Hey -

Quick update from Philly. We’re going to go to JFK in a few hours to board a plane to Brussels (with a couple hour layover), and then on to The Gambia.

This morning at 7:30, we stopped over to a big federal building to get our first round of immunizations - Polio, MMR, and Yellow Fever. Wasn’t too bad - very pokey. Fortunately, I didn’t have an allergic reaction to the shots, which can medically separate you from the Peace Corps before you even set foot in the country. That happens with a small number of people, from what I understand.

Last night, we went to see the fireworks by the art museum. Lionel Richie was playing, but we were about 3/4ths of a mile from the stage, and it was almost impossible to hear. Aside from that, it was raining a little - there was thunderstorm activity overhead, and bolts of lightning made for a pretty cool addition to the man-made light shows below.

Another PCT, Evan, and I, went back a little early to avoid what was shaping up to be a downpour - neither of us wanted to get soaked quite yet - and wound up at a small irish bar near the hotel. We ended up talking for a couple hours about all sorts of things, from music, to eastern religion, our backgrounds, and all kinds of other stuff. Didn’t get back to the hotel until two in the morning, and even then I didn’t get to sleep until about three. So I’m running on about 3.5 hours of sleep right now - I’ll sleep on the plane.

I’ve got some photos to upload from yesterday, but that will probably have to wait until I arrive in Banjul.

‘Til then,

Matt

Hey -

  Just got into Philly yesterday afternoon to start Staging for PC service.  We’re all put up in a nice hotel here, and are going out to see the fireworks this evening (Lionel Richie is playing in the park where the fireworks will be too, which is cool … I … guess.  Well heck, it’s free).  Everyone seems really cool, people are really sharp and easy-going - I think the PC really looks for those types for service.

We’ve been doing a whole lot of sessions, cross-culture activities and whatnot, learning about PC policies and procedures, but those are really the nuts and bolts of it.  The bulk is very interactive, which makes the time fly.

Anyway, tomorrow morning we’re taking a bus up to JFK in NYC, and from there we’ll be boarding a flight, finally destined for The Gambia.

I’ll try to post again before I leave, but if I don’t, well, next one will be from TG!

Adios -

Matt