Poem

My friend/ camping buddy Tamra Prior (nee Dickinson) wrote this poem several years ago and it spoke to something inside of me so I saved it to my computer.  I think it describes the wanderlust that sits inside most Peace Corps volunteers and explains why we go on a bit of a walkabout when we join up.  
Life is calling, how far will you go?

The Traveler's Heir

By: Tamra Dickinson

I remember a time…
Dreaming of a far away land.
Africa, its golden sands,
The mighty temples of Peru.

India’s spices and Kubla Khan,
The great sailing ships of the day.
Columbus, Cortéz, the men of Legends,
Was I born too late for that time?

The plains of Australia,
The mountains of Tibet,
It is still there for all to see,
And still brand new to me.

The polar caps, the coral reefs,
There is still so much unknown.
Can there still be a place
Where “Here Be Dragons” ‘tis marked?

I guess I’ll have to find myself
In the deep jungle forests of Yucatán
Or the uncharted Straits of Canada
Maybe in the dark heart of the Congo

Wherever I go, wherever I am
Whatever I see, the Explorer’s Age
Is never truly dead
As long as it’s inside of me.

 

Sharing Experiences 2011

 The health volunteers in Moldova recently had our annual "Sharing Experiences" retreat.  Every year we go out to Vodul Lui Voda, a resort just outside of Chisinau.  According to one volunteer it looks like "Soviet day camp".  Old wooden structures that remind me a bit of Girl Scout camp buildings from the 70's and murals with local fairy tales.  This time I actually remembered my camera and snapped a bunch of photos.
We started the evening with snack time, then went around the table and each of us spoke about our successes and challenges.  Older volunteers offered advice when it was solicited.  We wound the evening up with drinks and socializing.  It is a great way for the new volunteers and those of us who have been here for a while to get to know each other in a less formal setting.

Lots of talking.

 This dog decided it was our guardian and would chase off the other wild dogs if they got to close.  He got a lot of treats from the table for this.  I named him Lassie.

Don't worry, this photo was staged, they aren't actually mocking her.

I saw this graffiti on the way out and since one of the other volunteers is named Cristy, I snapped a picture of it before jumping on the bus.  It says "Crysty, I love you" in Romanian.