Guess what: We’re in the middle of Lent!  Recently, I learned that “lent” in Latin means “dawning of the sun.”  This was a revelation -- Lent doesn’t have to be dour and grim, laced with joyless deprivation (unless that’s your thing, in which case, git it!).  Rather, it can be a beautiful time of anticipation, contemplation, and inward preparation for sunshine, spring time, and new life.  So it brings me particular delight that this season of reflection and preparation for Easter happens to coincide with my preparation for my new life: Leaving these shores of comfort and ease for the tropical climes of the former Dutch East Indies and, well, new and different kinds of comfort and ease.  And adventure, sunshine, and fresh fruit.  Lots and lots of delectable, fresh fruit.

“Hold fast.”  In addition to mouthwatering tropical juices, I’m hoping these words will see me through the ups and downs of Peace Corps service in a remote village somewhere in East Java with possibly rickety electricity, dengue fever, and lengthy chicken bus rides to the nearest internet connection.  This simple instruction has already carried me through some tough spots in life.  And I anticipate a few more in the next couple of years, when I’m supposed to be the model citizen representing the U.S. abroad, providing excellent service and technical skills as a Secondary English Teacher at an Indonesian public school, as well as seamlessly integrating into the local culture, building those bridges of peace, goodwill, and friendship.

So I ask you, darling friends who will journey with me, to remind me, gently please, to hold fast in moments when I seem unable to.  Like when I feel like I’m doing a crappy job teaching, my students are out of control and hate my guts, or I see little progress in whatever secondary project I’m developing.  Or, all my shoes start to mold, my ankles are oozy from a million mosquito bites that refuse to heal, or I’ve lost my balance on the squat toilet one too many times.  Hold fast, indeed. 

Nonetheless, I go unafraid, in part because I am fortified by and carry with me the love, support, good vibes, positive thoughts, and prayers of all you people, you weirdo crazies who care about me or something.  Totes whatevs, says the casual, non-sentimental me.  What I really mean is: I will miss you these next 27 months.  So please stay in touch, via Facebook, Skype, email, snail mail, and/or the random photo or video clip of something funny or weird you see.  Even if you think it’s been too long and awkward to reach out or just incredibly random, please do it!  And read and comment on this blog.  Subscribe!  Click on "Subscribe to posts" (below) and select "Atom."  That will bookmark this thing and automatically update it with the newest entry.  Or, visit!  I mean it!  Have a fruit smoothie with me!

I shall endeavour to make this more photo-y going forward, so thanks for bearing with me to the end of my first post.  The adventure starts in earnest on April 1, 2012, with Staging, i.e., orientation, in Washington, D.C., where I will meet the other 47 people in my group, ID6 (Indonesia, 6th wave), for the first time.  We leave for Jakarta via Bangkok the next morning.

At least until then, holding fast.