Peace Corps, dinner, and a chat with the Ex

My Friday was filled was all sorts of interesting things, and I love love love when it has an international touch to it! I am actively creating my own international destiny and it is becoming an amazing experience!

This morning I contacted a bunch of organizations to get my English teaching volunteer hours with (I need 25). This is in preparation for my upcoming year in Namibia.

Later, I went to a Peace Corps info session on projects in Africa. I was the first one to arrive and met this wonderful sister who was in charge of the event. She was also a returned Peace Corps volunteer (she served in Madagascar) as well as a currently a Peace Corps recruiter. The session began with the showing of a 2 hour documentary titled "Running the Sahara". The premise was sort of silly to me, but I could appreciate the overall message as well as the beautiful scenery and people of Africa. The film was about 3 male marathon athletes (two Americans and one Asian) who decided to take on the feat of running across the entire Sahara Desert. Yes, they actually ran all the way across Northern Africa, from Senegal to Egypt. They did it in about 110 days totaling 4,620 miles. Their journey included the likes of weather patterns (for example a sandstorm), border crossing issues, disagreements with each other, and the various African people they interacted with along the way.

In the end, I'm glad that I attended, because I got some good insight into exactly how I need to amp up my resume in order to be accepted as a volunteer. I also learned that I can apply to the Peace Corps while I am abroad in Namibia. Who knows what Namibia will lead to or where life will take me... I may never return. I could meet a partner, I could have another job opportunity in that country or another in Africa, I could come back and marry and have a family, or I could simply spend another year with the program that I've been accepted to. It's tough to say, but for now I would like to eventually participate in the Peace Corps.

I must say that I was a little taken a back by how nonchalant and passive most of the returned volunteers were (minus the sister mentioned above who served in Madagascar, but aren't Black folks always exceptional or at least expected to be?). I'm not saying you have to as charismatic as Oprah, but they were just so average in their presentation. No effort in retelling what an awesome experience they had. It's such a waste when people get so comfortable that they don't take advantage of a dynamic opportunity like the Peace Corps. I know one thing, I would parlay that into a such a seriously dynamic career. I'm talking MINIMUM working for a U.S. embassy abroad. I simply would not be able to come back and be average.

After that I had dinner with a friend of mine who is a diplomat from Barbados. Although he has his faults, he's really a wonderful person and we have developed a fun friendship. I guess his Aries wittiness fits with my Virgo finesse.

Then around 11p I get a call from the West Indian diplomat ex whose up in Canada. Of course, I had nothing to say in the beginning. I was still fuming about the way he has in my opinion, disappeared on me, and I was finally beginning to accept that it was time for me to move on. Now here he comes calling me... like get your life figured out dude. Anyway, he then started asking me questions about my plans to go to the Bahamas in September for my birthday with my best friend. Then he asked me when Labor Day was. See, he was supposed to be visiting me in August, but that was up in the air after he vanished into thin air. So I guess this was his way of hinting at making plans for it? So weird! Why not just come out and say you're trying to make your plans to visit me??? *scratches head*

Towards the middle of the convo, I got annoyed by some question he asked, and then it all came out. All my feelings were unleashed. He said I was "demonizing" him and telling one side of the story. I told him he was just not willing to accept and acknowledge his share of the blame for how things got to where they were (this is getting old right?). After that he was sleepy and so the convo ended. Somehow I feel better having told him exactly how I feel. I'm not sure if that is secretly because he called (which I knew he eventually would). Usually I feel guilty for letting my emotions "get the best of me". Yet tonight I feel like I will make no apologies for them and I'm okay with that. Anyway, I refuse to get too caught up in this foolishness ever again. I am finally remembering how to focus on me and my own future and it feels good.