August 29, 2011
I finally clicked "submit".
The simple action of my finger left clicking the mouse on the computer screen was not an online purchase, a bank transfer, submitting a Costco rebate, bidding on Ebay or unsubscribing to How to make men fall in love with you. I'm submitting to something that not everyone aspires to. But for those who does, it will be an experience of a life time. It was the first click in hopes of agreeing to give 27 months of my life to embark on an adventure that will make a difference to the world and to myself...what little ol' me can contribute if it's only to one person or a community would be my honor and privilege.
I'm now an applicant for the Peace Corps.
Not that I even had an ounce of doubt or reservation because I knew exactly what I was getting into and was more
than willing, let alone happy, to sign my life away for the greater good, but the somewhat long Recommendation Letter forms have already been submitted online by my three references of choice: the required employer, volunteer supervisor, and friend; therefore, Peace Corps was now waiting for my Application for Volunteer to arrive in their inbox. ...if I back out now, I'd be a schmuck for letting Carla, Danni, and John spent time filling the Letter of Recommendation for nothing...I can't waste their time...go for it...send the application, it's now or never my friend! I have nothing to lose and all the world to gain. They received my notification of request to write a recommendation at around 3 o'clock AM on August 25. It was right there and then during the middle of the night in my quiet office in solitude that I had truly committed to the process and the idea because now three people are in the know and their recommendations are part and parcel in assistance to a nomination assuming they didn't describe me as a pathetic nimrod. Unless I actually submit the application, it would just have been a long exercise in filling out an endless form. But the fact I entered three people's e-mail address and hit that sent button...that was it! It's on! Wendy Liu is in the running and Yoda is blessing me with his May the force be with you! No turning back now unless I tell these three people that I had a brief temporary bout with insanity or convince them it was a belated April Fool's joke. Anyway, too late because that day, John and Danni had already submitted their recommendation form. When I received notification of John's submittal...wow, I was blown away at how fast he got it in. Hours later, Danni submitted hers. Double wow.......I was impressed and truly touched by their speed and efficiency. Either they couldn't wait to get rid of me and support the idea of having me shipped off to Zambia or they didn't want to lolly gag with an American governmental agency or both. I appreciate Speedy Gonazaleses. They received it, filled it and out it goes to the Peace Corps and instant notification to me. This is good. So far so smooth. Pretty easy. Thank you so much John and Danni! You guys are the best! Triple wow...Carla got it in within 48 hours. Impressed again. Thanks Carla! No slackers need apply in Wendy's world! Not only was I touched by their promptness, but mostly their sincere believes that I'd be an excellent volunteer for the Peace Corps and that they will agree. These words coming from John and Carla meant a great deal to me for they are people I highly respect and who never give lip service or speak in exaggeration. Their confidence in me really kicked it up a notch and will make the exhaustive 1 year application process so much worthwhile. If I ever doubted for a slight moment, I will inevitably think back on the encouragement from these 2 people which will give me the motivation to confidently proceed. To be supported by couple sentences on an e-mail meant a lot as this is a highly competitive job even if unpaid. Now, I really can't disappoint Carla and John as they are rooting for me. Danni wrote me saying she gave me a glowing review...I knew I could count on my partner in crime. At least I have three people who like me in this world. This was comforting. By now, I'm excited! I'm really, really excited!
Except one friend, Raffy, whom I see most often, I have not told a soul about my application submission to Peace Corps and of course, my mummsy, but that's because I live with her and I need an outlet to share my excitement and dream with someone. Who better than your own mother? This woman should be used to these ideas by now...that I do stunts like this in life. When I was in high school, I announced to her that I was going to Finland as an exchange student after graduation then to be followed by hey, mum...I'm going to France for college. She acknowledged the fact that she gave birth to a closet gypsy. She coined the label "gypsy" on me. All I know is that I have soulful urges to roam around...far and wide. Mummsy once had a fortune teller in Taiwan create an elaborate astrological chart with fortune telling mumbo jumbo predictions for me. Mr. Fortune Teller said this and that. So far his prediction of me marrying a mega rich spectacle wearing guy living in a villa hasn't come true yet but one thing he hit the jackpot was that of all the attributes applying to a person, my king strength is on "movement". This means that I will be moving a great deal which means travel...a boat load of it, I hope. He gave a metaphor to my mother describing me as a wild fox who needs to be free and always on the move and should not be domesticated and confined to a cage. The truth is that I am my father's daughter. Papa Liu was an adventurer, a free spirited soul, a don't-give-a-damn type of man. Nobody was going to tell him what he could or could not do. Playing safe was not his modus operandi. He lived a short life but at least he lived. Genetically, he passed on the DNA travel bug to me. Growing up, my brother and I barely saw our father as he was often away on trips. And I'm not talking about business trips. I'm talking about traveling for "fun and adventure" trips. He somehow finagled to get himself in communist China way back in the 70's when the iron curtain was still closely shut to the outside world. Maybe he was a spy? Maybe he was serving the Peace Corps? Maybe he lived the saying that if there is a will, there is a way. Hell yeah! His wife, my mother, got used to this, hence when I announce plans for travel or any announcement resembling stunts with built-in travels...it never phases her. Thanks, Daddy-O...for training Mummsy well, cause it's a drag to explain life's greatest pleasure to people.
