Yay to stealing random wireless connections in a country where most people don’t lock their servers!!!......yay!

So regarding new happenings – there’s not much. That’s the beauty in a country and a town where…almost nothing happens, if ever. I think Usakos is just a hair bigger than the town my father grew up in, but not by much. But with the nothingness comes those very perks – the nothingness. The wonderful things of Usakos include:

1) The Sunsets. Holy crap. There are actually so many beautiful sunsets here that we’ve actually created a nickname, AFS. (Which of course means “another f****** sunset.”) There are so many, almost every night, and all beautiful. Colors include gold, pink, red, green, pink, more pink, some more blood red, yellow, goldenrod, and magenta.
2) The nothingness. Really. After 6pm, Ian and I hang outside on our deck and just watch the clouds go by. Since both of us come from Long Island, the quiet nights and evenings in the lazy summer heat are worth watching life slow down.
3) My roomies. Really. Ian and Dai are awesome. Dai is still learning English, but he’s still great to talk to. And Ian’s just awesome. He’s from Brooklyn – how much closer to home can we get? We get along great. We didn’t really plan on it – but we’ve taken to cooking together every night. It’s great – good food, and just talking for a couple hours. Yay food! Yay bonding time with something close to home!
4) Scrubs. I still owe Kristen for giving me all six seasons of Scrubs. It’s always entertaining and saving me hours of boredom.
5) Letters from home. Ok – special shout out to Ms. Jessica Stroup. See, she told me that she sent a package early October, way before I arrived in Africa. I figured by this point, that it was lost among the mailrooms, but No! It finally arrived! I’ll admit – it looked like it was rerouted to hell and back…all edges torn and taped together, water damage…but its here. Yay Candy! How it was not stolen – I’ll never know. Thanks Jess! Btw – I’m thinking about the brewmaster school. J Props also to the Apple girls, and to Andy. Thanks for the “Christmas Gift,” man. *Note to self = don’t open letters from Andy in front of other people.

And we might as well…Some bad things:
1) I work up with a scorpion on my chest. Don’t worry – he squished good. I didn’t want to squish him, but reflexes being what they are…and with the feeling of spiders running across your chest…well, you know.
2) I’m running out of books. With all this spare time that just started, I’m reading like Johnny 5 did in Short Circuit. You receive 50+ nerd points if you get that reference. I’ve read over a dozen books since I’ve been here – and they’ve all given me more perspective. Nice. Oh, and Amanda – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was much better than Beyond this Horizon. Sorry Heinlein, can’t win ‘em all.
3) Culture Shock. Sure, you’re tempered and trained that it’s bad, but most of the time the end result are people shrugging it off. In the beginning, it’s actually interesting and endearing…it’s all a learning experience. But then you realize that it continues past the 3rd week. After the past month of constant questioning as to why I don’t have several girlfriends yet began to somewhat get to me. Then try being reaffirmed that “women are just women, there’s no need to have standards.” At least Ian and Dai both have immunity; the former being engaged and the later having a girlfriend. Plus, I’m going to say here again that scorpions are creepy as hell. Oh, I’m also going to say that hopefully I’ll get to writing letters this upcoming weekend, finally having time to do so.
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Taking a note here to say Congratulations to Mama Bear and Andrew for getting engaged! I’m so proud of you two, and I would like to tell you Nancy, that Andrew told me he was going to do this before I left. It’s true. I knew all the details. It’s because Andrew and I share this bond, called “nonexistent.” I’m not an idiot, and currently expecting to still be here when the knot is tied – but be warned: If Guinness is on tap at the reception, I’ll have a legitimate reason to be pissed. (But you already expect that.) They don’t have Guinness in this country, and Jameson’s Whiskey runs at about 60$ American, with the exchange. (Insert pissed off-face here.) Just be sure to let me know when the wedding is – I’ll see if I can find a shaman or local medicine man that can bless the marriage. Shouldn’t be hard, there’s about a half dozen within a stone’s throw from here – I’m not kidding.
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In other news, I’m now conducting and training a choir. Its amazing – its small, about 15 people. They’re already remarkable good, but I was asked to teach them some new vocal warms-ups and skills. So for all you Baldwin-ites, we’re going way back to concert choir stuff. So far we’re working on the “Do. Do Re Do. Do Re Mi Re Do” exercise. Going well, and they love it…when they’re paying attention… but regardless! I feel guilty knowing how hard our Mus. Ed peeps worked to do this. Katie! This gives you a reason to visit! You too Kristen! They also asked if I could start a percussion ensemble. Life is good.
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You’ll always be surprised about what you miss. You also begin to discover what your real passions are, and what they have been the whole time. I remember that there were times during my senior year of college that I wished I didn’t exist. Having a senior thesis…physical chem….a molecular genetics / genetic engineering project in the works, all compiled with a train wreck’s worth of emotional problems, led to all work and no play, which of course makes Jack go crazy. And looking back now – I’m realizing how much I miss sitting in a computer lab laboring over data wondering why my primers didn’t work, late-night studying with other mol. Genetics students asking why Dr J’s tests were so evil, and trying to figure out why my bomb calorimeters measurements were off. (Probably ‘cause Matt and I hold the college record for most unsuccessful attempts…someone ask Dr. Wedlock if we’re still #1)

Oh, that reminds me – major bonus points to the person that finds me someone at the admission center of a medical school. Remember, bonus points! I’ll bring back an animal for you. I’ll aim for an elephant or giraffe, but it may be a squished scorpion. (Just as cool! Use it gross out your parents, or like me, put it in your roommate’s bed whilst they sleep. Mwhahaha!) But I digress…

I love learning. I loved staying up late reading, studying, rereading, quizzing, and rereading material. I loved learning. And I still do. It’s true – ask my mother; She’s sending me my biochem and mol. genetics textbooks. I need my science fix. If any of my former teachers and professors are reading this, Congratulations. Sure, you’re all married, have kids, and have tenure at an accredited institution – but if you’ve ever needed validation from an unemployed 22-year-old in the middle of the African Savanna, you got it…I wonder how much money it would take to get the Science Center named after me? Oh well. Oh, and as a tribute to them, and if you couldn’t already tell, I miss them more than anything. They’ve taught me more then they’ll realize – and I’ve learned more from them than I did from any textbook. They taught me how to think, to see, to feel, and live. Yeah, I know that sounds cliché and corny – but it’s true. I miss talking to you guys.

One more thing I realized how much I miss. The ole’ burg. While digging through the organization’s library, I found a book on Lincoln’s life that I checked out. Shamefully, having spent four years in Gettysburg – I know almost nothing regarding Lincoln and the war. But when it came to the excerpts regarding Gettysburg...damn. I miss that town. Seminary Ridge, the sunsets, the wonderful fall and spring breezes…I always get my Bullet-Hole cravings and wanting to eat dinner late on the library steps or the fountain. Guys, Usakos needs a Lincoln diner – Let’s get on this. I often wonder if this teaching thing will work out…hell, it would be awesome to start a biochem department in gburg… we’ll see. I’m sure my profs would LOVE to have me as a colleague – just ask them.

Well, maybe not Ish. But I’m sure he’ll laugh when you ask him.