Stagnation and Commiseration

"Living with my grandparents is kind of like the host family experience all over again. You know, refusing food, trying to find time alone... all that." - John

Today I had lunch with three other former Phils volunteers. It was interesting - the last time we'd seen each other had been under very different circumstances, with much different worries and agendas. I came from my internship, another came from USAID training, another was in town for job interviews and the last was in-between grad school classes. It was the most dressed, I think, we'd ever seen each other - schleppy Peace Corps tees and tsinelas not quite fitting in with the black suit and tie DC-vibe.

Turns out, we've all sunk to new lows. Returning from being big shots in a developing world - being handed responsibilities which we hardly deserved, sometimes lived up to and in no way were prepared for to being told we aren't good enough for more than an unpaid internship (and I'm among the lucky ones) is a bit assaulting to the ego.

"Well, I went to the interview and thought, hey Peace Corps and I have tons of experience - I'm a shoe-in! But I totally wasn't," she told me over coffee.

"I'm used to being a respected member of my community!" he whined.

"Oh, yes, I babysit. Ten hour days, five days a week, and one night for this autistic little girl. My parents sold my car. Can you even picture me like this?" she laughed, even as we both grimaced. "They said I was a shoe-in for the job, but they haven't called back in two weeks. They contacted a reference who I know gave me a rave review, but still haven't heard a thing..."

"Is bagging groceries stooping too low? Yes? How about Starbucks?" he asked. I advised, being in a position of power - I waitress at TGI Fridays and intern for free downtown. I kind of lucked out.

Just before I came home, I was looking at facebook pictures of volunteers in my group who had gone home directly. One guy, a rugged-looking coastal resource management volunteer, had posted pictures of his winter job: he was dressed as one of Santa's elves at some commercial event.

I remember laughing, a lot... but now I just kind of get it.

What next? I think we're all in the race for graduate school to start and rescue us from stagnation. Oops, I mean for graduate school to start so we can further ourselves and our careers. Right?