John's Next Step

Staging gets everyone prepared for the travel and is a prelude to Pre-Service Training in the country.  Staging was nice with modules following a pattern of the trainer giving the information, small group discussing the subject, then everyone giving feedback. Staging yesterday started with ice breakers at noon and then training started a little bit before 2 pm and ended early, a fair bit before 7 pm.  22 “invitees” arrived – a nice group of men and women – at the end of staging we were Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) I am the only one anywhere close to using an AARP card – wonder if they give discounts in Ghana. Today will be spent waiting in the hotel for the ride to the airport, waiting in the airport until 6 pm or so, flying to Frankfurt, waiting in Germany, flying to Ghana – arriving about 7 pm local time in Accra (2 pm central time with daylight savings time).  Time to get to know the members of the group.  We all have fears and ambitions, streng...

Last week, my last full week stateside, was full of activities.  I was able to visit my family in Arkansas and help celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday.  The visit was WONDERFUL – one last face to face time with family before departure.  The visit was short, but a short amount of time is normal for people so close to departure to the Peace Corps.  My wonderful daughter also came into town one last to time to help with seeing me off at a party yesterday.  Thanks to Brandon, Chris, Missy, and all those able to come by say farewell. Distance changes the family dynamics.  I've been away from my family for more than half of my life. My relationship is not the same as family members who live near each other.  My relationships are strong, but it is easier for me not to get under other’s skin or to let them get under mine during short visits.  It is not that I would not or could not annoy people – they know that I could.  The distance just means ...

I've been talking with family, friends, and fellow volunteers.  I'm well less than a month before departure.  This seems to be about the time that volunteering for the Peace Corps becomes “really real” – “crazy real” – “scary real”.  Scary for volunteers, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, other relatives, and close friends.  Now is the time when some families and friends put pressure on future volunteers to re-examine their commitment.  Now is the time for future volunteers to reexamine the significant commitment staring them in the face even if they have a very supportive family like mine. How can you leave now? Some younger volunteers are being asked “What about your great grandmother (grandfather, aunt, uncle, etc.)?”  They are being told that they’ll miss the first year in the life of a niece or nephew. Graduations and other life events.  The impact on their career and future earning potential might be explained or hammered home...

Relationships.  There is something human, spiritual, and beneficial about building and maintaining relationships.  Surely, it is a source of strength and happiness.  As I will soon be a quarter of the way around the globe I’m taking the opportunity to visit family one last time before departure.  I’ll be visiting my family in Arkansas later in the month and expect to write another post reflecting on family before I leave. I recently returned from visiting Theresa’s family in Michigan and Canada.  I drove up last Thursday and returned yesterday.  Ugh, more than a few hours in the car, but so worth it.  I wish I should have stayed longer and visited more people.  Still, it was a wonderful visit.  I want to express my gratitude for the gifts, particularly the gift of time, so generously given.  The trip also got me out of the house and away from the concern of things left to do. I was able to spend an afternoon with Theresa’s...

Things around the house I have a four bedroom house and four weeks left.  My daughter came in from Kansas City for the weekend to visit and to help organize the stuff in the house.  My oldest son and his wife also came by yesterday to help.  I’m glad I had some other people helping me figure this stuff out.  Several hours of: “Do you want this?”, “Ok to donate this?”, “Do you really want to throw that away?”, etc.  It is both hard to let go of stuff and liberating, mostly hard.  I’m right in the middle of the emotions, a messy house, and boxes – some partially packed, others empty.  Many people who are farther along report a satisfying and liberating feeling.  At this time my emotions are raw, memories brought back to the surface and worries about memories lost. I have so much to do in these last four weeks.  I need to visit friends and relatives.  I need to keep working on the house and the yard.  Grass still needs to be mow...

Saturday was the last day of the morning men’s discussion group at my Church.  The program is called “That Man is You” or TMIY.  In our parish we meet on Saturday mornings starting in the fall and ending in the spring.  We’ve been meeting for three years now.  The best part of the meeting is the table discussions.  My table, #2, is the best #1 table.  The guys got me a picture as a going away present.  Good-bye all, I’m going to miss the fellowship and the breakfasts!   This was the first week of my retirement and it has given my time to think about what needs to be done before I leave.  On Tuesday I had a happy hour that lasted about four hours.  I would like to thank my friends from Express Scripts, MasterCard, and from Church who stopped by to wish me well and to exchange good-byes and good luck.  It was a nice time and I wished I would have been able to talk more to everyone – thanks again. Selling or renting a hou...

Thanks so much to all my friends who came by Dave and Busters.  It was very nice seeing everyone, even if I was not able to talk to each of you as much as I would have liked. Much success everyone !!!!