the nature of the beast the whereabouts of a peace corps volunteer in the west region of Cameroon.
mal organisée
I think I’m scared of writing because it makes me organize the thoughts in my head. Thus the long hiatus.
It’s not that things aren’t happening in my life. Quite the contrary—the world is turning, the snow is melting, finally. I’ve started my internship at Willoughby, which has really changed my views on working for a design firm in the future. I’ve been losing sleep over what to do with my life after I graduate. My grandparents and my parents are always asking what my plans are, and its just so easy to tell them what they want to hear. “Oh, you know, just going to stay in the safe mid-west, work for a big secure design firm and settle down as far away from Africa as I can.” Blah. Lets make a list of my least desirable life course:
1:settling down
2:not being in Africa
3:getting a real job right after I graduate
The thought of staying places that are considered “safe” is not my main priority when I think of what I wan’t to do with my life. It’s not that I’m reckless or not educated about all the dangers that exist in foreign countries. Life isn’t about always wanting to feel safe, or comfortable. I want to throw myself into situations that I’m completely unprepared for. I want to learn the unordinary life lessons and come out with stories I’m still telling when I’m 80. I want to get rid of the romantic views of foreign places that I’ve filled my head with from Hollywood, Disney movies and saturated Travel Channel vignettes. I want to meet real people, and see real places—the good and the bad. And hopefully along the way do some good.
People are so scared of everything. Oscar Wao said it best, “Fear is the mind killer.” Fear keeps people from moving forward and changing anything. I’m not going to promise to stay in America, or not travel alone, or not talk to strangers, or not hitchhike. I will. I already have. And I’m going to keep doing it until I’m old and wrinkly, and people can look in my eyes and know that I’ve been places, and see my hands and know that I’ve done a lifetime of work.
Get out of my head scared-y cats! I’m GOING to live in Africa. I’m GOING to help people who need it no matter where they are, and I’m GOING to be alright without a “real job”. But for now I’ll keep lying because it’s just so much easier.
yes! yes. good piece of writing by the way. i personally would prefer safe "stay in the mid-west" kim, b/c i could see you more often. but since i love being friends with you for who you are, not how convienient it is to hang out. i like that you are the way you are and so if you're happy, i'm happy for you:)
Out of all your posts, this is my favorite. I like it because i like you and your thoughts. But I think the quote at the end is maybe saying something else than what you are saying. i know you're not going to stay in the "safe midwest" but he's saying discovery can happen anywhere. I'm semi-praying that subconsciously you believe that and you decide to stay and take close up blurry pictures of obscure objects with me until we have too many gray hairs to count.
true true. It was under a nice picture from flickr when I was looking for one. (though i decided on this one i took) Thanks for the crit. I'm fixing it now! 2 blog posts are better than 1 anyway..
haha your list of things that you dont want are things that i do want. sometimes, i wonder how we are friends. but im always thankful that we are. great post.