Its times like these that make me appreciate being a New Englander. It is also times like these that make it difficult being away.
I am so proud to say "wicked", to sometimes forget to pronounce my R's, to say "frappe" and not "milk shake", to have been candle pin bowling, to eat real maple syrup just to name a few.
This past week I was at a boys empowerment camp where cell phone network was spotty, and internet on your cell phone was a rarety. Hearing about the boston marathon bombings was one of the most difficult things to process. It was Marathon Monday, Patriots day for gods sake. I was in disbeleif. What was even more difficult is I knew friends that were running in the marathon, and I assumed that many people I know would go and watch. Only hearing tidbits of information was difficult, not being in New England to go through this difficult time was even worse. I wanted to be able to stay updated on what was happening, I wanted to know who did this, but most of all, I wanted to know how my friends were. I was really thankful for Dan Rowe and Amy doing their best to inform me of what was going on. Feeling connected to the events helped me to feel apart of the effort and sense of community happening in Boston and New England. One of the hardest things about Peace Corps is being so far away both in location and from people you love. Events like that which happened on April 15th, 2013 make these distances feel even greater.
I am glad that things are settling down and at least the events the day of the marathon have been figured out a bit. I am proud at the way we have responded to these events. Boston is a great city, New England is full of amazing people its unfortunate that this is the way that the world had to be reminded of this.
Hate doesnt solve anything, and type casting wont improve secutiry. We must remember that the few dont represent the whole. Lets set an example and not fight hate with hate. