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| One week!; start the countdown | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 1 2010, 07:07 AM (374 Views) | |
| Optimistic | Feb 1 2010, 07:07 AM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I'm scheduled to fly out of Philly next Monday. First destination is Miami. Yup, the day after the Superbowl. I bet the airport is going to be fun. There for a night and a day, and then all the new Peace Corps/Paraguay trainees fly out together, first 8 hours to Sao Paolo, then 3 hours to Asuncion, Paraguay. I received my itinerary the other day, and there really is no easing into things. The day we land in country we start a bit of training, and then get paired up with our host families (in a rather awkward ceremony, so I've read from blogs). The next day we take a language test and get a round of immunizations. Right now they're predicting a big winter storm for next weekend. I'm hoping we do actually get one (I love snow, and I certainly won't be seeing any in Paraguay), but that it's over by Monday and flights aren't affected. If I have to fly late over to Paraguay by myself it won't be very fun. I had big plans for getting a lot done today. But, my mom (who was supposed to watch my sister's baby while my sister works today) has been violently ill with food poisoning since midnight. So Aunt Opti and Kaylin are going to go shopping at Target for various toiletries and a digital camera (well, baby temper permitting). Then I'm thinking a snow hike with her new backpack. Hopefully I'll have a new digital camera and can get some fun shots. If anybody is interested in seeing a little glimpse of Paraguay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZA78xUzwTA |
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| Mikhailoh | Feb 1 2010, 07:12 AM Post #2 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Awesome! I saw that first volunteer. Are you going to be a hoer too? |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Phlebas | Feb 1 2010, 07:14 AM Post #3 |
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Bull-Carp
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Best of luck. We'll miss you. |
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Random FML: Today, I was fired by my boss in front of my coworkers. It would have been nice if I could have left the building before they started celebrating. FML The founding of the bulk of the world's nation states post 1914 is based on self-defined nationalisms. The bulk of those national movements involve territory that was ethnically mixed. The foundation of many of those nation states involved population movements in the aftermath. When the only one that is repeatedly held up as unjust and unjustifiable is the Zionist project, the term anti-semitism may very well be appropriate. - P*D | |
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| apple | Feb 1 2010, 07:15 AM Post #4 |
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one of the angels
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how exciting.. I've met several peace corp alumni..and know that my own brother thought it was the definitive experience of his life. they've all been so positive about their experiences. go forth with happiness and enjoy yourself. |
| it behooves me to behold | |
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| Frank_W | Feb 1 2010, 07:18 AM Post #5 |
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Resident Misanthrope
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Good luck, Opti. Our lives will be dimmer for your absence. Safe travels. Vaya con Dios, amiga mio.
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Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin." Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!" | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 1 2010, 07:37 AM Post #6 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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looking forward to learning about your adventures! |
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| RosemaryTwo | Feb 1 2010, 08:10 AM Post #7 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Please explain. I am intrigued. And wow, just a week. We will miss you. |
| "Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua | |
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| brenda | Feb 1 2010, 08:34 AM Post #8 |
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..............
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Wow! This week will fly by so quickly. Enjoy your family time. Safe travels and keep us posted on your activities. You are so inspiring. |
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“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” ~A.A. Milne | |
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| sue | Feb 1 2010, 09:05 AM Post #9 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Are you sleeping ok? I think I'd have a hard time; so much to think about! Hope your last week here goes smoothly. I'm very glad to hear you're getting yourself a digital camera! |
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| blondie | Feb 1 2010, 09:09 AM Post #10 |
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Bull-Carp
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What Sue said. I couldn't sleep with so many things on my mind. I"m going to be thinking of you Opti.
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| Luke's Dad | Feb 1 2010, 09:28 AM Post #11 |
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Emperor Pengin
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Did you get your car situation taken care of? |
| The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it. | |
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| Optimistic | Feb 1 2010, 02:08 PM Post #12 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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In my spare time, probably! After host family living and I get my own place, the first home project is to start a garden. |
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| Mikhailoh | Feb 1 2010, 02:12 PM Post #13 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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May the row you must hoe be an easy one, Opti. We'll all be thinking about you. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Optimistic | Feb 1 2010, 02:14 PM Post #14 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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So after our day of orientation activities in Miami, we do our many, many hours of flights and a layover. When we arrive in country, we will be exhausted, hit by a massive wall of heat and humidity, and carting around the items we've chosen to get us through the next 2.25 years. We immediately go to the training center for a little interview, and then we go to meet the host families. They have the volunteers line up on one side, the host families on the other. Each volunteer's name is called out, then the host family, everybody cheers, and you go off on your merry way to -- no, not relax, but -- spend a few hours getting acquainted with your host family. I read a couple blogs where people said it was just really awkward. It doesn't sound like it would be so bad, but for everybody's exhaustion. Ah well, I'm sure it will be a good story, at least.
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| Optimistic | Feb 1 2010, 02:21 PM Post #15 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yup, still sleeping like a rock! I'm guessing that by Thursday the nerves will start to kick in. Stuff like that generally doesn't affect my sleep, though I'm guessing I won't get much sleep at all Sunday night. And yeah, I'm excited about the new camera! Didn't get a chance to go out today, but I might go over tonight. I still need to research a bit. I was just going to get cheap, but I have a hard time spending a good chunk of money on a crappy product, even if it's just gonna be my cheapy camera. I though the Nikon Coolpix was supposed to be a good camera, but the customer reviews have been kind of awful. Though, customer reviews themselves are usually awful. Why do so many people not understand the difference between reviewing the product, and reviewing the company's service, or the cost of the product, or some other unrelated detail?? I'm thinking I might go with a Canon PowerShot. |
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| Optimistic | Feb 1 2010, 02:24 PM Post #16 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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No. That's my biggest worry right now. I've lowered the price a bit (mostly to reflect increased mileage from the move), but haven't got a legitimate response yet. Just spam. SPAM Gets my hopes up every time.
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| musicasacra | Feb 1 2010, 02:24 PM Post #17 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I really like my Canon PowerShot. I selected it based on customer reviews. |
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| Optimistic | Feb 1 2010, 02:27 PM Post #18 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yeah, I really didn't see many unhappy buyers! The Nikon Coolpix, on the other hand, had some REALLY awful reviews. I was surprised because I know of at least two people who have one and love it. Maybe it's just the most basic model that's worthless. |
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| sue | Feb 1 2010, 02:33 PM Post #19 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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good choice. canon has been making cameras for a long time; they know what they are doing. I would ask a sales person about battery length. I can see that being an issue for you. yeah, it's funny about reviews. I bought my nikon on a whim, days before my trip to europe. The salesman said there wasn't much difference amongst the $200 point and shoot pocket cameras, so I just picked the one I liked the look of best. It's been just fine for me, but as with all things electronic, there's bound to be good ones and bad ones. |
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| QuirtEvans | Feb 1 2010, 02:38 PM Post #20 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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I've had uniformly good experiences with the Powershots. |
| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| George K | Feb 1 2010, 03:04 PM Post #21 |
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Finally
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Just one comment that I've made before, but it bears repeating. I prefer cameras that use AA batteries - I buy rechargeables, and that's what I use, with the idea that if I ever run out of battery, I can pop into any drugstore and get emergency replacements. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| sue | Feb 1 2010, 03:20 PM Post #22 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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yup, I've said that too. you can find AAs just about anywhere, and they're affordable. |
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