hello all,

blogging will resume soon.  just settling in here in Omaruru.  much to share.  stay tuned.

-jim

Super Size Me Too

I've been pouring over the 101 competing Peace Corps Africa packing lists that are on the internet and trying to create one that makes sense for me.  One suggests two pairs of underwear, another suggests ten, one says that underwear is abandon by many more than admit it.  I went with ten and will hope that I have the strength and determination to not abandon them.  Most packing list discrepancies aren't as easy for me to reconcile.  One step at a time.

I find myself easily distracted from my packing mission.  I try to remind myself that my experience there will be directly impacted by just how much I pay attention to what I'm doing right now.  However, at this point, I mostly just think about my friends and family.  I'm happy I was able to catch up with as many as I have over the past 6 weeks and sad that I wasn't able to see some others.  The one benefit to ending the saying-goodbye period is that I can stop going to restaurants every night.  I feel like I'm making a sequel to Super Size Me.  

Thank You to all of my friends and family that let me stay with them over the past 7 months.  The hiccup in my Peace Corps placement was shocking and stressful.  Without your support, these past months would have been much more difficult.  Rosellen, Melissa, and Mark - thank you for your encouraging words during this period.  Kate, Jim, Mary, Rob, Mom and Dad - thank you for all of your hospitality.  You never hesitated to let me use your homes as if they were my own and for that I will be forever grateful.


My nieces Maggie and Katie keeping their nomad Uncle Goofer company

If anybody would like to write or send a package, I've provided mailing instructions over there on the right side of your screen.  My address will change in about 3 months when I get my permanent location.


I have to keep this post short this time as I really do need to get back to packing.  I'm now off to buy duct tape, superglue, a travel sewing kit, a soccer ball, playing cards, and 10 speed stick sport deodorants (Namibian deodorant quality is apparently not so great).  It's unlikely that I'll post again before I'm in Africa.  Peace Corps training is intense, but I'll do my best to post as regularly as time and internet availability permit.  Take care and thanks for reading.