Flight Information - It's Official!

We just received our staging information for orientation prior to our departure to Uganda. We will be staying at a hotel in downtown Philadelphia on Tuesday, August 4th (although I get to arrive a night early because I'm cool like that).

Monday August 3, 2009
American Airlines Flight Number: 1598
Depart: PORTLAND, OR 8:45 Am August 3, 2009
Arrive: DALLAS/F.WORTH,TX 2:25 Pm August 3, 2009

American Airlines Flight Number: 1086
Depart: DALLAS/F.WORTH,TX 4:10 Pm August 3, 2009
Arrive: PHILADELPHIA,PA 8:53 Pm August 3, 2009

Our training schedule (Aug 4):
1:30pm Registration
3-7pm Training (anxieties and aspirations, managing risk, policies, reflection on our commitment for service, travel logistics)

Then, on August 5th we load up at 9am and head to New York where we'll be flying out of JFK to Entebbe (by way of Brussels and Kigali first).

05 AUG 09 - WEDNESDAY
AIR AMERICAN AIRLINES FLT:172
LV NEW YORK JFK 550P EQP: BOEING 757
07HR 45MIN

06 AUG 09 - THURSDAY
AR BRUSSELS 735A NON-STOP
AIR BRUSSELS AIRLINES FLT:465
LV BRUSSELS 1040A EQP: AIRBUS A330-300
10HR 00MIN
AR ENTEBBE 940P 1-STOP
VIA KIGALI

Dear Santa

I need to start a list of things I am thinking about bringing with me, and I realized what better place to compile a list than right here? Input is greatly appreciated!

Product/Item	Cost	Where to Buy?	Link to Item	Purchased?	Not Sure	Category
HP Mini Laptop				Y		Electronics
Canon DSLR camera and lenses				Y		Electronics
Canon PowerShot small camera				Y		Electronics
2 or 3 ScanDisk cards for the cameras				Y		Electronics
DVDs (Simpsons, Arrested Development, etc)				Y		Electronics
6-cell battery for mini laptop	$ 77	HP.com		Y		Electronics
Solar charger	$ 100	Solio.com	Solio Charger	N	x	Electronics
Shortwave radio - solar/wind-up				N		Electronics
Rechargable solar batteries/charger				N	x	Electronics
New MP3 player	$ 100	Best Buy	MP3	N	x	Electronics
Flashlight (wind-up?)	$ 25	REI	Flash Light	N		Electronics
LED Headlamp	$ 20	REI	Head Lamp	N		Electronics
Thumb Drive (at least 2 GB)	$ 30	Best Buy	Thumb Drive	N		Electronics
2 or 3 pairs of slacks/khakis	$40-75	Ex Officio Discount	Ex Officio	Y		Clothing
2 or 3 pairs of shorts				Y		Clothing
1 or 2 pairs of jeans				Y		Clothing
1 swimsuit				Y		Clothing
2 long-sleeved button shirts	$30-40	Ex Officio Discount	Ex Officio	Y		Clothing
3 short-sleeved button shirts	$30-40	Ex Officio Discount		N		Clothing
3 polos	$10-15	Old Navy		Y		Clothing
Several T-shirts				Y		Clothing
1 UV Hat	$15	REI	Solar Hat	N		Clothing
6 pairs of bamboo socks		Target		N		Clothing
20 pairs cotton underwear		Fred Meyer		N		Clothing
1 tie				Y		Clothing
1 pair of flip-flops				Y		Clothing
1 pair of Tevas		REI		N		Clothing
1 pair of tennis shoes/hiking shoes		REI		N	x	Clothing
Travel alarm clock		Fred Meyer		N		Clothing
Outlet converter		Fred Meyer		N		Clothing
Lightweight rain jacket	$100	REI		N		Clothing
Sweatshirt				Y		Clothing
3 toothbrushes (teethbrushes?)		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
2 sticks of deodorant (unscented)		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
2 giant things of floss		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Toothpaste		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Mach 3 razor, with two packs of refills (24 total - Costco!)		Costco		N		Sundries
2 cans shaving cream		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Tweezers		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Nail clippers		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Hair buzzer				Y		Sundries
Face wash		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
3 things of Burts Bees with SPF		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Sun Screen		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Small Mirror		Fred Meyer		N		Sundries
Leatherman				Y		Miscellaneous
1 roll of duct tape				Y		Miscellaneous
Large backpack (main travel pack, to check)				Y		Miscellaneous
Small rolling suitcase (secondary travel pack, to check)				Y		Miscellaneous
Camera bag (carry-on)				Y		Miscellaneous
Laptop bag (carry-on)				Y		Miscellaneous
Crystal Lite packets		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Instant potatoes, gravy, seasonings		Fred Meyer		Y		Miscellaneous
Garic powder		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Book light				N	x	Miscellaneous
Notecards (3x5 or smaller; for vocabulary. Probably at least 1000)		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Pens (set of several colors)		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Photo album		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Journals and notebooks		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Nalgene Bottle	$10.00	REI	Nalgene	N		Miscellaneous
Money belt		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Can opener		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Veggie peeler		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Starbucks French-Press (ie, indestructible plastic)	$15.00	Starbucks	French Press	N		Miscellaneous
Work Gloves (2 pair)		Fred Meyer		N		Miscellaneous
Solar Shower	$15.00	REI		N		Miscellaneous
Solar Calculator	$5.00	Fred Meyer		N		Electronics

