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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Just Thinking

It's Saturday morning and I'm going to head up to the high school and walk the track. It's nice but mild out, and I'd love to get some fresh air before it turns hot and humid this afternoon.

For a year or so I've thought off and on, although pretty seriously, about applying to join the Peace Corps. Early on in my MBA, and even before, I remember trying to nail down my "perfect job" and thinking it would somehow involve helping to build infrastructures for developing countries. Just using my finance skills in some way that would bring order where it would assist progress. I focused on UN jobs and didn't really get anywhere, and then I ended up with the amazing opportunity to live in Japan and do my banking thing.

This morning there's an article on Yahoo! entitled, "World to Peace Corps: Skilled volunteers needed." It's really talking about recruiting people able to assist with the HIV/AIDS crisis, and how the retiring Boomers might be able to fill that need, but it got me thinking again about what I was going after several years ago, and about my recent thoughts about applying to the PC.

Right or not, the main things that hold me back from doing it now are wanting to be near family after almost 4 years away in Japan, worrying about my severely under-funded retirement accounts, and having first-hand knowledge of how difficult, at least for me, it is to assimilate back into American culture after being away. I'm sure those reservations would horrify a hard-core PC'er, but I think the article freed me up to think honestly about my true concerns. Although at the same time the article makes me think that it could be a really good fit for me, as it talks about the PC of the future not being centered as much on "youthful zeal." That's good because my zeal isn't that youthful anymore.

And now the vile slumlord is shattering my peaceful bubble with the riding lawnmower below my window, so I'm outtie. More thoughts at another time.

9 comments:

  1. I have difficulty assimilating into American culture after being gone for just a week! I can't imagine coming back after 4 years... particularly from a place like Japan which is so very different from here.

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  2. I think you are on to something. . .

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  3. Your slumlord is cutting your grass? Have they no shame?

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  4. I have difficulty assimilating into American culture, too. And I never left.

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  5. OMG, Glenn. As usual, you're the funniest guy at the party.

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  6. YOu know, Peace is definitely worth fighting for.....whether it's in the Peace Corps or not. And I'm with Matt and Dave2.... I can't stand American culture. Well, I do hesitate to actually call it "culture."

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  7. Damn the vile slumlord, something must be done. Peace Corps? Interesting to say the least but Hmmmmm I have no response to that. (Last line blantantly stolen from Meg Ryan in Joe versus the Volcano)

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  8. You know, I can see that. You + PC = something great!

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  9. I know we have discussed this at length a while back, so you know my feelings on the subject, but just in case you need a reminder: Do it. Do it now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering what might have happened if you'd gone for it. And email me if you need any further encouragement!

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