Staging Kit and Road Trip!

My staging kit FINALLY came in the mail yesterday! I immediately started reading the contents included inside, and filling out the paperwork that I'll be turning in on February 20. Though I was expecting the journey to start in Philadelphia (where I planned on getting a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and 2 drinks courtesy of Philip, thanks to a bet we had on the Chargers vs. Colts playoff game), it turns out we are going to Washington DC (and NO that does not mean he is off the hook lol). However it just so happens that Jenny Hauser, who I know from way back in the days of Vista High School, lives and works in DC, so I'm going to hang out with her while I'm there. Another thing that has changed is the day I will be leaving. On February 20th we have to register at 1pm, which is 10am on the West coast. That means that even if I were to get on the earliest possible flight out of San Diego, which are usually about 5:30am, I wouldn't make it in time, because flying from the West to the East coast takes 5 hours. Luckily Peace Corps takes this into consideration, and they are flying me out on February 19th and paying for my extra night in the hotel! There are also other people in the group that will be arriving there the same night I will be, most notably Kerry and Rachel (who I will be meeting up with, along with Derek, in Seattle on February 9th), so we get to hang out! I will be leaving at 10:50am (Pacific Standard Time), land in Chicago at 4:45pm (Chicago time), leave Chicago at 6, and arrive in DC at 8:45 (Eastern Standard Time). If you couldn't already tell, I'm really excited about it!

Tomorrow I leave for another trip. I'll be leaving at about 8am, and will be driving up to Fresno to visit several of my college friends. I'll be staying at Will's house. On Saturday afternoon I'll leave and go up to Davis to visit Steve, my friend from, well, 3rd grade, and will stay until Monday morning. After that I'll probably go back to Fresno and hang out with Will again. I'll most likely come back Tuesday morning. I'll be bringing my new digital camera with me, and I'll take pictures to post up on here and my facebook and myspace pages. Good times will be had by all!

No More Football...

Now that the Chargers' season is over, and since the last game of the season features the New England Chowdah-heads.... I mean Patriots, I won't be watching football until the 2010 season. I hate the Patriots too much, and watching them is too frustrating and makes me so angry, that I will not be watching this year's Super Bowl. Perhaps football will be shown for us in Zambia on Thanksgiving, and maybe the next two Super Bowls, but as for my routine of watching football every weekend during the fall, that won't happen until the 2010 season.





Yo estoy muy triste.

No Matter What

This football season has been, well, crazy. With all the upsets in college football, which were incredible to watch, to the NFL season as a whole. My focus in the NFL, as it pretty much has been since I can remember (though I also really liked the Bills as a little kid, and when the Chargers were too embarassing to watch in the late 90's I focused on the Jaguars for a few years), has been on the Chargers. This season was a rollercoaster as far as the Chargers are concerned. At one point, when it looked like firing Marty and hiring Norv Turner was not only unfair (which it still was) but the dumbest move ever, I was half-ready to kick AJ Smith straight in the balls. But for 2 months now they've finally caught a groove; Norv and the team seem to have come to an understanding, and they have been looking really good, and most people, myself included, have realized that Norv Turner is actually a pretty damn good coach.

Then there has been the Patriots. As much as I love the Chargers, I might hate the Patriots even more. I hate them for their flawlessness, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were to come out that Tom Brady sold his soul to Satan, since he never seems to throw a bad pass and his receivers never seem to drop them. I hate them because they seem to have an answer to everything that any team throws at them. I hate how nothing can ever distract them, ever. I hate them because of their lucky breaks and calls by the refs that always seem to go their way. I hate them because, well, jealousy I guess. Normally, it's very unlike me to say such horrible things as "I hope Belichick gets cancer" or "send in a back-up and go straight for Brady's knee." Only football has the power to change my normally mild-mannered and peaceful personality into a blood-thirsty maniac (God, I love football). I'm pretty sure I've made several people FREAK OUT by those comments, and to them I'm truly sorry (you all know I'm normally not like that anyways).

All week all I've been hearing is how the Chargers don't have a chance against the Patriots. That makes me mad. They do have a chance! Is it likely? I don't know, probably not, with how the Chowdah-heads have been playing all year. But keep in mind that they said that last week before they played the Colts. But there was hope then, and there is still hope now.

