The mid-way mark

Are people still reading this blog? If so, congratulations! You have been reading this page for about 13 months, or in layman’s terms, half of my PC service!

It is interesting to think that in another 13 months, my time will be over and I will return to the ole US of A. At this halfway point in my service, it is tempting to ask myself: What have I done? That question seems a bit self-centric (not to mention depressing due to the lack of results!), so I have been trying to think of a different question: “How have I developed?” Sounds corny, I know, but you’re still reading aren’t you? I won’t bore you with this journey into my conscience; just know that I am in a state of self-reflection that a Confucian monk would be proud of.

A little funny story to end this semi-serious post: On my way home the other day, a man called out to me from across the street. Because this sort of thing happens every day (despite my apparently “Turkish” looks, I tend to stick out like a sore thumb), I ignored him and continued to walk home. Eventually, the grown man trailing after me in my peripheral vision merited some sort of response. Mustering all the coldness in my face that was able to be mustered, I awaited one of the following three, typical questions: 1. Will you teach my child English? 2. How much money do you make? or 3. Do you know (insert name here), my brother’s daughter’s uncle’s grandfather’s cousin’s neighbor’s step-mother’s son? Luckily, I was wrong. The man was chasing me down because he saw I was wearing a tie, and needed someone to knot his son’s tie for school. I happily knotted the boy’s tie, received a brief thank you, and watched the man run off to give his son the tie. Peace Corps is truly all about the little victories.