John's Next Step

Everything packed.  49 lbs in the big bag and 47.5 lbs in my backpack.  Extra room in both all bags. I’ve finished packing and wanted to share my method of packing, rather than a detailed list of every item I’m taking.   I’m taking two large bags to be checked along with a small backpack, and a computer bag as carry on.  My small backpack should be sufficient for staging and the first few days of training on the island.  The rest of the stuff I think I might need during the few months of training is in one of the bags.  The second large bag, my backpack, is reserved for site and I should not need items from that bag during training. Small backpack I’ll be flying to Miami on Sunday afternoon.  Monday will be meetings and paperwork before final departure for St. Lucia Tuesday morning.  All I need for the first week is a few shirts, a pair of slacks, and such.  Not pictured in my shaving kit.  I also have a wallet and coin purs...

My visit to Belgium, France, and Holland was made great by the hospitality of some dear friends. My friend Gilbert picked me up in Brussels and took me to his home and family in Mons.  He drove me all around Belgium and into France.  I stayed several days longer than I had originally planned because of their amazing hospitality. Gilbert and his family Gilbert and me in his background A brass guardhouse monkey in the Mons on the Grand Place.  Rubbing with left hand for good luck. There is beer in Belgium.  My surprise was when we visited family and friends I would be served beer in the appropriate glass designed for the beer. Bar in Mons made from old copper brewing equipment Selection of some beers available There are also waffles in Belgium. Different options for waffles This picture does not give justice to the shale hill that my friend and I climbed in his attempt to kill me or something on my first full ...

OK - I thought I had posted this already.  Europe went well - pictures to follow .... This week will be more thoughts on why I’m taking these next steps.  In part this is to provide the reader with context for the path I’m on, in part to capture my thoughts for myself, and in part – to stall until I can post pictures and stories of my Peace Corps experience.  But first, … Trip to Europe I leave for Europe this Wednesday.   At some point I really need to think about packing.   I did wash cloths today in preparation so that is a start.   I've lived out of a knapsack with three changes of cloths for weeks at a time, so I'm more relaxed about packing these days.   However, that was as a grungy Peace Corps volunteer so I will need more cloths and a few nice things to wear as a tourist. Next week I will be radio silent, not being creative enough to write a blog post ahead of time.  Hopefully, I will have remembered to pack my camera and I ca...

“I think at some point we might want to think about volunteering for the Red Cross” After the tsunami in 2004 my wife was at the computer ready to make a donation to the International Red Cross to support relief efforts in the area.  I was sitting in a recliner watching television in an adjoining room. She called out, “How much should we donate to the Red Cross?” I replied, “The usual amount.” As an afterthought I added, “I think at some point we might want to think about volunteering for the Red Cross.” When a guy says something like it should be obvious to anyone what he is saying.   I wanted to continue to sit on my butt but feel better about myself without putting any skin in the game.  What is it so hard for women to understand men? My wife (always the much better half) came into the room 5 minutes later and told me that she had signed up to volunteer and now it was my turn. And so began my time as a Red Cross volunteer.  We did local disaster res...

Today I got my staging information - so happy to get it before my trip to Europe. Staging is the period of time on American soil before boarding the international flight.  My staging for Ghana was in Washington D.C. and my staging for Eastern Caribbean will be in Miami. This time staging begins at 5 pm on May 28 with registration and introductions.  Memorial Day on the 29th will be full of paperwork and some training before the flight to St. Lucia scheduled for late morning on the 30th. We will be given one last opportunity to back-out of serving before getting on the flight.  I understand some people back out during staging, but it did not happen last time.  Last time I heard that one person did pull out about 2 days before staging. Even though my group will be serving on one of 4 island nations of Dominica, Grenada & Carriacou, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines we will do most of our pre-service training (PST) on St. Lucia. Pre-service ...

Announced last week was the apparently accidental death of Peace Corps Volunteer to Panama.  It appears that he slipped and fell hitting his head and then into a stream. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, including those in Panama.

Google view of my trip I'm off the Peace Corps around the end of May.  During the beginning of May I’m going to be visiting friends in Europe for a couple of weeks.  I have three friends that I will be spending some time with and some time on my own exploring various places on my own. I'll miss tulip season in the Netherlands Amsterdam to Mons, Belgium Mons, Belgium I will be flying in and out of Amsterdam. From the airport I’ll travel by train to either Mons or Brussels Belgium, likely to Mons. where I'll spend a few days with a friend from a past job.    I understand there will be bowling and beer involved.   Mons to Lille France Lille France My friend will drive me to Lille France where I will spend the weekend with the daughter of a friend from Theresa’s work.  That Sunday I think there will be museums. Lille France to Brussels Brussles I’ll take the train from Lille back to Brussels to see the...