It’s time for an update. Quite a lot has happened since we last posted a photo update of E-Lo (he’s gotten really big, really fast — more photos of him to come later). But this update won’t address that because, as you’ll note in the time-stamp when I’m done typing, it’s late and I’ve continued my annual tradition of getting sick on my birthday. No this one will be short — about expectations.
It’s hard not to enter something as life changing as the Peace Corps without at least some small set of expectations. Try as we did to leave those at the airport terminal, we still brought some of those preconceptions with us. Some were about how life would be living in a foreign nation, with all it’s differences and eccentricities, while others (the majority for me) centered around what it would be like to serve — how, what it would feel like, the challenges I’d have to overcome, basically… what it is to be a PCV. Let me just say that this subset is the one you should check at the cabin door entrance.
I came here with many of those said expectations about what I’d be doing, how it would be received, the challenges I’d face in getting things done, etc. I think I thought these were more harmless than expectations about what it would be like to live in a foreign land and as a result paid less attention in trying to shed them. It turns out these were probably the more important ones to get rid of. They begin to shape your entire existence. Because you’re constantly trying to mold your reality into forms which don’t apply, a great deal of effort is wasted and you second guess yourself and shut out possibilities.
I’ve started to ditch these old and broken forms for the unknown and yet to be discovered ones which will more effectively shape my existence and function here. It’s not going to be easy, as old thoughts sometimes die hard, but in the end I know it will be for the best.
Anyway, enough melodrama. I’m the big two-six today and Shannon says that it makes me even sexier because I’m getting ‘rugged’. Apparently, according to her, when I hit my 30′s and early 40′s it will be even better. And that’s something I can definitely be thankful for.
Below is a picture of our great friend Tony. Tony is one of those (rare) people that just keep giving and giving to you out of the pure kindness of their hearts. This is a very funny picture of him deflating a rubber boat while we were at Tesheira falls a few weeks ago.
Steve: Thanks for the post. I don’t think you created all of your expectations out of thin air. Weren’t you led to believe that you would probably be doing some kind of IT or economic development work? I guess the lesson for people thinking of going into the Peace Corp is to not pay too much attention when they tell you what you will probably be doing as a volunteer. It seems like once you get to your host country it is all up for grabs and you could end up doing pretty much anything they want you to do. If someone with experience had told you that before you went in I wonder if it would have made a difference in your approach? In any event, you seem to be handling the change (and challenge) well and I’m sure there will be a lot of positive outcomes from your work.
It was great talking to and seeing you and Shannon last week on Skype. I’m glad the two of you have gotten over your illnesses.
The picture of E-Lo on the porch is adorable. Do you have a ball to throw to him so he can imitate his namesake? It’s kind of funny to think about, but when y’all leave the Peace Corp I guess someone else will take over his care and eventually the origin of his name will become shrouded in mystery. Someday someone will think – I wonder why he is called E-Lo? Hard to imagine anyone guessing the answer to that question.
I hope you get to watch the Gator-Bama game tomorrow. Our defense has been so dominant it is hard to imagine Bama scoring more than 17 points. I predict 34-17 Gators. Take care, Jim.
Hey Jim…
Yeah it was good to see you guys too… You’re pretty right about the whole expectations thing. They do stress that you should be flexible, but when you have so many interview questions and you send in resumes you think it will have an affect on placement. If I were to give advice in the future, it would be this: Don’t bring any expectations, even if they tell you what your placement is because it can all change and be different. Some of the other volunteers had their islands switched at the last minute too.
You know we’re actually planning on taking him home with us, as leaving him to someone here would not guarantee his well being and he might end up abandoned. Plus, he’s too cute to let go. We’re also planning on heading over to another volunteer’s house tomorrow to see the game. He’s a UF grad too so it’ll be good times. I sure hope you’re right with your score.
thanks for reading,
Steve
Happy late b-day Steve. Love you friend.