I am just over 25% done with Peace Corps. I cannot believe it.
A plane crashed at the Kingston Airport last night, about 5 miles from my house. I heard nothing but woke up to quite a commotion in Port Royal this morning.
I also woke up in the middle of the night last night to what was quite possibly the most extraordinary symphony of dogs barking I have ever experienced. This all happened about 4hrs after the plane crash and might be related. There is really no way of knowing. I did not wake up because of the dogs barking (I woke up from a bad dream and was incredibly thirsty) but I noticed the dogs barking because it made it that much harder to fall asleep.
Work is going well, although can be frustrating at times. We keep on having mechanical problems getting the aquaria up and running and it takes a long time to fix stuff around here. Hopefully once the center is up and running I will be able to spend more time doing outreach and education and less time trying to get ornery saltwater pumps to work. The past three weeks have been really slow, with lots of people on leave and not a lot going on.
I miss Ghana pretty bad but it is hard to pinpoint what I miss. I also miss Seattle, but in a totally different way.
I think that when we miss something or someone we not only miss that person or that thing, but we also miss the self that they bring out in us. Having identity reified by familiarity is a blessing and a curse I suppose. There is great liberation to be found in changes of context, but this process can still be lonely and scary. It is true that no matter where you are you are always in your own company, but I think the Xhosa saying that that "people are people through other people" is incredibly powerful and incredibly true.
I am reminded of the famous admissions essay prompt for Amherst College that went "Sartre said, 'Hell is other people'; but Streisand sang, 'People who need people/Are the luckiest people in the world.' With whom do you agree and why? Don't be icky."
I love this prompt, but it is too binary and taken literally as an either/or option it misses the point. The balance between self-definition and existence of self through encounter is the key tension in the dynamics of identity. I doubt if there is a clean resolution or perfect balance. So maybe a key to happiness is finding beauty and peace in eternal struggles while also avoiding being icky?
Happy tidings of Yule, everyone.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
a post for the new JM volunteers
This post is intended for the next group of Peace Corps Jamaica volunteers and is an aside to the flurry of postings on the facebook wall for PCJM.
Some thoughts on what to bring and what to bring it in.
Luggage does not matter that much. After you unpack, your checked luggage will go into a closet or under your bed and you will not think about it until you go home.
That said, soft luggage is always better than hard luggage. I am particularly fond of the army surplus "parachute bags" that are inexpensive, durable, and large. I packed in one of these, plus an eagle creek travel backpack I originally got for backpacking around Europe. You could also pack in backpacking hiking bags but you risk damaging the frame and all the straps and fastex etc. Simpler is better. Some people like wheely bags. I am generally not a big fan. Designer luggage is a waste of money, but cheap luggage that falls apart on you is even worse. Durability is worth paying for, but inexpensive options exist.
My carry-on bag (and the bag I use when I travel around the island) is a messenger backpack made by Chrome Bags. It is the enormous "Sultan" messenger bag and I love it because it is streamlined, bombproof, and waterproof. Also sorta expensive (although not expensive looking). It might make me look a little more like a tourist but I don't worry about it too much. Osprey gives PCVs discounts and they make some great backpacks and shoulder bags so that might be a cheaper option than Chrome. Messenger bags are more socially acceptable than backpacks here, so you might want to get a largish one as your carry-on. Keen makes some nice bags. Ditto Timbuk2 (horrible colors though). Keen offers a great discount to PCVs. I think Timbuk2 does as well. I am trying to get a pro-deal from Chrome but so far, no luck.
For your "personal item" you can do whatever. I brought a camelbak backpack when I went to Ghana. If I had known I was coming to Jamaica I probably would have brought a not too large shoulder bag because they are more socially acceptable than backpacks around here. I use the backpack though, and it is fine.
In my opinion, these are the things that all volunteers serving in all hot countries should bring with them no matter what. Actually, except for the sandals and maybe the hammock (although I have used my hammock in freezing conditions), this list is global. You should note that I am a dude, and there might be some indispensable items for ladies but I am not aware of what they are.
************** begin essentials list ************
A thermarest sleeping pad. I like the full length one, but the 3/4 is fine too, especially if you are short.
A hammock. I love my hennessy hammock. And they give discounts to PCVs. ENO hammocks are good too. Not a fan of the Byer brand. The ENO slapstrap is awesome.
Two 32oz nalgene bottles.
A pair of chacos or tevas. I prefer chacos. The literature says not to bring these. You will be happy you did bring them.
Some very good glue. A bottle of gorilla glue, a tube of shoe goo, and a tube of krazyglue should get you out of most trouble. You can get some of this stuff here, but not all of it.
