend, partner of partners, and all around better half - my wife, Kate. I am hoping that this blog will be many things to many people: a report home to my friends and family; a helpful reference for others who wish to serve in the PC or travel in the region I will be in; comic relief for those who have no affiliation with me and find the writing that bad. Either way, I hope you are able to find something worthwhile here and that, hope of hopes, my blog does not become "just another blog."
I sometimes wonder how people continue to create so many new blogs when the Internet is already overflowing with a cacophony of crap and redundancy. The answer, I suppose, is pretty simple as people will always need a mode of expression when they think they have something to say. Ideas only become crap when they are put forth for the sake of putting forth ideas (at least that's my idea) - I hope I didn't just offend half my new blogging community in my first post. I am not saying that blogging about the minutiae of life is not sometimes worthwhile, so much of life is minutiae. Its really just personal preference. When tends to turn me off to blogs is when I can tell the author is writing for self-serving reasons or to vent about something trivial in their day. So my first promise to you is to attempt to write only about things that I think someone out there might find interesting, funny, or useful - I will leave the rest to my personal journal. I won't blog every day unless I have something to say everyday (I won't). But as I said, this is an experiment in personal growth, so I will also try to speak up more than I usually do and put my ideas out there more than I typically would. Contradicting enough? Excellent.
My wife will also be blogging about our experiences in the PC. She is actually an accomplished blogger who I am sure will be blogging more frequently, have many more insights, and generally be cooler than me on all fronts - so I am sure that she will be flagging traffic to me rather than the converse. What might be kind of cool though, is that you will get to see similar experiences in the PC from two different perspectives. I will try to link to her posts when I think the difference in viewpoint is particularly striking.
Another pact I make with you is that I will try to keep my posts short and sweet if you agree to tell me when I don't (this one doesn't count, its the first time I've met you, so I'm rambling). I hate time-wasting tasks unless the point of the task is to waste time. So I will in the future to keep my posts to an efficient length to provide you with maximum context at minimal effort and take this opportunity to mull over whether or not you will come back to read my future posts - I promise at least some of them will be worth your while.
First some background and ground rules.
The impetus for writing this blog is pretty straight forward - I want to chronicle my rapidly approaching 27 month volunteer experience in the Peace Corps. I will be serving somewhere in Asia with my best friend, partner of partners, and all around better half - my wife, Kate. I am hoping that this blog will be many things to many people: a report home to my friends and family; a helpful reference for others who wish to serve in the PC or travel in the region I will be in; comic relief for those who have no affiliation with me and find the writing that bad. Either way, I hope you are able to find something worthwhile here and that, hope of hopes, my blog does not become "just another blog."
I sometimes wonder how people continue to create so many new blogs when the Internet is already overflowing with a cacophony of crap and redundancy. The answer, I suppose, is pretty simple as people will always need a mode of expression when they think they have something to say. Ideas only become crap when they are put forth for the sake of putting forth ideas (at least that's my idea) - I hope I didn't just offend half my new blogging community in my first post. I am not saying that blogging about the minutiae of life is not sometimes worthwhile, so much of life is minutiae. Its really just personal preference. When tends to turn me off to blogs is when I can tell the author is writing for self-serving reasons or to vent about something trivial in their day. So my first promise to you is to attempt to write only about things that I think someone out there might find interesting, funny, or useful - I will leave the rest to my personal journal. I won't blog every day unless I have something to say everyday (I won't). But as I said, this is an experiment in personal growth, so I will also try to speak up more than I usually do and put my ideas out there more than I typically would. Contradicting enough? Excellent.
My wife will also be blogging about our experiences in the PC. She is actually an accomplished blogger who I am sure will be blogging more frequently, have many more insights, and generally be cooler than me on all fronts - so I am sure that she will be flagging traffic to me rather than the converse. What might be kind of cool though, is that you will get to see similar experiences in the PC from two different perspectives. I will try to link to her posts when I think the difference in viewpoint is particularly striking.
Another pact I make with you is that I will try to keep my posts short and sweet if you agree to tell me when I don't (this one doesn't count, its the first time I've met you, so I'm rambling). I hate time-wasting tasks unless the point of the task is to waste time. So I will in the future to keep my posts to an efficient length to provide you with maximum context at minimal effort and take this opportunity to mull over whether or not you will come back to read my future posts - I promise at least some of them will be worth your while.
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