I was dropped from moonbeams and sailed on shooting stars.

Obligatory "why the Peace Corps" entry, you all. ;)

I was asked during my interview why I had decided to apply for the Peace Corps. I responded with something about how I thought, given the nature of today's current international political and social landscape, the best thing that I could ever hope to do for both the USA and the international community would be to help people help themselves. Actors can't become contributors until they are self-sufficient. So, I'm interested in helping to build infrastructure through education...the strengthening of the global community is just one really sweet added bonus, really.

But that really isn't an acceptable answer when it comes to answering people when they ask...it isn't immediate enough, I guess. Yes, there are as many domestic needs that warrant attention. Yes, I could begin a career and concern myself with benefits and retirement funds. Yes, I could go back to school and learn about something a little more academically in order to make myself more competitive out in the "real world."

But, quite honestly, why? And, for the record, the real world sucks and I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a thing. Sucks to your status quo. :P  People waste their lives doing what they think they are supposed to be doing instead of doing what they are truly passionate about...and engaging in the latter truly benefits both self and community immensely more than resigning oneself to the former. 

I had a conversation recently that has remained vivid in my mind.  I was talking with a friend of mine who is an exchange student from Burundi. He wanted to know why anyone would be willing to leave the United States, the land of creature comfort and opportunity, and go to a developing nation.  One of the incredible things about the human race is that we are a highly adaptable lot. If one goes somewhere new with open heart and open mind, one comes to understand that leaving what is familiar doesn't mean one abandons comfort and happiness. It means that one expands the arsenal of options.  Anywhere you are, you can choose to focus on the things that are missing from you or you can focus on the new availabilities.  I was lucky, I guess, since I learned this when I was still young. I spent too long missing the Canadian things and missed out on enjoying the American things as well as I should have. I also used to have this weird sense of guilt, like I shouldn't be enjoying the American things because it was treasonous to my Canadian roots. I know better now. While I am serving with the Peace Corps (*crosses fingers*), I'll not be so concerned with what I am lacking that I neglect to appreciate or even see what I am gaining. 

In other news, I got a letter from my recruiter on Wednesday basically encouraging me to hang in there. It came with a nifty PC sticker. Thoughtful. My toolkit hasn't been updated in over a month...meaning I still have a legal hold, which doesn't really bode well in my mind. I think my file is basically hanging out in nominee limbo. I can't wait to get this medical thing knocked out. I remain beyond apprehensive about this wisdom teeth business.

I'm down to 8 and a half months...and definitely still counting.