Chicago and Staging and the Games People Play

Okay so I haven't exactly done any staging yet. But I got in last night to the hotel, the Hampton Inn down town on W. Illinois Street at 9:30 pm central standard time. I called dad to tell him I was here and that my roommate's stuff was already in the room, but no roommate. So I'm sitting there, going well "What the Fuck do I do now?" I am not at all tired and can't tell, in the hallways of the hotel, who is and is not a Peace Corps Volunteer as Peace Corps Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes and ages and races. And I would look like a god damn fool for going up to random people and asking them if they are in the Peace Corps. The Area that sorrounds the hotel has lots of restaurants and clubs and there are lots of people around and I am kind of playing this guessing game, trying to figure out who looks like a PCV. I will see if I "win" today at 12:30 pm central standard time.

I when I cam back from a walk around the neighborhood, very safe place by the way, my roommate was in the room, Shandani. She is from the U.S. Virgin Islands and very cool. Also in the room where three other women and I came in on the middle of a conversation where they were saying things like: "Shan you didn't bring as many books as last time."
And I'm thinking what the hell is last time! All four of these women were in the PC in Uzbekistan before the government not so ceremoniously kicked them, and everything American out, but not renewing their visas after five months. So apparently there are 9 people in this group who decided to give it another go with The Ukraine.
(And by the way, Dad, they loved Uzbekistan and it was not at all as conservative as they thought it would be.) Now I'm going to go swim in the hotel pool. You can take the girl out of california but...

Paca

Paca means bye in Ukranian or Russian, I'm not quite sure which.
I leave in a few hours to go the Oakland Airport and fly toward my next adventure, although I except it is the kind of experience that makes you feel like you've never really had an adventure before, the way listening to Billie Holiday sing can sometimes make you feel like you must never have really been hurt before.
I don't know when the next time is that I will have e-mail access but please send me mail so next time I can access it I will hae lots of good stuff to read.
Make good choice,
love,
Katie

The Countdown to Babushka

So in two days I fly to Chicago for "Staging." At staging I will meet 110 other Peace Corps Volunteers and have a general orientation for three days before flying to the Ukraine.
So in order to prepare for my long and arduous journey ahead I have been reading up on the Ukraine, seeing the moive Everything is Illuminated(amazing movie starring Frodo himself, both hysterically funny and poingant, a must see or read, it is a book as well), not studying my languages, but overbuying little things like index cards and lotion at Target which I some how find comforting.
I have met with many people who have been in the Ukraine, both as Peace Corps Volunteers and standard issue Ukranians. They say don't ever smile in the street-it will give you aways as an American, don't walk on manhole covers-you will fall in and watch out for moonshine (homemade spirits)-they are deadly.

For those of you curious about my emotional state I am just fine. I am not thinking about the trip all in one shot. Over two years worth of time is more than one person can digest in an afternoon of popping bubble wrap (a very satisfying experience by the by). Now I am only thinking about staging where I will meet dozens of like minded people ready for adventure and willing to imagine that they could have a different life.

In order to prepare for my future as a woman in a babushka, we at the George house have been living largely with out internet and intermittent power (not on purpose mind you, damn you SBC and PG&E). But to keep in this tradition and my cultural education tomorrow I am turning off the water. Bucket Baths for Everybody!!!

Me and the Whole Wide World

This is me, not under and not on top of the world, but next to it, giving it a nice hug and thanks for doing such a good job thus far in existence...positive feedback is so important. This picture is of me at the 2nd Annual Peace Festival in Peacock Meadow in Golden Gate Park.

At the festival I go to meet lots of RPCVs (returned peace corps volunteers). I also got to see dancing from Uzbekistan and Bulgaria, hear music from many countries, eat all organic, vegan, non-dairy food, and meet two people I will be going to the Ukraine with (Karen and Larry, married, from Monterey). This festival was very exciting for me because everyone there was so excited about all things peaceful and worldly. Every RPCV was friendly and willing to give advice, like don't even bring one bandaide because PC gives you enough medical supplies for an entire episode of ER.
I find that modern PC literature tends not to emphasize the traditional message of the Peace Corps, the reason that JFK created it, which was to foster understanding and development in countries around the world as essential ingeridents of peace. This is a slow and deliberate plan for a lofty and idealistic goal. I am very proud to be a part of it. One thing that the PC understands is sustainable development, time, man hours, personal relationships, these simultaneously small and large things that make up every hour of life and that can one moment at a time be changed. It feels a little like counting grains of sand on a beach, but it is a noble goal, daunting, but I'm not responsible for the entire beach, everyone gets a handful of this world.

George's Very Dictionary: To Peace Corps

This is a picture of my room, this is the organized version of it, as I prepare to Peace Corps. (see definition of To Peace Corps below)

Yes, that's right folks I have invented my own new verb. I have over the years contributed several new words to the English Language: Linguism and hottily. I argued one of my college professors (Blackwell is such a pushover) into to believing that Linguism is a term defined as the way people identify and become loyal to a country becasue of spoken language. Hottily, not to be confused with haughtily, is when some one cops and attitude or acts irritable becasue it is hot outside.
And the all important to Peace Corps encompasses all of the activities that one does in the Peace Corps. Ex: I will be Peace Corpsing starting Sept 29, 2005. or: I am happy that I will be Peace Corpsing in the Ukraine.

The Curious Quote Wall: 6

"If you want to write good copy, you must be where the things are."
-Arthur Conan Doyle

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."- John Lennon

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."- Henry David Thoreau

"A person who publishes a book appears willfully in public eye with his pants down."
-Edna St. Vincent Millay

Kelly and I at the Beach House. No I'm not naked, it's a strapless swim suit!

"You're Smart, We'll Keep You"- Swan

Kara, Jessica (aka Swan) and Myself at my grandparents beach house in Oceanside, Kelly is taking the Picture.

This is a Classic Swan Quote and I love it eventhough I can't remember genesis of this particular little nugget. It totally encapsulates how I feel about my new friend Kara, a colleague and friend of Swan's at James Goodman Middle School in Cathedral City, CA. That Evening, when we had dinner at 11 pm, seeing as we lost track of time playing cards and shooting the shit, I made a toast to Friends New and Old being together. As my days in the U.S dwindle (most people talk as if I'm never coming back making sure I get to do things I enjoy as I will quote "never be able to do them again," see family and friends for One Last Time and "What am I going to have for my Last Meal?") I've come to treasure each moment I have with my family and close friends, despite the creepiness of it all. And it is a privilege to meet the people important to them, nice to know that they have great people around them and that their lives are going the direction they want when I am gone. I will miss them of course and can only hope they will miss me as much, but I know that they are happy and supported by the people around them. These friends may not be any good at darts, and there may or may not be a few sailors floating around out there with pictures of us crouched on the ground picking up our blue darts that did not make it or stick to the ground, but they have many other redeeming qualities.
So I raise my glass, which happens to be a blue, plastic thing left over from the 80s, a bit melted at the edges but indestructible to my Olympic caliber accident prone-ness and uncoordinated. Here's to you my loved and precious ones, I think I'll keep you.

Sunset in Oceanside

Lindsay and Myself after a disgraceful game of darts