Before Peace Corps I was living in Memphis, TN. I graduated from Rhodes College in May of 2010 with an Art History degree and a minor in Spanish. Post graduation, I was doing some odd jobs whilst rediscovering a city that I lived in for the four previous years. I found new nooks and crannies: restaurants, shops, markets, and people. I also just increased my love for those already familiar parks, pubs, and concert halls, and... well... people. I spent some time waitressing and learning a whole new discipline in serving people for a job, finding it to be grueling environment that I was not well suited for (babysitting included in those lists of never-resort-to-again jobs or why-the-8-5-is-not-so-bad). I pursued Memphis only to find that city eventually started pursuing me and even after leaving I could hear her calling. I answered those calls a few times before the final farewell, not quite ready to entirely relinquish my life there. Now, I find that I just hold a soft spot in my heart for Memphis and the very versatile experience I had there. One city's potential lies in the hands of those that behold it. Walk the city, run the roads, ride the rails, peruse the parks, eat the food, drink the beer, and share with the stranger a merry, good "cheers!"
Before Memphis I grew up in Alexandria, LA, living there all my life until venturing a liiiiiittle more North after high school. At the time it felt like I was traversing the country and abandoning all things familiar. It's funny was a little perspective can do to show me that I didn't go far at all. The small city living of my upbringing fostered a beautiful trial run for many experiences to come. I will also say that it makes village life in Botswana feel a bit less foreign.
