And we're off...

How to begin?  Being a literature person, my mind naturally runs to literary examples: Candide's "cultivate your garden," Socrates, “know thyself,” Dante’s “nel mezzo del camin di nostra vita” and yes, nerd that I am, Bilbo Baggins' "There and Back Again," although as I told a friend, I'm hoping not to have any run-ins with trolls or orcs.  These all offer some perspective on my decision to take up Peace Corps service at this mid-way point (at least, I hope) in my life.  I’ll leave it to you all to work out just what it is in each case.

This is a decision that I did not undertake lightly.  It is also a decision that I was only able to come to because of my relationships with many other people.  There is a Buddhist (but not exclusively so) idea that all beings are inter-related, and I believe that this choice to spend a time dedicated to volunteering arises from the idea of interbeing in the several ways, which I will not go into here for lack of space, time, and clarity of thought.  Suffice it to say that I would not be here were it not for the support and inspiration of many others.

So, I dedicate this blog to the many people who have supported me and in respect to  whom I hope I have in some measure reciprocated a spirit of service and compassion, my partner, my family, my friends, and last but by no means least my colleagues and students at the University of Michigan (with special thanks to the GIEU program and the students who went with me to India; you know who you are).