Leaving on a Jet Plane

72 hours...

In 72 hours I will be on the ground in Managua, Nicaragua, preparing to start the next 27 months as an agriculture volunteer with the Peace Corps. From submitting my application in August, to interviewing in October, to passing my medical clearance in January, to receiving that big blue invitation envelope only six weeks ago, I now understand why many people say that Peace Corps is more of a 3-year commitment; the first year is spent in patient (or more often nail-bitingly impatient) anticipation of actually receiving a country assignment.

With Nicaragua assignment in hand, a plane ticket for May 11th and a living room cluttered with unpacked clothes and random gear, I'm almost ready to start this next chapter. Saying goodbye to DC and to all the friends and memories made over 5 years has definitely been difficult, but my DC "bucket list" now looks solidly checked off. In between the frenzied rush of packing up my DC abode, I've also found time to kayak on the Potomac, catch a show at Ford's Theater, cheer with the Barra Brava at a DC United match, share more than a few rounds with friends, and make final visits to all my favorite museums and galleries in the District. I can also say with certainty that I've eaten enough blue crabs and Old Bay to last me a lifetime and may have singlehandedly depleted the Chesapeake Bay of its resident crustacean for years to come.

Back in New England, I've spent quality time with friends and family in Connecticut, visited old friends in Massachusetts, celebrated my 23rd birthday, caught some live music, and chilled with my brother in Vermont. Its been exhausting tracking you people down! Through all the goodbyes though, I realize how lucky I am to have known so many great people, and I hope those of you that keep up with this blog remember me from time to time, because I won't soon forget you.

Which brings me to this site. For those of you who followed my (mis)adventures in Russia, I tried to upload posts at least once a week. To be completely honest, I have no idea what the internet situation will be like down in Nicaragua, especially considering the rural nature of my work, but I still hope to update this site as often as possible. Whether that means once a week or once a month I can't say, but I'm feeling optimistic. Overall, I hope you will find this site to be an entertaining collection of journal entries, longer essays and articles, photos, videos, drawings, rants, raves, and random musings. Feel free to post comments and leave some love, support, or grammatical criticism (especially once I start hablando español every day). So stay in touch, wish me 'buena suerte' and I'll see you in Managua.