Speaking of Writing

Yesterday was my day for speaking. Today was my day for writing. Yesterday went much better than today.

Anyway they look happy, and this isn’t the theater department but the House of Owls at American University’s School of International Service.

They welcomed me kindly for a chat about about the Peace Corps as a path to personal development and career opportunity, about life in the Foreign Service, and about my recent publication, Profiles in Service: Peace Corps Roots in American Diplomacy.

The students came from all over the U.S., from New York to L.A., from Arkansas to Pennsylvania and from right here in the DMV. One was a fellow Nutmegger with family in that most Polish of Connecticut towns, New Britain, where I studied writing, literature, and journalism at Central Connecticut State University.

We shared unusual foreign experiences and aspirations for future opportunities. We looked at where Peace Corps stood as their idea of a career path, what benefits might accrue from it, and the potential challenges holding them back. I heard thoughtful and surprising answers!

I also had a chance to share some of my favorite resources, including the Softpower/Fulstories Podcast (my episode is here) and the oral history collection maintained by the ADST (Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training).

Did I mention the students provided a generous buffet of sandwiches, chips, and shrimp from Busboys and Poets? Delish!

Earlier in the day I enjoyed a conversation with a recently returned volunteer now undergoing that hardest of all hard Peace Corps moments: the transition home. What an experience! Imagine spending two years in West Africa only to return home and be diagnosed with malaria and schistosomiasis!

It was great to meet and talk to a fellow RPCV writer now plying his craft in L.A. I was surprised the degree to which I may yet pursue a long-dormant project, Peace Corps: the Musical.

I’m not ordinarily one for speaking. I never know which Ben will show up: fluid Ben or Mud-tongue Ben. Yesterday was supposed to be hard.

Today was supposed to be easy, but I just haven’t had any luck with the pen today. Guess its mud-pen Ben who showed up.

Ordinarily writing brings me joy, even when its hard. Not today.

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