...wow this was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be! I will be updating the list as things are added/removed.

Peace Corps Update

I have been accepted into a Community Health and Economic Development program in Uganda, specializing in water and sanitation. My description of service (DOS) lists a variety of projects I could be working on, including malaria prevention, hygiene education, water and sanitation projects and education, HIV/AIDS assistance and education, to name a few.

Pre-Service Training starts on August 2 in Philadelphia, and I leave for Uganda on August 4. Yes, I am scared, but also look forward to the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that will come of 27 months of living in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Two More Down

We have little books of all of the members of Congress (both House and Senate) with their official portraits, appropriately called "Facebooks," so that we can see what everyone looks like. A few weeks ago I started checking off the Members that I ran into or otherwise saw around the Capitol. So far I probably have about 6, and to that I add two big ones:

The Hon. Barney Frank (D-MA)
I was sent to the cafeteria earlier today to get lunch for my Congressman (not an uncommon task). When I was down there, I nearly literally ran in Barney Frank, the rather short and squat, highly outspoken Congressman from Newton, Mass. He looked a bit aloof, and quite grumpy.

The Speaker of the House, the Hon. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
I was tasked with running a bill to the Democratic Cloakroom (essentially an office for the party's affairs on the house floor). I rang the bell and waited for someone to answer. Usually a big black man opens the door, grabs the bill, and says "I'll put it in the hoppa." This time, instead of a friendly old black man, a short bald white guy opened. I went to hand him the bill and at that moment Nancy Pelsoi emerged. The bald white guy didn't take the paper I was handing him (I assume he was really opening the door for Nancy), but instead Nancy took it from me. Eek-that's not her job... I stood there and smiled for a second as she looked at it, commented that it was for someone else, and handed it off. I think I said thank-you before turning around and heading down the hallway.

Two more down. 429 to go.

Waterboarding Isn't the New Ride at Your Local Waterpark

I have been trying to keep this blog toned more to the general happenings in my life and documenting the move to the East, Peace Corps application, and that stuff. But I do like politics, and I am in the political capital of the country, so I think it's justified to quickly rant about some right-wing things of late.

Ranting Point #1
The first is an absolutely disgusting show of a void of ethics of Rush Limbaugh (and I assume a lot of his followers). I just came across this recently, but apparently last summer Rush introduced a "Club Git'mo" campaign. Included in this are T-Shirts with slogans like "Your Tropical Retreat from the Stress of Jihad," and "What Happens at Git'mo Stays at Git'mo."

I can't even explain my abhorrence of this. I don't think torture is a laughing matter, nor is joking about simulated drowning (up to a reported 266 times for one prisoner). Terrorism is no laughing matter and those guilty of conspiring or carrying out acts of terror should be held accountable for their perverse actions. On that same note, torture and a denial of due process is no laughing matter, either. Those responsible for allowing the United States to commit torture (ahem Bush, Cheney, Condi), should be accountable for their crimes against humanity. If they aren't, how can we as a nation claim to stand on a higher moral ground than our enemies?

