So... This is a Thing

So my name is Daren and this is a thing. Before I begin, I must warn everyone reading this blog to bear in mind with me. This is my first blog attempt ever and I am not the most fluent nor coherent author out there. So welcome and enjoy the show.

At this moment, I am one week away from officially beginning my Peace Corps journey to Macedonia. Seems pretty crazy that I started my application almost a year ago, and time is already up. I’ve been trying to spend as much time with friends and family as possible before leaving the country for the next two years. Also, I have spent countless hours trying to learn about my new home, new language, and new culture which I will have to adapt to. I will be working in the ‘community development sector’ of Peace Corps, hopefully on projects that I have some experience, such as higher education or economic and tourism development. I am sure the next two years will be full of many rewards and challenges. Right now however, I feel my biggest challenge is to answer questions from friends and family. So far I’ve gotten a number of humorous responses and questions, such as:

“Macedonia? Where is that? Is that the island near Africa?”

Me - “Ah… no no no, you’re thinking of ‘Madagascar’, and a Disney movie. Sorry”

“Peace Corps? What in the hell is that? Sounds like a bunch of liberals.”

Me - “Well, I suppose you could say that? Not really? I don’t think only registered Dems are allowed in. But Maybe!”

“Peace Corps!? That’s like the ‘military without guns!’ Aren’t you worried about safety?”

                Me - “What? No. I am sure it is very safe! No worries!

Yikes… What have I gotten myself into! Perhaps these are legitimate well-founded thoughts and fears, but to be honest, I am really not worried about it. I have been planning on doing the Peace Corps for several years now and luckily for me, I found a wonderful Masters Degree program at Oklahoma State University that provides a degree, and Peace Corps experience! What an excellent find, if I do say so myself. Anyways!  I started the application process for Peace Corps around last September (2011), but since then it has been such an exciting and life changing experience… filled with lots of pictures and fun events that I would like to spend some time covering.

A month ago today, August 7, I was sitting in Osaka Airport, about to embark on a trip across Japan through three cities to complete one of my childhood dreams. I traveled alone for 8 days, visiting temples and taking lots of pictures, staying in very ‘interesting’ hostels, and of course, drinking copious amounts of Asahi. Here are just a few of the memories I was lucky enough to snap pictures of:

Welcome to Kyoto! Although it looks abandoned, I thought this was a pretty awesome picture on my first day there.

So this is To-ji Temple, in Kyoto and its about 800 or so years old. Luckily for me, my hostel was located only a few blocks away from here!

 When I arrived in Tokyo, one of the most interesting places I was able to visit was the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda. I would have liked to go inside and see the gardens, but judging by the number of guards everywhere, I think that may have not been an option,.

Two months ago today, July 7, I was sitting in a classroom in Gwangju, South Korea, trying to stay awake as I was enrolled in the last actual class of my Master’s degree career. Gwangju is a sleepy ‘rural’ city, which has a population nearly that of all of Macedonia. However, compared to the 10 million ‘urbanites’ in Seoul, Gwangju may as well be a village. While being in Korea, I got to meet many wonderful people from all over the world and was able to make friends with students from Brazil, Russia, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Canada, and of course the United States and South Korea. I sincerely hope that I will be able to see some of you again, as I know you will all be successful and traveling the world.

While in Korea, I attended Chonnam National University, in the South Jeolla Province. This school means a great deal to me, as it is a ‘ground zero’ place for democracy and human rights. During 1980, there were great protests in Gwangju, and more specifically CNU, against the military dictatorship that had seized power. Many students and citizens were killed by government forces, in the ‘fight’ against communism. While the entire event is still a fairly large controversy in Korea, and not all of the facts have been brought to light, the events of May 18 are known very well to everyone in Gwangju and it remains an important national event. In a way, it reminds me of Kent State during the 1970s, yet on a much larger scale. On a more positive note, Korea was a great learning experience and full of fond memories. I have tentative plans to eventually return and work on my PhD but that may be a few years away in the future. 

Revolution! 혁명! This mural was painted on the side of a building on Chonnam's Campus. 'You Control Everything.'

Welcome to Chonnam Dae! This is the tree-lined walkway that leads from the main gate, to the campus. Once the site of massive protests against the military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan.

Eventually I was able to travel around the country following the Summer Session at CNU, and visited both Busan and Seoul. This image was taken from atop a rooftop garden in Busan. Overall, it gives me an overwhelming sense of pride in Korea and although I love the US, I am thrilled to one day return to SK and teach.

One year ago today, I was beginning my fall semester at Oklahoma State University as a Master’s student, and meeting many other great and brilliant people whom if not for them, I wouldn’t  have had nearly the amount of fun we did. Before moving from Oberlin, Ohio to Stillwater, Oklahoma; I was pretty nervous and needless to say, had a lot of stereotypes about Okies. However, I turned out being pleasantly surprised and had one of the best and most productive years of my life. 

I know I have lots of people I consider to be my family (especially since I personally come from a very small family and was often alone growing up), but these people are some of the most amazing friends I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.. and in Oklahoma of all places! Our drunken judgement-free debauchery will be sorely missed. On a similar note, I unfortunately don't have any really good pictures of my newest family from Chonnam University, but overall, I have to admit that I am extraordinarily lucky to have met great people, whether in Oklahoma, Korea, or soon-to-be Macedonia. Also, on a side note, I am taking the NJC shirt with me, 100 pound weight limit be damned!

From our class, there were originally five students who were doing the Masters International Program, meaning that they complete one year of graduate schooling, then disembark overseas for two years of Peace Corps. By Spring Semester, we were down to four.  One went to Benin in June, one will be leaving for Azerbaijan later in September, and then there is me… with one week left to prepare for my departure to Macedonia. It seems crazy to think that in a week, I will be sitting in Washington D.C, with other Peace Corps hopefuls, preparing to leave the United States for 2+ years. 

I am extremely nervous about this as I am not very quick to make friends and can be rather shy meeting new people. Very often, my brain thinks quicker than my mouth and I trip over my words like a drunken sailor on shore leave. It is very tragic, I am fully aware of this conundrum. However, I am not too concerned because with those two years abroad together, I am sure we will all become good friends! Hell, by the time we finish service, I will be an elderly man of 27 years, and far too old to worry about that!

I have many high expectations for this myself, as well as this blog, in the upcoming years. Mostly, I am very excited to be able to get out into the field and work in the world of development that I have been studying for what seems like an eternity. Numerous case studies and research, hours upon hours in the classroom discussing theories and implications of development, and of course discussing some of the more negative aspects of the neoliberal model and the dark side of development. I think on that note, I will conclude this first post. After all, there is only seven more days to enjoy all that America has to offer: craft beers, sushi, Starbucks ice coffee, reliable internet service, and most importantly, being able to drive my car. See y’all in Washington!