October 25, 2005
Uncle Rory did it
I just finished re-reading The Bussiness, by Ian Banks. Someone I knew a long time ago introduced me to Ian Banks, and at the time I remember liking his work. I still like it but I think I appreciate it a whole lot more now. Sure some of the technology is dated. And in this book, he is a man writing a female character. Sometimes, you can tell. However being someone who used to have a well paying technology job and leaving all that for two years in the Peace Corps I found it so much more enjoyable the second time around. Which is neat since I don’t usually have the patience to read things twice.
In sort of other news. I’ve begun sifting through my bookshelves in order to figure out what to do with all of my books. So far I have them sorted into three piles….the “Defiantly take these to the PC Office right away” pile, the “I’m not quite sure, or not ready to let go yet” pile and the “I will most likely pack these and take them home” pile. The Middle pile is currently the largest. It generally takes me a while to let go of books. I usually have to do it slowly over a period of time. So I guess it is a good thing that I have started now.
Comments
Malo lava le galue Dorie, it was fun reading your experiences here.....aua ne'i galo lou fa'aSamoa! You undoubltly speak it better than I do...and I am Samoan, hehe! but born here in the States.....the Peace Corps is awesome.....Good luck in the future, and what an awesome job you've done helping the people their....Malo, malo, malo lava!!!
Leave as much as you can behind, more than you want to, with newer volunteers. Be selective with the best books, getting it to people who appreciate good reading as even now a lot of books that go to the village end up in the Fale Uila. Leaving behind good books can be the best thing you can do for those who are still in country. Why drag the stuff home? So you can put it on a shelf? Give somebody a chance to devour it when they start to go nuts. It may not keep them sane, but it will give them an enjoyable perspective on their developing insanity.
....I know , I know.....all you new types are always sane....and it's a terrible injustice to imply that it is otherwise....
Give EVERYTHING away to good people and don't be a schnook and sell the stuff. Here is your chance to endow a lot of good people with things they can use for the next year or two. You don't have to talk about sacrafice you can actually commit it.