Eating Cheesesteak Next to the Liberty Bell

Apparently I was in Philadelphia in 1992.  I don’t remember it, so I was really looking forward to a brief sojourn in Ben Franklin’s home town  while the Peace Corps shot me up with the typhoid vaccine. I made a  Philly "hits list" and then preceded to tell everyone I know that on January 6^th (or 7th) I would eat my first ever Philly Cheesesteak on the steps of Independence Hall, basking in the copper glory of the Liberty Bell. If my last US meal was a greasy meat sandwich next to a beloved American bell, I could die happy, or at least leave for Bangkok happy. Then, if I got around to it I would go see the fictional site of Paddy’s Pub.

I was very sure that staging was in Philadelphia. My mind’s eye had seen it written all over the place. It was clearly noted in my invitation packet and written on the walls of PC Mecca, Peace Corps Wiki.

So in a “Classic El” move I shared with the other volunteers that staging was in Philadelphia. I think they were jealous that the Peace Corps chose me as the sole recipient of this knowledge.

I’m kidding, because as you may have guessed the news wasn’t broken on any of those sources. Nowhere does it say where Group 124 has staging. Last year’s group went through Philly. So I guess I read that and “over-connected” the dots.

Already being the laughing-stock of PC Thailand I can deal with but I’m struggling with the cheesesteak insecurity. Not being a beef fan, they may look better than they taste. But dammit, they’re as American as the Liberty Bell and that’s good enough for me.

Siam I Am

After weeks of cursing the words "Peace" and "Corps," I was contacted by the Agriculture Placement Specialist who asked if I would be okay serving Asia. Ready to accept any kind of certainty, I gave him an emphatic, "Yes!"

Almost immediately I began brainstorming names for my future blog.  There were so many good ones it was hard to decide ;) I like naming blogs almost as much as I like naming my hypothetical band.

My departure to Philadelphia is set for January 6th, with departure to Thailand two days later. I am thrilled to begin work in my field, agribusiness ( I knew that Economic Development in SE Asia course would pay off one day) and thrilled to be returning to the Land of Smiles.

I look forward to your feedback and comments on this blog.