I dare not tell my daughter just yet because she will freak out for I don't believe she has totally recovered yet from my last announcement. I will be hiking Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal with two friends in November. We'll be trekking in and we are carrying our own pack with no guide. My kid went into hysteria with tears and the works...a performance worthy of daytime soaps, calling me selfish, pleading me not to go claiming she would not be able to sleep when she's in college. Yes, you read this right, she is a college student, a young adult and she's worry about me hiking a mountain. Granted, it is the world's highest mountain but we are not mountaineering, ascending and attempting to summit Mount Everest. We are only mere mortal hikers trekking in base camp, chill kid! So.....I have a fear based conservative child, therefore I can't just yet spring on the eye raising news that I'm trying out for Peace Corps. She will give me examples of how I will be kidnapped by pirates from Somalia, attacked by a clan of Silverback gorilla in Uganda, or death by food poisoning in India. Oh, honey...did I tell you that it's a 2 years gig? Then this is when I hear a loud thud sound. My daughter has fainted.
I fantasize of announcing the "breaking news" of the coveted invitation to my family. Geez...that's not for another year. I may have a questionable reputation or motive in my family as I suspect they may not completely approve of my "lifestyle" or understand who I am at a deeper level. I'm a middle-aged divorced single mother and shouldn't I want a husband and a job? This is when my head does the 365 degree spin and I spew green puke a la Exorcist.They may secretly and openly play Dr. Phil where they go through an exercise of figuring out what's going on in my head : (a) She is going through a mid life crisis. (b) She is making up her own version of Eat, Pray, Love. (c) She wants a free two year paid trip and (d) She's looking for love in all the wrong places. (e) answer c and d and lastly (f) all of the above. The correct answer is (g) none of the above. The truth of the matter is that on my resume, my volunteer experience is double in volume that of my professional experience. I am a professional volunteer! The US government should recognize this! I deserve a shiny medal and a gold Rolex watch, damn it! So, wouldn't the Peace Corps be a natural extension of what I do? Think of it as a long, really, really long unpaid job like many jobs I've done. Like the agency's motto: It's the toughest job you'll ever love! This is the whole point. To love the fact one is able to help and contribute for the betterment and empowerment of under developed countries aiding in the training of their men and women. I think in all total fairness, my family would be supportive of my decision...now, do they think that I've got what it takes...I don't know for certain. My bro may question my professional skill. Who knows, maybe dear brother Bonaparte may deep in his heart thinks I'm the greatest thing since slice bread and calamari fritti.
As for my sis-in-law, Debbie, she once told me that I would be a competitive candidate so that was probably my first foray in exploring this realm. Debbie is no dummy. Highly educated with a PHD and super duper smart to marry my bro whom she met in Harvard, if she thought I had a shot, then gosh darn it...I will surely try especially since her brother is a Return Peace Corps Volunteer and I assume she may have a bit of an idea of what the gig entails. I have nothing to lose except time and sleep and at this moment in my life...time and sleep are what I have a lot of!
