The First Step

This day marks exactly a year since my graduation from Richmond, and I think it is pretty fitting that today is also the day that I took my first real step toward Nicaragua and the Peace Corps.

After a wild, sleep deprived weekend in Richmond, I woke up this morning in Washington, D.C, the site of my first orientation and departure. For those of you on the 2100 block who let me crash with them, and for those of you who made it down to Richmond, I thank you sincerely. This was the perfect way to spend my last weekend in the states, full of witty banter, love, and laughter. I wouldn't have spent it any other way. So much fun in fact, that I was anxious and worried about my upcoming day. I felt so comfortable and had so much fun with everyone I saw this weekend, that I started to second guess my decison. But in these past weeks, I've been second guessing myself a lot.

But the orientation today changed that, and it was here at the conference room of a Holiday Inn that I got to meet the 47 other Peace Corps volunteers that are leaving for Nicaragua with me tomorrow. I had it in my head that people were going to be prissy, uptight, and by the book (I don't know why), but I was happily mistaken. Of the 47, about half have graduated within the past year, and the majority of the rest are in their late 20's to early 30's. But there are also a couple of wild cards in the mix, with 2 men in their mid 50's. I can't imagine how they must feel being surrounded by us young whipper snappers. The ratio of men to women is about 60-40, and their are even 2 married couples in the mix. And the vibe that I got from nearly everyone has been reassuring and even exciting. Right off the bat I was able to identify with many of the guys and girls my ages, bonding over soccer, music, and college basketball (and how briefly Richmond, VA was at it's center).

After 5 hours of ice breakers and group events, a couple of us went out to grab our last American meal for awhile. And what is more American than a good ol' fashion cheeseburger and a Anchor Brewing Company Liberty Ale? Absolutely nothing. Knowing I wouldn't be eating or drinking like this for awhile, I savored every last bit of month. In a word, delcious.

This could be my last post for awhile now, as I am only hours away from offically leaving the country, and don't know what my internet accessiblilty will be in the coming weeks. And as wierd as it is to say, by this time tomorrow, I'll have been in Granada, Nicaragua for almost 12 hours. I take my first step towards my big adventure in the morning, and I need to rest up. For those of you worried about the next time you see me (and I'm worried about seeing you all too) just remember it's not goodbye, it's only see you later.

"And yet, and then someday, this new road will be the old road too."