Two-year Costume

On Halloween I put on my best volunteer costume, went to a party, listened to a few speeches, raised my right hand, repeated a few words, gave some high-fives, ate some cake, posed for pictures and left looking the same but feeling different.

That was the gist of swear-in, but that different feeling only lasted so long.  I should be careful here because we are technically on duty 24-7-365, and I do consider that when I’m out and about, especially in how I present myself and represent the U.S.  However, it’s just partially impossible to not transform into a tourist when you’re left to your own devices outside your ‘official’ site.  Main tourist activities were a night of sushi, in part for a friend’s birthday, and then a day at the US embassy where we got pruney in the pool.  The embassy is a pretty impressive compound I might add; with one of the biggest, most beautiful badass trees I’ve seen in my life.  Need to find out what it’s called.

I didn’t bring any respectable clothes and would have felt uncomfortable in the embassy cafeteria where other, smarter, better-dressed volunteers were enjoying cheeseburgers and pasta.  So I went hungry and continued to drown my sorrows in the pool.  Good reminder to stay looking professional – it could just be the difference between a delicious cheeseburger or no delicious cheeseburger.