itchy93

Hey all!

I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you guys (and gals).

For the last month, I've been working on a cruise ship, and haven't had a chance to check out my favorite message board (this place, in case it wasn't implicit enough). So I was wondering if you could maybe just sort of summarize all the great threads I've missed in this thread. It'd be much appreciated.

Actually, I don't really expect that. I just wanted to give an update to anyone who may care.

I had signed up to go into the Peace Corps in mid-January, and was ready to run off and make the world a better place and be a good human being. They contacted me a few weeks later and told me that I didn't qualify because I didn't have a college degree. I did some more research, and realized that nowadays the Peace Corps is really more of an international contractor than an aid organization; you basically get contracted out to developing countries to help teach them a trade to mold them into images of our society (the thing I wanted to leave behind). Disillunsioned, I considered giving it all up and becoming a Buddhist monk. I was going to work for a few more months at my dead-end job, and then go to India and begin practicing at a monastary.
My brother, while being the person that understands me best, doesn't agree with my hardcore romanticism. He sent my resume to this cruise line for which he'd done some consulting. Within two weeks, I was boarding a ship out of Miami. I've since been travelling the Caribbean, and will be transferring to New York in May. My current contract will expire in August, at which time I have the option of taking six weeks off and returning to work, or terminating my employment.
I only get a few hours off a day, so I don't get to see too much of the ports of call. I work 10 hours a day, seven days a week, and even though I have a pretty cush job (IT Manager), it is exhausting. I miss my friends and my mom terribly. In truth, I'm as miserable as ever.
I haven't faltered in my stance to live my life the way I want; I still plan to devote my life to helping others and finding inner happiness. But this job provides me with the opportunity to save a lot of money to fund my travels while I get this restlessness out of my system, before making my ultimate decision.
So that's me. Now it's your turn.

Itchy93

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That's just my opinion; I could be wrong.

QuasiMojo

oh
you poor baby.


most of us could only be so lucky

and oh...no

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AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

Skettios

You don't run off and join the Peace Corps. I'm signed up, and leaving in May. It takes months and months to get all of your clearances. As for an international clearing house, the countries that you work in decide what they're going to pay for you to do. In some cases it's teaching English in the Carribean. In another it's helping to form a small business collective in Bangladesh. The Peace Corps was never an 'aid organization' it was and still is a grass roots movement where they teach people the power of self substantiation.

I don't think anyone ever found inner happiness by running around. But good luck.

and also no... but eh, some people got banned and stuff.

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Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.

Frederich Nietzsche

bparker805

I got my avatar. Isnt it coool?