There are few occasion in one's life where you will remember with clarity that all of your senses vividly recall physically, mentally, and emotionally an incident so powerful that at the time of occurrence, it is a state of being that you know you can not forget in your life even if you try. The intensity can fairly be compared to winning the 30 million mega jackpot lotto. Conversely, it could also be witnessing your entire family being massacred with an automatic in 10 seconds flat creating a bloody nightmare of a scene. Whatever has triggered the stimulus, right there and then you understand physiologically you are undergoing a chemical and biological reaction. The sensation is strangely extraordinary. It could be either positive or negative. I experienced two polar extremes. I went to hell in May 2010 when my lover, Peter, was diagnosed with advance cancer and progressive metastasis. To add insult to injury, he shortly ended our relationship to spare me further pain. This was a man who had plan for me to be his life partner where we would divide our time between Germany and Mexico, his primary residences. I agreed to his plan being that I was equally and deeply in love with him; life with a handsome European Michelin trained gourmet chef was my cup of tea since I was born a glutton, an authentic food aficionado. I suspected he admired me as I am a bon vivant. I went to heaven on 21st of March 2012 when I received an e-mail from my Peace Corps recruiter congratulating me for my nomination as a potential Peace Corps Volunteer. The tentative departure date would be October 2012 and I would be working in the health sector in subsahara Africa.
I recollect with clear visual details that early evening of my unexpected discovery which produced an explosion of excitement. At a shopping mall in Yangon, Myanmar where I begrudgingly paid an expensive lemon juice drink in order to have access to their free wifi, I was sitting at the cafe checking my e-mails. I ordered the cheapest thing I would drink. What a rip off, I thought to myself, but then I would always rationalize to justify the expense that I am also renting a chair and a table, their space, and of course scrumping some free wifi so I can kill time, do business, or entertain myself. If all three gets accomplished, then the price is worth it. Before all the e-mails completely downloaded on my iphone, from what my eyes could briefly scan, I caught two headings that made my heart skip a beat and a half. My heart raced, my face flushed, and I felt my entire body feeling tingling, elated, and exhausted all at the same time. The sender was from Johann D'Agostino with the subject: Congratulation! The other sender was from Peace Corps with a letter attached. I am guessing it's good news since usually congratulation means it's a blessing of a happy event or news. I was sitting on a wicker type armchair, overpriced fruit juice finished on the table, I was wearing a man's white button down mandarin collar shirt with a man's lunghi, the traditional Burmese wrap around skirt. As I read the letter, I was so ridiculously excited that I had to remind myself to stay composed and refrain from screaming and jumping from joy. I am looking around to see if others can see and feel my elation? I wanted desperately to share this marvelous news I've been longing to hear but the Burmese shoppers in the cheesy mall wouldn't know what the hell Peace Corps is. I was waiting for Carla, my travel companion, as she perused each store. When she returned, I tried to be calm, collect, and cool like a cucumber. As she sat next to me, I casually told her to read at this one particular e-mail on my iphone. She read it carefully and smiled at me and gave me a high five. This girlfriend is a calm and stable person therefore I didn't expect her to jump in the air and gave me the biggest bear hug humanly possible. I was hoping she'd be more emotional as she was one of the three who wrote the Letter of Recommendation and also who accompanied me to attend a Peace Corp info session. Great news is always "greater" when the person you share it with can be equally if not as excited for you if possible just to create that ambiance of a memorable moment. My inside was exploding with pride, excitement, joy, and happiness. My outside was cool as I didn't want to be annoying to others. I am feeling giddy and this is my moment. We get up as it was time to meet our Australian friend, David, whom we met in Mitchyna, capital of the Kachin State in northern Myanmar. I had share with David my application experience jokingly with hopes that he had some connection to the Peace Corps as he works in the NGO world. During dinner when our drinks arrived, I gave a reason as to why we were cheering. We are congratulating me for my nomination to the Peace Corp! Technically, this should have been a task performed by my friend who just found out this wonderful news and she really is the person who should support and be happy for my happiness. Since that didn't happen, I toasted myself and the rest joined in. I think only hopeful future volunteers and those admiring what Peace Corps is all about are the ones that can really be excited about a nomination. For the outside world, this may not hold a strong emotional pull. As long as I am happy, that is what counts! Cheers to moi!
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| This was the tasty fermented Burmese red millet drink that was in celebration for my Peace Corps nomination |
