Next Steps

Hello all, it's been a while since I last updated.

Currently I'm just trying to compile and complete my Peace Corps agenda. For those who don't know, I will be leaving for Philadelphia on July 3 and meeting up with fellow volunteers for an orientation period. We'll be in Philly until the 5th, when we fly out of New York on a 10 1/2 hour flight to Istanbul. From Istanbul we'll fly to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, arriving on July 7. Long flight, yes?

Right now I'm just trying to finalize paperwork the PC needs, in addition to purchasing what I'll need. My biggest needs right now are: a new pair of glasses, a decent laptop, perhaps some clothes, and an iPod of some sort. It's difficult determining what exactly to bring -- packing is limited, yet I need to be prepared for long hauls. Having items shipped to me is possible, but expensive. Books are one of my biggest concerns because there are so many I want to bring but weight and space issues are so prevalent.

My past few weeks have been strange -- a mixture of leisure and work, activity and boredom, family and friends. This time is invaluable, particularly because I won't be able to see so many people for a long time to come. I'm both eager to depart and reluctant to leave behind those whom I love. Two years is a long (and short) time, and a great deal will change while I am gone.

Also during this time I have been trying to gain more perspective on America. How will I be able to portray American values, customs, ideas? During my various drivings these past weeks, there are several moments that struck me. The vast sea of mountainous trees contrasting the stark blue skies on my way through New York and Pennsylvania; amber sunsets along the brink of compact rural (sub)urbanism that is Connecticut; misty mornings leading to sweltering summer days unfit for much of anything, least of all activity. One moment that truly struck me, however, was when I was about a mile from the street I live on. There was a bag in the middle of the road -- presumably litter because it wasn't a Wednesday (trash day) -- and even though I could only see the bottom of the bag, I knew instantly what fast food chain it was from. No logo was needed, some click in my brain knew instantly that this color, size, and shape of bag was from this restaurant (even though I hadn't eaten there in well over a year) -- it reminded me so much of Don DeLillo's White Noise. It begs the question: is this what America is about? We've quantified so much of our lives to this brand, this standard -- we've been fed so much, been marketed to, told how to act and feel and live. Who should be able to recognize a stupid bag in such a manner? It makes me glad that I'm presumably getting away from this, at least, and hopefully I can unlearn some of this standardization.