Why? (Family and Friends)

“Truly great friends are hard to find,
difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”--G.Randolph

And so, over the next few weeks I have to decide what is important enough to pack up and bring to Suriname and what must start collecting dust under the already innumerable stacks of boxes in the family garage. The first thing that has already started collecting dust is some of the friends and family I already have to leave behind.

For better or worse, in January I already had to say goodbye to one of my good lads. Kevin, an old roommate from Chico State, is in the midst of an epic study abroad on my old stomping grounds at Brighton University in England--God Bless the Queen, Sussex-U still sucks and go Man-U! When Kevin left, it was a pretty awkward situation because he was the first person I would not see in a very long time and I was still five months prior to the start of service. I was definitely bummed to see Kevin go but I am very pleased that he is enjoying University and travelling. And perhaps, Kevin leaving was a bit of a blessing in disguise. Don't get me wrong, I'd have loved to tackle the chap in a few more games of pong but his early departure helped me realize the reality of the situation.

And gradually over time, I have been on a farewell tour saying goodbyes to more and more of my friends, family and co-workers. It started in Arizona, parting ways with my mother's relatives--grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, who I will probably not be able to see again until after service.

After kicking up that desert dust, we flew back home where I had a month left of work. Making minimum wage while the debt and bills were piling up, I had to swallow the pride, roll up the sleeves, work morning and night and do what I had to do to make the ends meet. And although I won't miss the work, I will definitely miss the people. I have a lot of respect for the folks I worked alongside, particularly the recovery crew who were there night in, night out helping me get through closing--as well as Kevin who was stuck doing closing with me, especially during Christmas. And of course, I can not forget to mention Drew, bruh-bruh, the sole survivor from our hiree class who made the afternoon shifts a lot of fun. With no work left to be done, there was only one more place to bid adeu, my home away from home: Chico.

(The next blog, on my times in college at Chico, will be posted on facebook due to the abnormal length)

Why? (Half Filled Suitcase)

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave,
and grow old wanting to get back to.”--John E. Pearce

To those whom it may concern:

A lot has developed since my first blog attempt. On the Peace Corps front, I am booked for orientation in Miami and Pre-Service Training in Suriname. This morning, I chatted with my Community Economic Development Advisers about my training, expectations and what to expect in Suriname--an all-you-can-take buffet of rain, heat and humidity with a high probability of no electricity or running water. I already know what you're thinking: I must be crazy. And in all honesty, a part of me agrees with you.

As my departure date approaches, I stare more intensely at my half-filled suitcases and wonder what else can I put in them. On one of my regular excursions up to Chico, the packing list is pretty simple: Irish Pub and Springsteen T-shirts, pair of blue jeans, maybe two pairs of boxers and walk in and out with the sandals on my feet. For the Peace Corps, I've decided to switch to boxer briefs and add a few more pairs to my inventory for sanitary purposes. But jokes aside, the clothes are the easy things one packs up. It's the scattered pieces on the floor that are most difficult to pick up and pack because you're afraid you might forget something that really matters.

Literally, scattered across my bedroom floor are some old flicks, records, paperbacks, yearbooks and pictures of family and friends. As much as I'd like to bring all these things with me to Suriname, I know the logistics will not work out. And even if I could take all these things, they won't shorten the distance I will be from home. And therein lies the craziest thing about the whole Peace Corps experience. It is not the electricity or the running water that will be difficult to give up and overcome, but the lack of familiarity, the people I have known and the comforts of home. And when you're sitting there in your room at night, trying to pack up the past 23 years of memories into some already half-filled suitcase, you realize it is an impossible chore...

My Peace Corps Timeline

Welcome to the Chris Rodriguez blogspot, all. I will start out with a timeline of my somewhat epic Peace Corps application process so future prospective volunteers can get an idea of the length of the process, something that I did not know about when I applied.

November 2007: Started filling out online application.
January 2008: Completed online application with references.
February: Interviewed with Peace Corps recruiter, Travis Axton, RPCV in Africa. Cool guy!
April: Nominated for the Caribbean--probably Jamaica.
July: Completed medical forms and the other forms. Dentally cleared.
October: Medically cleared.
December: Invited to Suriname, South America.
Jan-Apr 2009: ...?
May 2009: Leaving for Suriname.

Next Blog: When I'm leaving, Why the heck I'm joining....

All this and more on the same bat channel, same bat time...