philly!

i'm in the home of the philly cheesesteak, the city of brotherly love. it's cool to chilly, and there's 60 Peace Corps Trainees running around. it's a great group so far. lot's of smart, funny people, who're passionate about doing good in the world! there's three married couples in our group, one of whom are in their retirement years. i am, however, mostly in the company of my own age group for the first time in months. it feels great! i have even met two, count them 1,2 Christians already. I know some of you were praying for that, and i'd have to say, prayers answered! although neither are in my sector, the fact that they are there at all is comforting. just someone to understand where i'm coming from if things get hard, you know? but everyone is super nice and friendly and excited and full of hopes and fears and ideas and plans and all sorts of crazy emotions! it's great, but tiring. which is why i'm going to bed. and, dad, there are many who brought their laptops. which makes me feel somewhat better, even though i'm still decked out in technology, as only your daughter would be! :)

for all of you who are over 50 and think you're too old for peace corps, but wish you had done it, i have news for you! the oldest volunteer to ever serve was eighty. that's right, 80! so, if you really want to, have the time and the consensus with your spouse, check out the online application!!! anyway.

we've been orientating, getting to know each other, and just chillin' for a couple of days. we registered, i got all my paperwork in. Mrs. Erickson, you should expect a call about the school-partnership thing sometime in the relatively near future. :)

things are going well so far!
love and peace to all