I am currently in DC with my Training Group as we go through Staging. Today was the first day, and I have already made some wonderful new friends. My Training Group consists of about 18 people, only 3 of which are male. No sausage-fest here, haha! It's still very overwhelming but more exciting now that I'm almost there and done with the anxiety of packing and saying good-bye to loved ones (which was much harder than I expected).
I wanted to share my new favorite quote with everyone. It's a common phrase in the book I'm currently reading titled "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" by Tom Robbins (my new favorite author):
"The international situation is desparate as usual."
Short but powerful. It seems kind of serious out of context, but in the book it's more of a humorous phrase used often when referring to people's small talk. I think it's very relevant because it comments on a usually very serious topic with some sarcasm. I expect I will have to maintain my sense of humor and even sarcasm to endure the devastation that I will witness in a third world country. Also I like it because it states the obvious -- there will always be desparation and poverty, at least in my lifetime, no matter what I do or anyone does.
On a similar note, I feel the need to explain why I wanted to join the Peace Corps in the first place. It seems that everyone thinks I'm off to save the world and fight HIV -- that's not necessarily my intention. I'm joining the Peace Corps in order to submerge myself in a new culture and totally new experience. I've been living in the wealthiest nation in the world my entire life , and I'd like to experience life and struggles in one of the poorest countries in the world as well. Peace Corps allows me to do that -- and with government money! Yay! :) And while I don't expect to save the world (because the international situation will always be desperate as usual), I hope I can help some people while I'm there.
I wanted to share my new favorite quote with everyone. It's a common phrase in the book I'm currently reading titled "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" by Tom Robbins (my new favorite author):
"The international situation is desparate as usual."
Short but powerful. It seems kind of serious out of context, but in the book it's more of a humorous phrase used often when referring to people's small talk. I think it's very relevant because it comments on a usually very serious topic with some sarcasm. I expect I will have to maintain my sense of humor and even sarcasm to endure the devastation that I will witness in a third world country. Also I like it because it states the obvious -- there will always be desparation and poverty, at least in my lifetime, no matter what I do or anyone does.
On a similar note, I feel the need to explain why I wanted to join the Peace Corps in the first place. It seems that everyone thinks I'm off to save the world and fight HIV -- that's not necessarily my intention. I'm joining the Peace Corps in order to submerge myself in a new culture and totally new experience. I've been living in the wealthiest nation in the world my entire life , and I'd like to experience life and struggles in one of the poorest countries in the world as well. Peace Corps allows me to do that -- and with government money! Yay! :) And while I don't expect to save the world (because the international situation will always be desperate as usual), I hope I can help some people while I'm there.
