As I continue to go about my daily life I've noticed that every once and a while I'll think: "It's lucky I'm already doing _____, it might make my transition easier." Of course, I'm referring to the Peace Corps. Things that I've recently had this thought about are that I have to wash all my dishes by hand (sadly I have no dishwasher), or that I am already having to get around sans car. And I feel like I do pretty well despite lacking some of the modern conveniences that I used to take for granted.

The of course I've also had thoughts to temper these previous thoughts. For instance, I might be used to washing my dishes by hand, but water comes so easily here and I might have to haul water from a distance to wash my clothes or dishes or to boil to drink. I might have to wait for the rains to come to take that bath I've wanted to take for a while. I can get around really easily on my own two feet and with my bike here, and I'm used to it taking a bit longer to get places. But I feel safe traveling on my own in Fort Collins, I can bike or walk home at night and not have to worry overly much about being mugged or worse.

I'm feeling fairly isolated currently, what with this whole "thesis" thing going on in my life. I'm going to have to get used to asking people to walk home with me at night from a late community meeting. I'll have to get used to the idea that even if I do have a bike down there that doesn't mean I'm more immune from personal attacks just because I can go faster than someone running after me.

I heard a story third or fourth hand the other day of a Peace Corps volunteer who took a taxi cab home and because it was dark paid extra to have the driver take her directly to her house. Then later that night the guy came back and raped her. This was the story that gave me pause, because it sounds like she did something to be safe, but yet still ended up getting harmed. At least it is always good to know that this sort of thing can happen here too, but still, it was an intimidating story to hear. Who knows if it's true, I heard it on the internet. :)

In any case, perhaps I will be a bit more prepared than most for living without modern conveniences but I don't know that anyone can ever be truly prepared for everthing they may encounter living in a foreign country with the Peace Corps.