“Other people’s lives seem more interesting because they ain’t mine”
- Modest Mouse (2000)
My life is pretty interesting, but only because of the people I have the fortune of meeting. I’m basically Kirby sucking up people’s interesting aspects into my own.
The year was 2010. My thirteen year old self was scrolling The Facebook in the early days. Between 9gag and Epic Rap Battles of History posts, I come across an UBERFACTS post ready to shake my core. “DID YOU KNOW: There is a word in German for the feeling of realizing that everyone else’s feelings, thoughts, and lives are as complex as your own?”
Woah…
“AwesomeSauce! that’s more epic than bacon!” is likely how I would’ve reacted given the era. Fortunately we all made it our of the epoch of greasy mustaches, 10/10 heckin puppers, and Sailor Jerry Tattoos. Despite coming from cringe origins, that awareness and appreciation of the complexity of others has survived long enough to come to fruition in this blog.
January 2023 - April 2023
Peace Corps Training
BEER. Wouldn't you agree? That huge smile on Jacob's face isn't only from the beer. Though it helps, it speaks to Jacob more broadly. As cheerful and content as one can be. An experienced urban planner turned Peace Corps Community Economic Development volunteer, he's indirectly taught me that being accomplished doesn't have to be separate from not taking things too seriously and enjoying life. I mean look at him, wouldn't you want to share some beers with this guy?!
Joao rocking his Marty t-shirt with his catch of the day. Similar to the tide, every evening this stretch of the coast of Dili transforms from sleepy shores to bustling center of life in the biggest city in the country, only to return to its quiet status after 9pm. The sidewalks are lined with people selling coconuts, grilled chicken, and other extremely walkable goods for those strolling the beach. The smells are as diverse as the sights. ranging from the street to the fresh sidewalk fish on a canvas of banana leaves. The noise and pollution of the coastal highway are the main detraction for those enjoying the beach and adjacent vibrancy, but these same vehicles are where Joao and the rest of the fishermen sell their catch.
Jade (left) and Ruby (right) on Jade's birthday. God bless Jade for lining up her birthday during our initial orientation week of training. Celebrating together was the perfect way of breaking the ice with the wonderful people I'll be working alongside the next two years. There also wasn't a better person to celebrate. Universally loved, Jade is the beating heart of this cohort.
Ben, his guitar, and the freaking Joker.
This local artist's love for murals does not stop at reddit-adored comic book villains but continues with acronymized online battle royale first person shooters.
Jackson, Grayson, and Jade showing off their hard work cutting up a popular seaweed that has the texture of poultry cartiledge.
From our Education Volunteer group lesson on cooking in the Timorese way. Jade, Horacio, Jackson, and Ben are stuffing a spiced rice mix into a woven banana leaf ball all while kindly posing for my silly photo.
Ruby, the Alaskan legend. Early in meeting her, she mentioned living near Denali. I mentioned one of the coolest people I ever worked with (Mckenzie) moved up to Denali recently to bartend at a hotel. I know it's such an overused conversational ploy to mention knowing someone who lives where someone else grew up. Nearly always pointless because no one ever knows ur friend. Well after I mentioned my friend's self designed Adventure Time van, Ruby not only recognized my friend, but talked to her as well. By no means is it a small world, but there are certainly magnets drawing cool people to one another. "As it happened -- As it was *meant* to happen" - Bokonon via Vonnegut
lol, loved this whiny punk back in Gleno
Beautiful candlelit dinner with Aurelio and Jose. Frequent power outages couldn't keep us down. Jose was our neighbor, but here in rural Timor-Leste, the line between neighbor and family doesn't exist
Two of my host sisters and my host mom while in Gleno. They work their asses off keeping the farm running and still have the patience to hang out with me. True godsends.
Aurelio was my best friend for the ten weeks I lived in Gleno. I'll have core memories of breakfast together every single morning seared into my brain forever. His mom would put the fresh bread on a plate on the table, he would insist that I grabbed the bread first. I'd brew fresh coffee for us to share, pouring a sip at a time into our cups. I'd make sure he'd always get the last pour, but immediately after we'd cheers and throw back the rest. Followed by dense moments of silence appreciating the start of a new day, then a clap, a "Well!", and finally we'd get up and go about our business.
Aurelio has a degree in international relations with dreams of working in Latin American foreign policy. Being the eldest son, he'd spend most of his day tending to the pig and chickens on the farm as well as managing relations with the neighbors.
Apa Domingos Martins and his youngest.
The women and children spend most of their day in this kitchen with two wood fires. Whether their processing, prepping, or cooking food for the family, they are always doing it together chatting and singing.
My neighbor Jose. He is in high school and loves math and 2pac, though you can imagine which one he loves more. So much of my time in Gleno involved throwing a football back and forth for hours with this kid. Time well spent.
Manu (chicken) or Monu (to fall) I'm afraid to admit I don't know which his name is because I was too afraid to ask. Regardless, he is an eight year old that is so full of life and energy
Here he is again, but after I asked why he looked so angry in the previous pic. He gets his smile from his apa as you can tell.
Big thumbs up!
Hardest album cover of 2023
Senor Hamanj is the former finance minister of Timor-Leste who I met at church. Immediately after meeting him he invites me to his house where even though he is celebrating his son's Catholic communion, he'd be honored to have me as a guest. I happily join the party where we have fascinating conversations about economics, politics, and life in Timor-Leste. He mentions going to a conference in Brazil about education and nutrition when I mentioned studying a great deal about the Bolsa Familia policy in Brazil, arguably the most successful poverty reduction projects in the world. He then tells me that he wrote the Timor-Leste copycat version.
Mike is that dude. Just look at him.
Very grateful for Isabelle as she is the other one with the camera in our group. Any picture not taken by the infallible Jamie Fouss or myself, was taken by her. She also went to West Point, studied Persian, and is Wicked Smaht.
Ruby showing off the big smile that is synonymous with who she is. Fittingly, she went to school to be a dental assistant and worked in dentistry before returning to school for a different path. One night I picked her brain about teeth for well over an hour in what was one of my favorite amounts of time spent with any of the other volunteers so far. As happy and eager as she is knowledgeable!
Horacio. Slay.
Paul is the other Poli Sci degree holder in our cohort, we will always have that bond to us. Paul is that guy I trust the most to grab forearm to forearm to lift me from dangling on a ledge over a volcano. No funny business, but a full heart eager to help.
Bright Eyes. Empty Heads. Can't Lose