Lots of pictures of your friends/family/favorite places from home.
A headlamp.
Lots of earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Some ex-officio or under-armour underwear. Ex-officio offers a screaming discount and their products are fantastic.
Some music.
A few books. We have lots of books here and we trade them all the time. Also, books are eligible to be shipped via "m-bags" so you can get a bunch of books shipped to you relatively cheaply. Peace Corps is a great time to get up on your reading and read some epics you have meant to read for a long time (Infinite Jest, Don Quixote, War and Peace(corps) are all favorites).
A couple sarongs, or kikhois, or "two-yards" or something. Go to a fabric shop and get a couple two yard long pieces of cotton fabric. When you are traveling you will use these as a sheet, blanket, pillow, towel, bindle etc.
If you wear glasses, then a prescription pair of sunglasses is indispensable. Some optics companies offer a PC discount, but I am not sure which ones.
Having a computer is great. Netbooks are small, cheap, and are probably a better choice than a fullsize lappy. That said, if you were not planning on buying a new computer then bring the one you have. You can also do fine with no computer, but it is nice to have for sure.
*********** end essentials list***********
Some other stuff to think about.
If you like to write letters, bring some "forever" stamps. You can send mail to the US through the embassy and these stamps will save you on postage. Because they are forever, they will work throughout your time here regardless of postage rates in the US.
The birds here are awesome. Bring binoculars if you are into that sort of thing.
If someone brings "The Settlers of Catan" game that person will achieve instant canonization in the cult of Raz.
One last note:
Peace Corps is challenging in ways you cannot even imagine. You will have bad days. Sometimes you will have bad weeks. While you are at this point in the process (the "ohmygodIamsoexcitedholyshitholyshit!" phase) take a few minutes and write down why you are doing this. Write something similar to the essay you wrote when you applied to PC, but make it just for you. When you have a bad day you can look at this letter and be reminded what inspired you to join peace corps in the first place. This sounds corny and stupid. I assure you it is a worthwhile exercise.
Some thoughts on what to bring and what to bring it in.
Luggage does not matter that much. After you unpack, your checked luggage will go into a closet or under your bed and you will not think about it until you go home.
That said, soft luggage is always better than hard luggage. I am particularly fond of the army surplus "parachute bags" that are inexpensive, durable, and large. I packed in one of these, plus an eagle creek travel backpack I originally got for backpacking around Europe. You could also pack in backpacking hiking bags but you risk damaging the frame and all the straps and fastex etc. Simpler is better. Some people like wheely bags. I am generally not a big fan. Designer luggage is a waste of money, but cheap luggage that falls apart on you is even worse. Durability is worth paying for, but inexpensive options exist.
My carry-on bag (and the bag I use when I travel around the island) is a messenger backpack made by Chrome Bags. It is the enormous "Sultan" messenger bag and I love it because it is streamlined, bombproof, and waterproof. Also sorta expensive (although not expensive looking). It might make me look a little more like a tourist but I don't worry about it too much. Osprey gives PCVs discounts and they make some great backpacks and shoulder bags so that might be a cheaper option than Chrome. Messenger bags are more socially acceptable than backpacks here, so you might want to get a largish one as your carry-on. Keen makes some nice bags. Ditto Timbuk2 (horrible colors though). Keen offers a great discount to PCVs. I think Timbuk2 does as well. I am trying to get a pro-deal from Chrome but so far, no luck.
For your "personal item" you can do whatever. I brought a camelbak backpack when I went to Ghana. If I had known I was coming to Jamaica I probably would have brought a not too large shoulder bag because they are more socially acceptable than backpacks around here. I use the backpack though, and it is fine.
In my opinion, these are the things that all volunteers serving in all hot countries should bring with them no matter what. Actually, except for the sandals and maybe the hammock (although I have used my hammock in freezing conditions), this list is global. You should note that I am a dude, and there might be some indispensable items for ladies but I am not aware of what they are.
************** begin essentials list ************
A thermarest sleeping pad. I like the full length one, but the 3/4 is fine too, especially if you are short.
A hammock. I love my hennessy hammock. And they give discounts to PCVs. ENO hammocks are good too. Not a fan of the Byer brand. The ENO slapstrap is awesome.
Two 32oz nalgene bottles.
A pair of chacos or tevas. I prefer chacos. The literature says not to bring these. You will be happy you did bring them.
Some very good glue. A bottle of gorilla glue, a tube of shoe goo, and a tube of krazyglue should get you out of most trouble. You can get some of this stuff here, but not all of it.