Oh and Rush? You're a moron.

Ranting Point #2
The Department of Homeland Security recently released a report outlining potential threats of domestic terrorism, pointing out that groups such as veterans and the anti-abortion camp might be easy recruiters by right-wing extremists. Obviously there has been a huge backlash to this report, and Secretary Napolitano has said the report was not well written. Come on guys, the term "extremist" suggests it's a person on the very fringe of a group, not the collective group as a whole (ie Muslims aren't all extremists). Also, when I think of right-wing extremists, I think of abortion clinic bombers and Timothy McVeigh (a veteran). The report doesn't suggest that all veterans are prone to extremism, but that some who are disenfranchised and severely jaded may move toward extremist behaviour.

Also, where where all of you when Bush was labeling lefties as extremists and terrorists during the Iraq War? We were furious when the Patriot Act was passed (and still are), and that's 100-times more damning than DHS' report.

Beer-Themed Theme Parks

It's Monday morning, and my exhaustion is proof of the very packed weekend. Here in DC it was the first weekend of wonderful spring weather - high 70s to low 80s, and sunny (no humidity yet). Our plan was to head south to Williamburg and ride roller coasters all day at Busch Gardens, conveniently owned by Anheuser Busch and more conveniently located next to a Budweiser brewery. They have a deal for Virginia residents - $60 for a pass good though the beginning of September. We were all over that.

But first: officially obtain proof of our Virginia residency! With the early-morning line out the door, we waited at the DMV for about an hour after getting our licenses. There were some problems with mine, so I ended up not being able to get mine, but Richard and Jillian are now bonafide Virginians (to celebrate this fact, we had fried chicken for lunch).

After the DMV we headed out of town, 90 miles to Richmond then another 60 miles east to Williamsburg. After a morning at the DMV, you'd think we'd be seasoned veterans of waiting-in-line... oh so wrong. Here's an approxmiate play-by-play once we finally parked at Busch Gardens:
1:30pm - Parked
1:40pm - Stood in line for the shuttle and rode to the main gate
1:50pm - Arrive at the main gate and stand in line for a ticket
3:20pm - After three or four changes in line (due to inept people's slowness and ghetto people cutting with problems with their tickets) finally purchase our passes and get into the park.

Yea, the DMV was quicker than getting into Busch Gardens!

Perhaps the greatest thing about the park (besides some of the coasters) was the fact that it was a beer-theme park. As such, they sell beer all over the place, you can walk around with your beer, and they even have a giant Bavarian-themed beer hall. It was delightful.



After the park we headed back to Richmond to catch a band, The Duhks, at a beer hall. The band is from Winnipeg but plays a wide style of music and has a numerous influences including country, cajun, and bluegrass, and a few songs were even in French. We got to hang out with the band a bit after the show and talk with them about their music, their history, and their tour.

And that was only Saturday. Sunday we were pretty beat (we got to bed at 3am the night before). Richard and I headed out for brunch at an overly kitchy gay bar/restaurant (imagine if a pride float exploded in a bar) where we were lucky enough to be personally welcomed to the DC area by Freddie, the proprietor. Brunch included four mimosas which, on top of already being tired, made me almost fall asleep. But instead of taking midday naps we met up with Anna Kim who was in town with her mom to visit her sister (who is in med school at GWU). We went out to an area called Eastern Market, a giant outdoor market about two or three blocks long. They had a lot of the standards (jewelry, photographs, paintings) and it was fun to be out in the open air with some of the locals. Anna's mom took us to lunch a fancy French restaurant (though I didn't eat because I was still stuffed from Freddie's). When we finished we bode them adieu and walked around the eastern captiol for a few hours, checking out the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and Union Station.

In all it was an excellent weekend with even better weather. The sun has since turned to rain (expecting about an inch today) but we're already planning next weekend's adventures when the temperatures are again supposed to climb into the sunny 80s.

Live from DC

Greetings from rainy Washington, DC!
The locals say the first day you feel the humidity, it's the beginning of the End. Last Sunday was an exceptionally beautiful day, but also the first day that we actually felt the sultry air. Today it rains, and it is still a bit humid, which admittedly puts an enjoyable spin on the whole rain thing.

