I'm sitting at JFK International, amid a sea of luggage, waiting for the check-in counter to open. We left Philadelphia at 11 this morning by charter bus, driving through Manhattan and Queens on our way to the airport. It's 3:25 PM; our flight departs at 8-something this evening. But I'm getting ahead of myself here.
The past two days were spent in a Sheraton in Philadelphia with fifty-eight other Peace Corps Trainees. The majority of the "staging" involved us gathered in a ballroom, listening to the coordinators going over the agenda for the following few days. Also discussed were ways to cope with anxieties, dealing with unwanted attention in country, Peace Corps rules, etc.etc....everything you'd think would be involved with moving overseas.
Meeting my fellow Trainees has been wonderful-- such a relief from the previous days' uneasiness. Everyone's "in the same boat", or in this case, the same hotel. Actually right now it's the same airport. It's amazing how quickly we've bonded, it really feels like a kind of family. The staging coordinators did an exceptional job of preparing us, and by the end of our last session Sunday night, everyone was pretty pumped up to go. I'm proud to be a part of this group and the Peace Corps in general.
The stereotype of the Peace Corps Volunteer as the hippy loser with no direction looking for a free ride across the world seems completely inadequate, at least in this group. In fact I feel a bit out of my league here-- many of the people here have graduate degrees, tons of experience, and are exceedingly bright. Good company.
That's it for the moment; going to relax a bit and read while we wait. The next time I write I'll truly be doing it "from the cold land with the hot sun".
Also, enjoy this picture of the instructional sign inside the bus lavatory.
2 comments:
Can't wait to hear about it! By the way, Brian had crossword clue today "without taint" I laughed and thought of you. :() (monkey lips)
Sounds like things are starting to look your way. It is so much better when you are with a big group than flying solo. Take care and I anxiously await pics of your new home.
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