The first time being a Sox fan can in handy

A friend of mine, Ravi, is a trash-talking Lakers fan, so lately he's had a lot to brag about considering that his team is a favorite to win the title and while the Blazers have improved, they're still a long ways off. So, imagine my joy when we had the following exchange yesterday:

Me: So, let me guess, you like the Dodgers too, considering all their big moves lately?

Ravi: Actually, I'm an Angels fan.

Me: Aaaahahahaaa...awesome.

Ravi: What? Why?

Me: I'm a Sox fan. You know those guys who have OWNED the Angels the last, oh, 20 years and eliminated them from the playoffs pretty much all the time? They're my team. Ha. Hahahaha. Hahahaaaaahahaha.

Ravi: Oh.

Me: Smell that? Smells like justice.

Why I'm voting for Barack Obama

This is one reason. Also, he would make Community College free for most Americans, which is pretty awesome.

No Regrets!

When I started coaching at Pacific University two years ago, I told my students that I didn't want them to look back on their speech and debate careers with any regrets. That's been my motto as a PCV in Ukraine, and so far I think I've done a good job to live by that. However, as my service starts to wind down (less than a year left), I can't help but feel a sense of urgency about seeing as much of the country as I can before I leave. I have a map of Ukraine on the wall in my apartment with all the cities/towns/villages I've been to colored in red. I got the idea from a friend of mine, Molly DeStafney, who had a similar map up in her apartment before her service ended and she went home, and I remember thinking when I saw her map (towards the end of her service, right about where I am now) that there's no way I'll ever get to that many places in Ukraine. Still, a year later, my map is lit up like a New Year's Tree. I've been to 12 Oblasts, and that number will go up soon. It's weird to think that I've seen way more of Ukraine than all of my students and most of the teachers at my school have, and I've only been here for 17 months. It really makes me want to see all of America, too. My quarantine is going well! I love and miss you all!