No matter what happens, everybody has already counted the Chargers out, they aren't "supposed" to win, and they weren't "supposed" to make it this far anyways, and so I'm already happy. I'm happy that they have already proved everybody wrong. But I will closely watch this game, and I'll keep my hope no matter what. I hope that LT and Rivers and Gates are healthy, that the team as a whole steps up, and they go up and down the field on offense, and that the defense comes up with enough stops and turnovers to seal it. If they lose, then I'll shut up, swallow my pride, and give the Patriots the credit that they would deserve. And if the Chargers do win (God willing), you better believe I'm going to gloat like I've never gloated before. So on that note, I'll close with a quote from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which he said before the Chargers vs Texans game the week after the fires (which I attended with Joe V, his brother Richie, and others):

GO CHARGERS! GOOO!!!!!

Guilty for the Deeds of Others

I always feel guilty when I see, either in person or on television, an African-American with the same last name as me. There was Anita Hill, who accused Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment back in the 90's, the basketball player Grant Hill, the U of Wisconsin runningback PJ Hill, just to name a few. Yesterday I was in Starbucks and met a black woman (either going to work, on her break, or just leaving work) with a name tag on, and her last name "Hill" seemingly staring at me. It's embarrassing to me, knowing that some of my ancestors owned slaves (thankfully not on both sides of my family though). There is a family story of my paternal grandfather having a similar run-in with a well-dressed African-American man in Kentucky (where the Hill family has its roots) when he was younger, and the black man thanked him for his grandfather sending his freed slaves to college (or something to that effect), which seems to give some members of my father's side the view that they were "good" slave owners, it still doesn't take away from the fact that they owned other human beings as property, and undoubtedly committed some of the same atrocities as any other slave owners of the time.

I am currently reading a book I have just bought (thanks Grandma Sue for the huge Barnes & Noble gift card!!!) about Rastafarianism. Though the book as a whole is a focus on the Rastafarian religion, the first few chapters deal with the state of the African slaves in Jamaica, which was far worse than the slaves in the USA. If you thought "Roots" was bad, you should see what it was like for the slaves in the Caribbean.

All in all, I realize that my time in Zambia with the Peace Corps will not delete the ugly past of slavery in my family. But perhaps, by helping the status of an African country's education system, I could slightly make up for it somehow? If not that, maybe it will help at least distance myself from the bad deeds of my ancestors and past countrymen. Then again, that might take a lifetime of work. Perhaps I could do another Peace Corps stint in the Caribbean, or be a teacher at an inner-city school. Some of you are already aware that I prefer working at schools that qualify as "underpriveledged."

Post-Christmas/New Years Vacation -or- Cheer Up! It's 2 years in Africa, Not a Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection!

For the past few weeks, I have been irritated by the tone most of the people around me seem to use when talking about me leaving soon: as if I was dying of cancer and February 20th is my expected date of death. It bugged me, because it's not like I'm never going to return! I'm going to go do this Peace Corps thing for 2 years; it will benefit the village I'll be living in, and it will benefit me as well (more responsible, more mature, more prepared to be a real grown-up in America with a real job). I was sick of answering questions and comments as if I was denying the seriousness of some flesh-eating disease or lung cancer. However, I realized something the past few days.

I just got back from a trip my dad and I took to Arizona, to visit my grandma and uncle, Kevin, and his family. My grandma is 83 and has had an aneurysm on her aorta for a while now, so I'm not sure if she'll even be around by the time I get back. When my dad and I first arrived, I tolerated the usual questions about Africa and how long it is and how much things are going to change... But coming from an 83 year old woman who is trying to get the most out of every opportunity to see her family members (and on my dad's side of the family, that's a LOT of people) having a somber attitude about me going to Zambia for 2 years and 3 months seemed much more appropriate. Coming from her, I didn't find it irritating that she would be sad that I'd be leaving, instead I totally understand: she's afraid that it might have been the last time she'd see me, and that I'd see her (in this life/world/whatever the hell you believe happens after you die). Considering a few rocky years I'd had with my dad due to his ex-wife (my ex-step-mom) during high school that also took a couple of years away from her being able to get to know me, made it even more understandable. I also understand that everybody else who is getting all bummed about me going to Africa is only doing so because they will miss me. That's fine, I get it, and I'll miss you too. But this aside, unless you are also suffering from a debilitating illness, please stop talking about me going to Zambia in a month and a half as if it were my last month and a half to live. This should be a happy time! This is going to be a fun and very educational experience for me, and I am NOT dying, so pick your chin up and look on the bright side. Plus, keep in mind that I already graduated college over a year and a half ago, and that seems like just yesterday; 2 years will go by surprisingly fast as well.