Lots of pictures of your friends/family/favorite places from home.
A headlamp.
Lots of earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Some ex-officio or under-armour underwear. Ex-officio offers a screaming discount and their products are fantastic.
Some music.
A few books. We have lots of books here and we trade them all the time. Also, books are eligible to be shipped via "m-bags" so you can get a bunch of books shipped to you relatively cheaply. Peace Corps is a great time to get up on your reading and read some epics you have meant to read for a long time (Infinite Jest, Don Quixote, War and Peace(corps) are all favorites).
A couple sarongs, or kikhois, or "two-yards" or something. Go to a fabric shop and get a couple two yard long pieces of cotton fabric. When you are traveling you will use these as a sheet, blanket, pillow, towel, bindle etc.
If you wear glasses, then a prescription pair of sunglasses is indispensable. Some optics companies offer a PC discount, but I am not sure which ones.
Having a computer is great. Netbooks are small, cheap, and are probably a better choice than a fullsize lappy. That said, if you were not planning on buying a new computer then bring the one you have. You can also do fine with no computer, but it is nice to have for sure.
*********** end essentials list***********
Some other stuff to think about.
If you like to write letters, bring some "forever" stamps. You can send mail to the US through the embassy and these stamps will save you on postage. Because they are forever, they will work throughout your time here regardless of postage rates in the US.
The birds here are awesome. Bring binoculars if you are into that sort of thing.
If someone brings "The Settlers of Catan" game that person will achieve instant canonization in the cult of Raz.
One last note:
Peace Corps is challenging in ways you cannot even imagine. You will have bad days. Sometimes you will have bad weeks. While you are at this point in the process (the "ohmygodIamsoexcitedholyshitholyshit!" phase) take a few minutes and write down why you are doing this. Write something similar to the essay you wrote when you applied to PC, but make it just for you. When you have a bad day you can look at this letter and be reminded what inspired you to join peace corps in the first place. This sounds corny and stupid. I assure you it is a worthwhile exercise.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
more thoughts on bears serving overseas
I fully realize that getting the the Bear Corps Act passed into law and establishing Bear Corps is no easy feat, but I would like to point out that there is historical precedence of a bear being a part of an armored corps.
That's right. In World War II, a Polish artillery regiment had a bear that fought alongside them.
There is a pretty good wikipedia article about this bear. The bear also made badass of the week sometime ago.
If bears can leave their native lands and serve overseas in the name of war, surely they would also be willing to do so in the name of peace, right?
This idea is undoubtedly the best idea I have ever had. Who wants to sign my petition?
That's right. In World War II, a Polish artillery regiment had a bear that fought alongside them.
There is a pretty good wikipedia article about this bear. The bear also made badass of the week sometime ago.
If bears can leave their native lands and serve overseas in the name of war, surely they would also be willing to do so in the name of peace, right?
This idea is undoubtedly the best idea I have ever had. Who wants to sign my petition?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Bear Corps
Years ago, inspired by boredom (among other things) I made a map showing monkey distribution around the globe.
The other day I got to thinking and I hypothesized that Peace Corps volunteers are disproportionately represented in monkeyland and totally under represented in bear country.
Fortunately, a good friend from home (hi Mary!) was willing to work on this problem, and my hunch was correct. This map shows PCV, Monkey, and Bear distribution around the world. The results are very troubling.
One way to rectify this problem is to send PCVs into Bear Country, but this is ridiculous for reasons so obvious that they do not merit mention. A much more practical solution is for the US Government to launch BearCorps and send Bears to deserving places.
A petition is imminent. Now is the time for action.
Lastly, I know that the map mistakenly suggests that Polar Bears live in Antarctica. While this is sadly not the case, hopefully the first BearCorps volunteers will go to Antarctica and give that part of the world the Bears it deserves.
The other day I got to thinking and I hypothesized that Peace Corps volunteers are disproportionately represented in monkeyland and totally under represented in bear country.
Fortunately, a good friend from home (hi Mary!) was willing to work on this problem, and my hunch was correct. This map shows PCV, Monkey, and Bear distribution around the world. The results are very troubling.
One way to rectify this problem is to send PCVs into Bear Country, but this is ridiculous for reasons so obvious that they do not merit mention. A much more practical solution is for the US Government to launch BearCorps and send Bears to deserving places.
A petition is imminent. Now is the time for action.
Lastly, I know that the map mistakenly suggests that Polar Bears live in Antarctica. While this is sadly not the case, hopefully the first BearCorps volunteers will go to Antarctica and give that part of the world the Bears it deserves.
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