I haven't asked her yet if she will let me put this on there, so I better do that first thing tomorrow
me: so, this is your first time to africa?
me: so, this is your first time to africa?
Vivian: I should youtube that
yes!
I'm excited/nervous
me: now you´re on 5 continents now
Vivian: I need to study up!
me: youve seen europe, or not?
Vivian: yes, but only western
1:13 AM me: yeah
eastern europe is the place where, when you go back home people want to hear about your trip
like, ´i was in Bulgaria and i had to draw a picture of a train for the taxi driver to know where to go´
Vivian: hahaha
1:14 AM yeah western isn't new to anyone anymore
me: at the same time.. i know more eastern europe than western
never seen spain
or portugal
1:15 AM Vivian: no? interesting
me: so people ask me about the most popular stuff, and i dont know it
Vivian: too easy for ya?
me: well, it was on the itinerary, but no luck
too bad there´s no PC in kenya, where you could get the inside scoop
1:16 AM Vivian: I know!! I was trying to remember if they got evacuated for good
me: i think so
its still bad
you didnt go to the job fair
in DC last february
but
1:17 AM it was all Georgia, bolivia and kenya
Vivian: ahh
me: i think it was before madagascar
though
Vivian: wow we're infamous
me: yes
Vivian: wait, what happened to pc madagascar?
me: exclusive club
Vivian: i just met a rpcv from there
me: they are no longer there
Vivian: what happened?
i dont know really
the bad thing, though, was that was my close-second behind Morocco
Vivian: ahh
1:19 AM yeah, that would have been great
for unknown reasons in high school I was obsessed w wanting to go to madagascar
me: the singing is spellbinding in their music
1:20 AM wow
Vivian: well, at least morocco was your first choice
me: yes
close to italy
Vivian: ok let's see..
right!
me: it´s a 2 hour flight, minus the time difference
Vivian: will your chica be able to visit or will you go there?
me: a little bit of both
for some time, i thought pc would be the thing to do again after marriage
1:21 AM but supposedly our married couple in b47 have broken up already
so that dissuaded me from that line of thought
Vivian: ohh no...
1:22 AM ooh I'm listening to the link now that's incredible
1:23 AM me: yes
yeah
1:24 AM my favorite director used that song in a movie
he also made a movie about antarctica last year
Vivian: who?
me: and the first guy working there that he interviewed was a PCV from guatemala
his name is werner herzog
Vivian: ohh ok
grizzly man director?
1:25 AM me: so my parents were in the room and gave me a funny look like, ´so this is the kind of people?!´
Vivian: haha!
me: yeah
Vivian: nice
me: same guy
this one was called, encounters at the end of the world
nominated for an oscar last year
Vivian: hm that sounds vaguely familiar
1:26 AM me: my favorite part is the people with their ear to the ice, listening to the seals underneath
Vivian: good? should I check it out?
me: they are so loud that they surprise you when you walk above them
yeah
it captures a lot of the PC vibe... strangers in a strange place
Vivian: wow
me: but even more extreme personalities
and the spellbinding landscape
they film under the ice, too
Vivian: haha yes good description
1:27 AM pc is definitely a type of person
me: i think its a developed test
sort of like summer camp, or high school band
you have to go through the initiation
1:28 AM Vivian: and there are many
I like too how there are so many different types of personalities, but you can see all of them fitting in under the pc "type"
1:29 AM me: its easy to see once you leave it
and interact with people that would never do anything like that
Vivian: exactly
1:30 AM me: it wouldnt even cross their mind
at the same time, there´s a group of PC wannabes
that for 40 years have wondered about it
but what makes our group unique is that its people willing to do it, that take the step and sign up
Vivian: and are wonderful audiences for those of us who have gone haha
and that go and stay!
1:31 AM ..until evacuation that is..
me: 20 years ago, it was PC and nothing else
but now there´s dozens and dozens of programs
short and long
paid, unpaid
1:32 AM one book that i love a lot is callled, delaying the real world
it´s 250 pages of ideas, groups and programs
part-time, fulltime, local and global
1:33 AM Vivian: ah really
I might need to look into that..
good stuff
me: problem is, you probably know everything all ready
it has a list of good hiking places
1:34 AM of the best european cities for young people
Vivian: mm
me: stories of marathon and triathlons
fulbrighters
Vivian: true.. at a certain point you don't read as much and just do instead
1:37 AM me: hey, its late here. too bad you cant go to Santa Fe
i think sarah and amanda and i are going to drive there
Vivian: oh that will be so fun!
I know, I'm sad
but no way around it
1:38 AM well I'm glad you guys are going to represent
at least I won't feel bad that they don't have any help
me: i also became friends with a Georgia PC refugee who lives in albuqurque... she gave up her spot in my group to PC Morocco because she has a job doing gang rehabilitation and prevention
so i think i will visit there
haha
yes
1:39 AM Vivian: that will be fun
I'm going to send Alissa some stamped thank you cards, for the people who sent donations
could you make sure santusa or dona julia sign them?
1:40 AM hopefully they'll have time
it's not that many
me: ok
yes
and i got 40 or 80 dollars from people in my family
for them
do you think i´ll be able to buy some of their art?
or, do you know how much $$$
?
1:41 AM Vivian: mm I'm not sure what Alissa priced the weavings at last year..but significantly higher than market value bolivia
1:42 AM me: im sure
Vivian: although if you wait toward the end I'm sure whatever hasn't sold santusa can sell you at bolivia prices
me: i didnt buy ANYTHING when i was there
Vivian: the sakas are usually $50-75 in bolivia no?
me: so...
yeah
i saw a guy pay 80 euros
Vivian: yeah..wow
me: which is 100 dollars
1:43 AM damien had the biggest smile on his face ever
especially when i said, ´los euros son mas fuertes que los dolores´
1:44 AM Vivian: haha I'll bet he did! good stuff
1:45 AM me: zaijian vivian
do you have a chinese name?
1:46 AM Vivian: sing tien
(smiley face - window) are the characters
1:47 AM me: oooo
cool
ok if i call you that?
Vivian: sure!
do you have a chinese name?
1:48 AM me: ben ben
haha
self-styles
Vivian: hahaha! I like
me: self-styled
well, i tell people i´m half japanese
because Ri-Ben
is japan in mandarin
take away half of that, and ... voila
Vivian: hahaha that's good
me: or, even better is Da ben
big ben
Vivian: just make sure they pronounce it right
1:49 AM not bin bin
me: yeah
when in colombia or bolivia
i had great fun teaching people my southern name
not ´ben´
but more... ´bee-yun´
with the southern drawl
Vivian: haha
1:50 AM me: i found this... if you dont see the whole movie, just the trailer is powerful and beautifuk
*ful
1:51 AM Vivian: lets see
1:52 AM ooooh
very effective soundtrack
1:53 AM me: the people with the buckets on their head, holding on to a rope and walking in a line
Vivian: haha I wondered
me: they are getting survival training, where it shows them
Vivian: dinamica?
me: what a blizzard is like
haha
sort of
Vivian: that's great
me: and one guy in the movie was a refugee
1:54 AM Vivian: antarctica..now that's a goal to set..
me: from Serbia, or something
Vivian: from?
me: and it says everywhere he goes
he carries everything he needs to survive for one month
all the food
cooking gear, sleeping bag
medicine
1:55 AM because the experience affected him so badly, he is uncomfortable if he doesnt have those things
Vivian: wow
yeah i'll bet
1:57 AM me: 2 am... time for bed
i miss you! good nite
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