First day of staging....

I had some drama getting here to Philly today but I made it just in time before registration ended....whew...

People here are cool and I'm getting really excited about what lies ahead.  Another day and 1/2 and I'll be on the other side of world!

 

Craziness.....

I'm up at 1a.m.

Hmmm....it's past 1am and i'm still awake. This is not a good sign because I have to get up around 6:30am for my flight.

I guess its just starting to hit me that I will actually be leaving the country for more than 2 years. You know when you move away normally its not for that long a period and you can always come back and take care of things relatively quickly without thinking too much about it. But for this....its totally different. I won't exactly be able to get back here all that quick. Even in terms of possibly vacationing back home half way through doesn't even look like a likely scenario. Since any travel in between my period of service is all on me, I doubt I can afford it. Soooo..........God willing I have covered all the loose ends before I leave.

Anyways I'll miss everyone.....so write will ya?

But I'll especially miss my family. Mom/Dad I know you don't read this but I love you and don't stress. I'll be back before you know it.
Soo, you crazy and i love you for that too. Take care of yourself and we'll be laughing it up again before you know it.
Eun...I already miss you so much sweetheart. But I have hope in seeing your beautiful face again soon enough. Study hard and bring the big "I AM" upstairs all the glory. Remember this equation:
((Thoughts of you*Faith and Prayer)^804 days I'll be gone)/(Lots of letter writing) = ;-)


Hmmm....did I forget anything???? zzzzzzzzzz..........

i'll be in philly soon enough......

The Packing List

Ahh 1 more day to go......

Heres what my packing ended up looking like:
The list....

Clothing
Pants: 2 pairs of good khaki’s, 1 pair of dress pants, 2 pairs of Jeans, 2 shorts
Shirts: 2 north face shirts, 2 white t-shirts, 1 long sleeve shirts, 4 miscellaneous T-shirts, 2 button up dress shirts
Shoes: Chacos, Birkenstock clogs, Hiking boots, sneakers, flip-flops, Docs
1 pair of scrubs
2 ties
North Face Venture Rain Jacket
Hoodie
Boardshorts
Bandanas
Lots of underwear
2 pairs of hiking socks
8 pairs of regular socks
Baseball cap
Mr. Escalante math teacher hat

Toiletries, etc.
2 toothbrushes
2 toothpastes
Burt’s Bee’s kit
Burt’s Bee’s bar shampoo
Liquid shampoo small
2 pairs of glasses
6 months contacts
Contact lens solution
2 contact lens cases
Tom’s of Maine deodorant
Act fluoride rinse
Comb
Razors
2 small bottles of hand sanitizer
Nail clippers
Hair cutting scissors
Toilet Paper
Large pack towel
Small pack towel

Gear
Sunglasses
USB cables
USB card reader
Brunton 4.4 Solarport charger
Palm PDA
Digital Camera
LED headlamp
Leatherman / whetstone
4AAA Rechargeable batteries / 8AA Rechargeable batteries
2 combination locks
1 keyed lock
2 moleskine notebooks
1 large moleskine notebook
Thermarest
Casio watch
Duct Tape
Traveler’s checks
Caribiners
Ziploc bags (gallon size)
Fleece sleeping bag
Tupperware
Duct Tape
MSR Locking pot
Utensil set
Paring knives
Nalgene water bottle
Seeds for garden
Twin size sheets
18 passport size photos

Entertainment
iRiver 1Gig MP3 player
2 or 3 novels
2 pairs earbud headphones
Deck of cards
UNO
Deflated soccer ball
Mini VT nerf football

Food
Hard candy
Beef Jerky
Tea bags

Bags
Gregory internal frame backpack
Medium sized duffel bag
L.L. Bean backpack

R.I.P my Samsung SCH-A310

Yes.....its happened..

My 2.2 year stint as a cell phone customer of verizon wireless has officially ended as of October 19, 2005 12:01am Eastern Standard Time. I am no longer a easily accessible member of american society. Sooooo.....if you want to get ahold of my beautiful voice you must buy my newest single

"Mala what? Malawiciousssss"

Thoughts......

The whole process of having to uproot what little I know of my life and having to plant myself in another country for 2 years makes me reflect on just about everything...

There are always those "noble" desires and needs of wanting to help those that are "less fortunate" (whatever way you wish to define that term). But as much as those reasons exist, the selfish ones exist also.

There is that desire to look for something else. Maybe part of me wants to seperate myself and try to look at my life with a perspective that is "different". I'm making the assumption that something like this can do that. We shall see...shan't we....