Visions of Zambia

So as I have mentioned to many of the people that I see during my daily routine, Zambia has started to consume most of my thoughts. I'm finding it harder and harder to concentrate at work, as is evident of a drawing I recently did during a morning before-school shift. Like most of my drawings and paintings, it started as just a picture in my mind; I really don't know what the Zambian landscape will look like, it could be completely flat, and therefore those rocky hills would be wrong. And I'm not sure how common wildebeests will be in Zambia (I heard that a lot of the wildlife has been pushed to the game reserves). But I'm excited to find out! Besides, it's underlying meaning is all that matters to me, so it doesn't really matter anyways, right?

p.s. I also did one of orcas, which has also been a reocurring theme with my YMCA morning crayon drawing series. If you have seen my earlier crayon drawings, you can tell that I've gotten used to crayons as an artistic medium. You know what? I'm gonna show this one off too.

Peace Corps Blog Page Update

So, apparently my blog page has been added to the Peace Corps list of blog links. Also, I have found out about more people that I'll apparently be going with, thanks to the latest Peace Corps blog links update and snooping around Eric Hastie's blog (a dude who is going with us that I have known about for a little while now). I'm just wondering if there are going to be any more people that will join us, and if yes, how many? February 20th is getting closer and closer, and I'm getting more and more impatient!

New Alpha Blondy Album!

Alpha Blondy, the international reggae star and arguably my favorite musician, released a new album last week. I bought it off iTunes; it was only $9.99 and it has 19 songs! Not every song is a gem but it's worth the price, because if you buy it by the individual songs you'd spend more, since 11 of them are definitely worth buying. Alpha Blondy, if you don't know, is from Ivory Coast, in west Africa, and mixes African influences with reggae music, resulting in a very unique sound. He speaks many languages, and most of his songs are in French or his native language (Dioula I think it is?) but that doesn't matter because his music sounds so good anyways! I'm going to try to bring my ipod with me to Zambia, with little portable speakers and a battery powered external power source, of course with plenty of rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger. From what I have read, reggae and rap music are very popular there, and I'm sure if the Zambian people in the village where I will be living haven't heard of Alpha Blondy yet, they will like it. Of course, this may change because I don't want to seem like I'm showing off with my fancy technology stuff, but I don't plan on bringing anything else besides a digital camera, and bringing my music would help keep me sane in an unfamiliar environment.

My First Blog Posting Ever!

Well, as previously stated, this is my first posting on my new blog page. Soon after receiving my Peace Corps invitation to Zambia, I discovered (and my grandma discovered and told me about a few hours later) a page which had links to the blog pages of other Peace Corps volunteers in Africa. So anyways, I decided to start up my own blog page for three reasons: 1) in order to avoid falling behind and becoming a technological outcast amongst my Peace Corps peers, and 2) to provide an easy way for my family and friends to keep up with my experiences in Zambia, and 3) for any random people who happen to come across my blogs and have enough spare time to read my postings.

Since this is my first blog posting, I thought I'd give a brief overview of why I chose to join the Peace Corps and the events that have led up to this point. I first thought about the Peace Corps while attending Fresno State. I had known about it since I was young, but after taking several anthropology classes and religious studies classes, my interest in other cultures (which I've always had interest in) grew to the point that I started filling out the online application. However, with graduation looming, I felt pressure (self-imposed by the way) to get started on my career of choice: teaching. Thus, after graduating in May 2006, I moved back to Vista, my hometown. My original intent was to get my teaching credential from CSU San Marcos, and work for the Mottino YMCA's afterschool programs. However, I soon decided that I needed a break from school (c'mon, I spent 18 straight years of my life in school, and needed a break!) and decided to finally finish the application and join the Peace Corps. I continued working for the YMCA and also got a second job at a local Starbucks; I have gained some excellent work experience from the YMCA for the future, and have met some awesome people by working at Starbucks, but I feel that my departure with the Peace Corps to Zambia to work for the Rural Education Development (RED) project couldn't have come at a more perfect time in my life!

I am STOKED about moving to Zambia, and have been spending a lot of time looking at YouTube clips and pages with information on Zambian culture. I feel confident that one of my main concerns, their food, won't be as much of an issue as it would be in most other countries; nshima sounds like it'll be pretty good. As long as I don't have to eat any animal testicles, or dog meat, I should be just fine. What I really look forward to is the wildlife of Zambia. I had a membership to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park from my infancy to about age 16, and the African animals have always been among my favorites. I look forward to pulling out a sketch pad and drawing the wildlife and the scenery. I also look forward to adapting to a new and very different culture from my own. This may seem crazy to some, and by no means do I think it will be an easy transition, but I think that learning the Zambian way of life might be the most rewarding and important aspect of my Peace Corps experience.