Let's see where to start this post. I think I'll post a video from YouTube that a fellow PCVer posted on facebook. I was dying laughing because so many of the things are true...people in America may not find it as funny as fellow PCVs, but let's just say that it is unbelievably accurate.
"So You Want to Join Peace Corps?"
Some of my fave lines from it:
"You will struggle to understand the children...and they will stare at you." (yep.)
"You will be sick most of the time from eating the local foods." (unfortunately true)
"You will sleep late and read novels that never interested you before to pass the hours." (hmmm...)
"Some days, you will not leave your home because you want to avoid your neighbors." (I love my neighbors. But, some days I simply do not leave. Period.)
"You will leave your site as often as you can." (guilty)
"You will leave and go straight to the nearest air-conditioned fast food restaurant. You will find your ex-pat friends there, also escaping the heat." (spot-on accurate)
"I will write letters in long-hand to my friends and family and wait patiently for the mail to arrive on horseback to my village." (I WILL write letters in long-hand and DO write letters in long-hand. However, they are not delivered by a horse. Ukraine is a little bit more developed than that...)
"You will bring your laptop and your 4G iphone..." (umm, yes.)
I'm still cracking up over a lot of those lines. Moving on...
The big news today came at the gym: I ran TWO miles without stopping. I've never done that. Ever. Yesterday, I told myself I was going to try to work up to running for 20 minutes without stopping. I've been doing 12-13 minutes max. I think I ran for 16 minutes yesterday...and my goal was 20 today. However, I switched things up a bit. I ate breakfast this morning, let it settle for a good while, and then walked to the gym (20-25 minute walk). Then, I ran. And today, I was able to run for 26 minutes...a little over 2 miles (something like 3.5 km). I normally don't eat breakfast before I go work out because I get sick. Since today was Sunday and I had more freedom of when I went to work out, I was able to wait an hour or two. Totally made a difference I think. So, my question for all of the runners out there...how do you eat before you run? I typically eat a banana and yogurt for breakfast. Please help!
I felt like a million dollars finishing a two-mile run. The girl next to me was running for most of that time to...and she didn't sweat one drop. I, on the other hand, was so red-faced and sweaty you'd have thought I just ran a marathon. I don't understand...it's like Ukrainian women don't have sweat glands or something...
The last news today was from a wonderful Skype session :)
front row: Meg, Maddie, Nathan, Schlouy, Liz, Rachel, Nathan
back row: Kira, Naomi, Alex, Isaac, Abe
Those are some of my kiddos at the bell retreat at Quartz Mountain. Mad props to Rachel for taking her laptop and scheduling a time where we could Skype :) Thank you thank you!
Much love,
Lyd
2 comments:
Hey, Very proud of you for running two miles without stopping--doubt I've ever done that. And that video is funny even to those of us who have not had the PC experiences...Love you, Pops
Congrats on hitting the two mile mark!
I was laughing at the Peace Corps video, comparing it to what you've told me. :)
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