So on Tuesday when I got back from Florida, upon arrival I discovered I had received my staging kit. The staging kit includes all sorts of crap – how to make plane ticket reservations, how to go through the adjustments, paperwork to fill out, info info info. So I called up the office Wednesday morning and scheduled my plane flight out to DC on May 4th. Interestingly, the lady in the travel office told me I had a good politicians name and that I should be one. “Haha, maybe when I get back,” I commented to her, to which she replied, “Oh no, you should be one now.” Go figure. But anyway, the game plan for now is to kill time and start to ‘really’ pull things together so I don’t have to be running around with my head cut off. I just made my ‘last’ (I hope) big purchase (or perhaps my absolute last purchase) today and got a battery charger with rechargeable batteries. Apparently the technology has improved…so perhaps I can continue my miser ways in Nicaragua despite an abysmal salary. I really doubt I’m going to need a ton of batteries, so I’m just hoping things work out that way.
In other, much cooler news. I’m cleaning out my bike stockpile and selling crap I don’t need. So if any of you need a bike saddle out there (a Selle San Marco Regal in Like New condition), let me know! Furthermore, I’m getting rid of my mountain bike. First, because I never ride it. Second, because I’m not going to ride it. Third, a mountain bike is worthless in the city and I’m not too interested in mountain biking. So I’m trading Jon it for a bike with a wicked logo and a set of wheels. Yea, it’s a total ripoff on my part – but with all the technical know-how he has taught me, I simply can’t afford to not rip myself off. We’re gonna retension the wheels on Bella so I can finally get her out of the garage. Don’t get me wrong, Magda is amazing, but sometimes a guy just needs pure, unadulterated, reckless speed, and that’s where Bella reigns as champion. I’m hoping I can convince him to give me some crappy parts so I can build the bike right then and there so I can have 3 ridable bikes that I can hastily fly around the city on. The new bike, which I have yet to name, I could really turn into a beater bike…particularly since I want it simply for the headtube badge.
As of now this is how my last 23 days in Denver look:
12th of April – Work on bikes with Jon
13th of April – Go up to Boulder to meet the writer of the Nicaragua guidebook, and former Nicaragua Peace Corps Volunteer Josh Berman
18th of April – Enon Concert
19th of April – Breakfast with Mr. Lindstrom (my 7th grade math teacher)
22nd of April – Kimya Dawson concert
23rd of April – Go to Dentist to get a cleaning since I have new insurance
23rd of April – Stars concert in Boulder
25th of April – Go to specialist to get my arm looked at (I think I tore my rotator cuff?)
27th of April – Have lunch with the girls
3rd of May – Swell Season concert
And on another note:
I was fine and dandy with Peace Corps. Totally without a fear in the world until they sent me this damn staging kit, which contained a certain book entitled “A few ‘minor’ adjustments”. In this book they proceed to tell you that everything is going to suck with the exception being – “Hot damn your housing situation is going to be a whole lot nicer than you think!” But, to give you an idea, I’ll give you a summary:
You’re going to be lonely, miserable, sick all the time, hate the food, hate the weather, not be used to the culture, can’t let us down, will get out of training and be totally screwed because what we teach you in training isn’t entirely plausible, incredibly screwed if you don’t take your own initiative.
Meanwhile, also enclosed was a book for families of volunteers. This book, as my mom put it, “…really made me feel a lot better but I think it’s just all bullshit propaganda.” All I have to say to this is, Peace Corps, who the hell are you trying to convince? The volunteer or the parents? I had no reservations prior to reading this bullshit negative publication they through at me. Frankly, I knew what was at stake, and more or less know what the situation is going to be like – different. I’ve travelled enough to know that Peace Corps isn’t a lovely basket of flowers – that’s not why I applied. What are they trying to do? Root out all the people who were totally clueless? I thought they were upfront enough about this. Where would I be without you Peace Corps, you informed me. “Predicting the behavior of others is essential for any interaction, whether at home or abroad.” I’m so glad this was articulated in such a way to me, I’m just an ignorant college graduate with no idea about interactions.
You’re not scaring me Peace Corps.