To bring things up to speed, our 2-week road trip to the East went better than expected. It was long enough to feel like a true adventure (no breakdowns, and luckily we missed all of the bad weather the entire way), though short enough to feel like we weren't vagabonds. I'm still working on some photos of the sojourn, but highlights included crazy times in Vegas (I won $15 on my first roll at the penny slots!), nearly falling off the Grand Canyon, adopting a slight Southern drawl, and having an 80-year-old Cajun man whose technically spoke English as his second language motor us around a swamp pointing out all of the gators.

And finally, we arrive in Alexandria, Virginia. Tired, broke, and disoriented we only had two days to get our barrings and prepare ourselves for the first day of work.

Work, or Observations After Two Weeks of Working in a Congressional Office
On the road trip I received a call from Rep. Brian Baird's office offering me a $2000 stipend. Sen. Maria Cantwell's office couldn't offer me anything, so I decided to intern with Baird (he represents Southwest Washington). The office is old and small (JFK laid the cornerstone to the building in 1961), but at least we have modern computers that don't require hampster wheels to operate. There are six people in my room (mostly policy advisors and letter writers), two people in the front (scheduler and receptionist), two in the back room (cheif of staff and legislative director), and finally the Congressman's office. If you've seen Charlie Wilson's War, it's a similar lay-out and size.

My boss is very nice and so far pleasant to work with. He took us on a tour up the dome of the capitol building and is very candid with a nerdy sense of humour. The staff at the office have been very nice, and most hail from Washington so no, I will not be developing a Virginian accent.

As for the job itself, my main task is to answer phones and log in constituent mail. I get a lot of cranky old people calling in, and a lot of reactionary-Fox News types, which at least gives me a lot of good content to laugh at during the day. One caller today was literally suggesting that we keep tabs on pregnent immigrant women, so that they can be deported before they give birth (with the hope that the child would not be an American citizen). Yes, these are the people I have to deal with!

I also run random errands, delivering bills to the Cloak Room in the Capitol (bills go in the "hoppa" to be read on the House floor), and getting supplies (ooooh). Here's a photo of me at the top of the rotunda on Friday (3/27/09): http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=15mh9vl&s=5

Highlight of the month of March? I rode the elevator with Geraldo. Yes, his hair is as poofy as it looks (Pert Plus?)

Washington, DC, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Public Transit
My typical commute takes about an hour. Each way. The DC metro is amazing - it's modern, safe, fast, and I haven't seen any graffitti anywhere. I've gotten my metro ride down to about 30-40 minutes each way, but I also ride a shuttle to my apartment so the extra 15-20 minutes of my commute is waiting for that thing. My first impressions of DC were very positive. It was clean, had grand boulevards with massive edifices on each block. There are too many statues to count, and plenty of squares, plazas, and parks. I still think I'm in Europe.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=bhkcia&s=5

We have gone out a couple of times at night to explore the hot spots. Here are the general observations thusfar:

• No one is very attractive.
• Everyone is short (is it the water?)
• Drinks are generally expensive.
• There aren't any cool neighborhoods or concentrated night spots, like Fremont or Capital Hill.

We will continue to endeavour out into the nightlife world, and explore the surroundings, and report back. We haven't had a free weekend yet, and museums close at 5:30, so the goal in the next few weeks is to at least get into one or two Smithsonians.

That's all I am able to write now, I'll update a bit more frequently now that we're finally starting to feel settled and at home.

Miss you all!

No Polio Here

The medical process has been progressing slowly, but at least the end is in sight. I had my physical last week, which included drawing 6 vials of blood, and had everything from A-Zed tested (I'm happy to say I'm very healthy - not even elevated cholesterol!). I got boosters for polio and MMR on Monday and my arm is finally feeling normal. I went to the optomotrist, got new specs, and have one final medical appointment in two weeks. After that, I can send everything in.

That's been all so far... my birthday was yesterday and I have a lot planned for this weekend - it's only Thursday morning and I'm already checked out of work.

