Food Porn and Patriotism

Today was the first day of staging in Arlington VA and our last full day in the States.  I suppose it was a little bit like the first day of summer camp.  At first it was a awkward with everyone asking the same questions and consistently forgetting names... well I was consistently forgetting names anyways.  As the day went on though it was amazing how close we started to get.  Our coordinators reminded us that in a very short time all the people around us would become our best friends.  Sorry everyone at home but you just got replaced so there!  I'm just kidding you could never be replaced.  Remember that time that we (insert sentimental memory here) and how we almost (insert amusing anecdote about something going wrong).  All kidding aside though I'm really amazed at how much we've connected and I'm really excited to get to know everyone.  It's really an awesome group. 

At the end of the day a bunch of us went out to dinner at the Rock Bottom Brewery... strange name... It was great though!  The beer was fantastic and the food was delicious.  I had a margarita pizza to start, which I shared with the table.  I then had a salad with blue cheese and a Pale Ale... sadly not Sierra Nevada, but good.  For my entree I had a juicy medium rare New York steak with a great glaze and topped with Gorgonzola cheese.  For dessert I had a chocolate sundae.  It was the perfect final dinner in the States before eating mostly rice and fish for the next two years.

After dinner a small group of us went to tour the national mall to look at all the monuments.  I had never been there before, and it was really quite stunning.  Very strange to reflect on monuments of war as I'm about to join the Peace Corps.  You hope that organizations like the Peace Corps will lead to less of a need for war.  I know its a lofty goal and my service isn't likely to make a huge difference on that front, but hopefully I can spread a positive image of Americans and add to the overall tone of peace.  Surely the attempt is noble anyways. 

I oficially have 1 min left of battery so I will end here.  Tomorrow morning it's vaccinations and then off to the airport.  5:40pm flight to Dakar Senegal.  Wish me luck!  Ok it died before I finished.  Now I'm off!

Au Revoir!