So out of the blue one evening on August 24, I was online surfing the web for travel....I was superficially researching for travels in Costa Rica as I thought in October, I may chill and relax somewhere warm and tropical before freezing my ass off climbing Mount Everest during winter. It's like a taking a vacation before hard work and not after. As I'm online looking for travel, the Peace Corps website popped up. I clicked on it and the home page prominently displayed Apply by October 1 for fall departure. Hmmm, Peace Corps... Like an obedient cult member, without any hesitation, I willingly and knowingly drank the Kool Aid. I applied in hopes for a fall departure. Sweet! After I'm back from Mount Everest and traveling in India and wherever else the wind takes me for a minimum of 6 months, this will be my next gig! The universe works in mysterious ways. This was something that I had been contemplating in the back of my mind. The stew wasn't boiling yet but brewing nevertheless. Just two months ago, I had drag Carla to attend a Peace Corps info session at my local book store. Being my friend, she complied and sat with me throughout the spiel. As least she got to take home a ball point pen and the book A Life Inspired which I hope she enjoyed reading as much as I did. It's a collection of tales from Returning Peace Corps Volunteers describing their memorable life lessons or experiences. I finished this book after I had applied. I wonder what unforgettable stories I will own upon return of my service. What can I share with others that will be inspiring and to challenge others to help. How can my action teach Fendi to live life with gusto? This is not about joining the Peace Corps but to be engaged and interested in this so-called LIFE. More than anything, I want her to live life to the fullest without fear. Design your own life and the hell with convention if that's not your gig in life. I have never been a fan of traditional conventions...too safe which can be boring and plain. There is nothing wrong with living the American dream. A good chunk of the population on earth can only dream of the American dream. I just want her to know that it is not the be all end all. Of course, her mother's dream is probably a tad different...my dream is living in a tree house in the jungle on the edge of the beach with the bright sun shining 365 days a year. Clothing absolutely optional on this one. As long as I can hunt, grow, and gather my sustenance, the palm roof doesn't blow away from the hurricane, and I am not deathly ill or injured...I've reached nirvana. Wait...isn't this from The Blue Lagoon?
So, I am on the official website and instead of researching the entire site to mentally and emotionally finalize my decision just to solidify that I know all the fine print, I just went for it effortlessly and consciously. With enthusiasm and boundless energy, I dove into it like a fat hungry dude and his $6 Carl's Jr. burger. Take that juicy meat flanked by a pair of buns, lower the head, plunge with greedy mouth, sauces and pickles dribbling all over white shirt, satisfaction and total yums! First in a handful of sitting of the online application took the longest. I made rough drafts of the essays and spent countless hours trying to find a suitable free resume template online. My old resume was out dated and I desperately needed a new one. After spending couple hour creating one online, my time had been wasted when one "free online resume template" cost money at the end to print which pissed me off. Fuckers. Misrepresentation is a crime. I had spent hours of work for nothing. It's back to the drawing board to recreate a new resume and continue on the essays. Time pass fast when you're having fun so they say. I'd like to add that time pass fast when you're applying for the Peace Corps. Next thing I noticed on my computer clock was the time. It was pass 4 o'clock in the morning and if it wasn't for a facial appointment in 5 hours, I would have continued to work and pretended I didn't know how to tell time. As I got in bed, make-up still on, too lazy to brush my teeth, although I did remove my contact lenses...I was totally pumped up with adrenaline which forbade immediate slumber. Images of exotic locales swam in my head as I wondered and pondered which geographic region would be my preference, a specific question on the application which I left blank. Living in a mud hut amongst villagers in Kenya working in agriculture planting trees appealed greatly to me. Hmmmm ...no running water or electricity...let me think about that... I'll just consider it a 2 years camping trip. Lounging on an exotic beach in the Kingdom of Tongo in the South Pacific eating tropical fruits and grilled fish seems pretty sweet too. The Tongans there are probably so laid back chilling like a coconut that they wouldn't notice I wasn't working or even missing...beach bum is not very Peace Corps like...I'm there to serve..I have to work and I want to work. Better not to consider secluded islands with romantic beaches...too tempting to run away with Kalle, the sexy Swedish scuba instructor. How about teaching English in Mongolia? With my students, we could drink horse milk in my yurt and I can wear colorful outfits with interesting head gear. I don't know about horse milk. Fiji and Morocco sound grand but I've already traveled there so perhaps a land I've never been before like Kyrgyzstan or Burkina Faso...(Burkina who?) ...places that the general population has never even heard of let alone pin pointing it on a map. Difficulty of spelling a plus. The fascinating and potpourri of varied cultures all overwhelmed me so I decided I'll let fate chose where I go. Anyway, it's not up to me to decide and I honestly have no preference. I'd be stoked just to be invited...even if it's Mexico...a 2 hours drive from my house to cross the border. All I request from his holiness is to ensure my safety and well being. If I had to guess where I would serve, most probable but not limited, francophone Africa with my fluency in French or possibly China being that Chinese is my mother tongue. How anti climatic and what a let down! Going back to the mother land is like me going to Ohio for an adventure! No offense to those from the Buckeye state. At least I'll have Chinese food which ain't a bad thing for me. I believe things happen for a reason. If I am to serve a specific country doing specific tasks meeting specific people, so be it. That will be my destiny; I just hope I'm fortunate enough to have this destiny...
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