As a backup plan in case Peace Corps falls through, or I end up deciding not to go, I'm also applying to a few grad schools. I'm looking into Masters programs in Public Policy and International Development and have a few schools picked out - University of Maryland College Park, American University, and maybe NYU. The GRE is in Decemeber so I've been trying to brush up on my math skills for that (or lack thereof).

I'll update again when I send my medical evaluation to DC!

Granola Bars and Doctor Appointments

This once-a-month posting thing seems to be working out, and is pretty accurate to the speed things are progressing. I spoke with Erin, my recruiter, last Monday (September 8). She successfully nominated me for a water & sanitation project in Africa, leaving in August 2009.

A few things:
My very first feeling was that of disappointment. Water and sanitation was one of the least-favourite options. Basically, I don't want to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere digging latrines for two years. Second, I can't wait until August 2009 - that's too far away. I am ready to leave now, or at least in February/March. Being at my job for another year will drive me crazy, so something there at least needs to change.

But in the days following I began to think more about what was involved and my reasons for applying to the Peace Corps:
1) I want to gain experience in the "real" Africa and third world, experiences that will help me in my future education and career.
2) I want to live abroad and learn a new language.
3) I want to help those less fortunate, and hopefully create something sustainable so that when I leave, my project/device/knowledge will stay and continue to be used.

Digging pit toilets and irrigation ditches does not sound glorious. However, it does accomplish all of my goals. It gets me closer to where I want to be with grad school admission, and also gets my foot in the door with the government (for two years of service, I get one year of federal government seniority and am eligible to apply to government jobs not open to the public).

It is not Wednesday the 17th, and I have decided to continue with my application. At this point that involves getting medical tests and physicals. I haven't received my medical paperwork yet, so until that arrives I can't schedule any appointment. The Peace Corps does reimburse up to a certain amount, though, so that's a benefit. Or I can go to the VA for free :-)

While the decision of continuing with my application has been made, that leaves the "August 2009" departure date to loom. I am going to study for/take the GRE. I am going to keep an eye on volunteer opportunities, or maybe a part-time internship. I'll also visit the job boards every day. I may apply for grad school this year, but I'm still debating that one.

Mid-August Update

To update everyone on what has been going on since the last post, I went in for my formal interview on August 7th with my recruiter. It took about 70 minutes and we discussed everything from basics like hesitations, to hypothetical cultural questions. They mainly wanted to see how I would adapt and fit in, cope with being away for two years, and that I wouldn't embaress the Peace Corps by getting wildly drunk or something.

Afterwards, my recruiter forwarded me several skills forms, targeting a few different project areas including agriculture and forestry, secondary English teaching, community development, NGO development, health, HIV/AIDS, and water and sanitation. I filled these out, basically expanding on what I had already told them on my original application. These were used to guide the phone interview, which happened today (August 22nd).

The phone interview went well, and was about 40 minutes. We talked about the different project areas (above), which ones I was interestd in, and which ones I wasn't. I also talked about my hesitations on some regarding skill level involved, but definitely not motivation. My least favourites were water and sanitiation, and agriculture and forestry. The others I'm pretty stoked about! But after the interview came the news of difficulty: due to the weak dollar and funding cuts, the Peace Corps will not be able to offer the same number of positions as in years past. Thus, the ones they do offer will be more competitive. My recruiter reassured me, however, that I am qualified and suitable for Peace Corps service, and that she doesn't have concerns for me finding a placement.

So, what happens next?
In the coming weeks the programs will open more positions on a rolling basis (several each week, and a big chunk in mid-September). Currently there are two HIV/AIDS programs that I am an "almost-match" for, both leaving for Africa in February. My recruiter will nominate me for these, sending my application to a placement officer in DC who know more of the specifics involved. If I'm qualified I get dibs on the placement. If I'm not, I'll either be denied, or told to get the necessary experience before I depart (in which case I get dibs, contingent on this experience). I should know by next Friday-ish on the results, and will get back with my recruiter to discuss the next steps if I am rejected from these spots.

So that's that. It has suddenly become very real - hearing her say departing for Africa in February -- That's six months away!! Holy crap! It is nice, though, to put my life here in Seattle on a timeframe. I'll be a lot more motivated to go do things, hang out with people, etc., and I am really confident that the next few months will be some of my best here with my friends.