Into the Wild... I now live alone

I now live alone. I have moved out of my host families’ house and have spread my wings into my own nest. It’s a good feeling. Nothing against my host family, but it can be difficult sometimes. They are great people, a lot of fun, and always someone to practice my crappy Armenian with. But the sense of freedom that I get with being able to eat when I want, shower when I want, and walk around in the nude is just delightful. I better cover up though; we are expecting snow this weekend. Im just hoping I am not snowed in. I am traveling to Ethiopia in about a week and a half. I am going for Christmas to see my brother Peter that lives their, and my brother Arthur is coming from DC with his wife Amy. I am really excited about it. I have 2 layovers in Germany, so that means the possibility of some western food and a good beer. It will be nice to get in touch with some family for a few days. I am hoping to also get in touch with some Peace Corps Ethiopia Volunteers. It will be interesting to compare their experience with mine. My brother Peter actually just swore in some new volunteers into Ethiopia about a week ago. So they are green and excited I bet.

I participated in my first Flash Mob as well this past week. It was World AIDS Day on Dec 1. So the HIV/AIDS PC Initiative planned a flash mob in Yerevan for it. It was the brain child of Kevin Crookshank, I helped cause my sister Amy has done them before. We had about 80 people show up, we froze for 1 minute in a very crowded place in the city, holding signs with information and statistics. I had the honor deciding what went on the signs. Mostly it was world and Armenian statistics on AIDS, but I also through in a couple that I came up. Given Armenia is a post soviet nation, this was my favorite: Condoms, effectively keeping sex safe since before Soviet Times. HA! Gets me every time.

I have just past the 6 month mark here in the Peace Corps. I think it’s a big milestone. They say if you can get through the first year, and in Armenia the first winter, then it’s a breeze after. Speaking of, we actually lost a volunteer this week. She was in her 60’s and having a hard time adjusting. Credit to her for sticking it out so long though. I really didn’t get to know her very well until this last week when I was helping her do something at a conference we had in Yerevan. Next thing I know, she is leaving. I wish her all the best though.

So speaking of being here 6 months. I think I am hitting a reflection point. I have been thinking a lot of what things I really want to do, have done, or haven’t done. I know that I haven’t been at my site long enough to make a big difference. But I think its important to look back and re-assess ever so often. As I think about things, I notice a contagious attitude that I have caught. I don’t know if its cause of some movies I have seen lately, or the people I have been hanging around, but I am really getting this attitude of the whole “being a world citizen” thing. That is to say, making a job out of traveling and finding new experiences. At least for now, I look back at what I was doing before I came. I worked at a Private Wealth Management Financial Firm, and I was working with everything that had to do with finances and office management. I think back about how I was so concerned, at the age of 23, at what mutual fund I was picking for my 401K. And I kind of chuckle at it. I think, wow, I was planning for 55 at 23. Not to say that is a bad idea, but I think a lot of people just plan for the future and accumulate, accumulate, accumulate. That is their goal, and that is their plan. But once they get to that point where they can spend what they have earned, or travel and see what they have wanted to see, 30 years has passed. And I think sometimes when you build things up for so long, there is no way they will meet your expectations. Some things you need to do now. Not later. This isn’t a testament to living in the here and now. Lets be smart about this. Im not saying planning is a bad thing, but action is just important. And I think some people forget that. Don’t get caught up in salary/accumulative/chain-of-command building lifestyle. Enjoy every essence of life, and don’t wait for it to be here. Cause its here now. You will never be as young as you are right now, and you can never have a re-do. Believe me, ive tried. Whether that is with people or decision. It wont always be easy, and sometimes the wrong path will be taken. That’s why it’s called a struggle; you’re supposed to sweat.

I think this is for those that are on the fence about making a decision or going a new place. Just do it. Maybe the younger crowd is who I am speaking to, but not completely. I just wonder how you can be so sure about who you are, what your doing, and why it was right…. If you haven’t seen everything that’s out there. So just keep looking….

"No quote this time, think of something clever yourself for once.... HA!"