It's also interesting that having to prepare to leave for a long time is also like seeing how people might react if you were to die soon. People kind of talk to you like they may never see you again almost. The experience is interesting nonetheless. I hope someone will miss me.

11 days to go.....CRAP!!! I got some much stuff I got to do before I go!

Beauty everywhere

One of the thoughts that I had when I went to Tanzania was just simply taking in how beautiful the country was. Everywhere I went, the fact that I was seeing things that was in no way like anything I had seen before. Seeing a culture, people, natural landscape that was outside of my normal everyday experience refreshes the soul in some way. But as much as I was able to see the beauty of Tanzania, it had an affect on me that I didn't expect.

When we got back to the United States I felt like I was looking around literally with new eyes. I had an appreciation for the natural beauty that I saw in Virginia (yes, it actually exists). The city of Richmond, americans (simply for being americans), fast food, etc. It's all a part of the culture, it's different. But it's also beautiful for simply what it is..... Now, I'm not saying its ideal or that it's even what I would choose, but it is what it is. I need to make the decision to have an attitude that says I will see the beauty that exists and accept it. I guess we get so used to always viewing things in a certain way that our prejudiced heart will not see it in any other way and even forget what good we had seen in the past.

The last few weeks I've been living with my parents here in northern virginia has been good. I've never had the most positive perceptions of this area. The traffic makes me "road ragey", the price of homes makes me "cringe" (literally), everyone is more metro than me (i feel like a bum in church), everyones too busy, etc... But even with all of that, when you strip away all the craziness here....its not that bad..... But, i'll leave it at that

I'll be in Malawi in a little more that 2 weeks from today. May I have an attitude to see the beauty of that country, its culture, and people also.....

15 Days and counting........


Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I'd pray
I could break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky.
Make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I'll take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jetplane
Far away
And break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky.
Make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I'll take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging with revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me
Gotta keep movin on movin on
Fly away
Break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
Take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away
Break away
Break away

Address while in Training

Here is my address while I'm in training for anyone who wants to write....

Kwang Han, PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 208
Lilongwe, Malawi

Packing....the never ending battle!

I'm come to realize that I only have a few weeks left before staging. The thoughts going through my mind are "oh crap" then "oh well". There are certain necessities that I must acquire from various depots and retailers before my final leaving of the great U. S. of A. The only problem is that I only have a vague idea of what I should be taking with me. I was...key word is was.... suppose to receive a welcome book from my country desk at the Peace Corp headquarters but have yet to do so....

In this most beneficial of welcome books there should be a suggested packing list for what I should be acquiring. Now, there are a bunch of suggested packing lists for what I should be bringing from all kinds of websites from various people that have served somewhere in Africa. But as far as I can tell it varies largely based on what people feel like they "need".

Things I will definitely be bringing:
Clothes: naked kwang is cool for a while but you know....the natives might complain (apparently showing my knees is scandalous)
MP3 player: i needs my beats....it gets lonely out there
Pictures: of my woman and family...i might forget what they look like after 2.25 years

Beyond that its a battle of the "what materials things define me and will help me to survive"

Who knows I might just meet the 80lb max requirement..... I better, I'm gonna be carrying all this crap (which would be 61.5% of my body weight)

Sobering

The devastation that is shown in Louisiana and Mississippi is sobering. With all the sense of security and affluence that we may feel that we have in this country its amazing how quickly it can be taken away. wow.....

Audioblogging is cool...

Well from the way things have set up it appears that staging will be on the 28th of September in Philly. There was a possibility of having it either in Philly or D.C. but I'm actually glad they decided to have it there. It would have been kind of weird still being close to home while I have to go through staging. Once I'm there for 2 days I fly out of JFK through South Africa to go to Malawi.

I decided to switch over to blogger because it seemed to have nicer features and easier to use than xanga.....go figure, plus its just a google thing

What will I be doing till I leave...

I have to get all the grown up things done like changing car registrations, will (in case I meet Jesus sooner than anticipated), power of attorney, insurance, deferment of loans, etc...

Plus do all of the "being a good son things" like mow the lawn, straighten up finances, spray pesticides, powerwash the house.....it never ends

Read lots of books, watch lots of movies, visit peeps, and pray lots...

How do I feel?

Not sure...I feel okay for the most part but its bittersweet in general. The experience of joining the Peace Corp is something that is different for every person that goes through it. The only expectations that I have is that God will use it in some way to change and grow me. That is my greatest hope. So much to leave behind yet so much to look forward to...... A journey is best travelled knowing someone greater has blazed the path.

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despise things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." -1 Corinthians 1:26-31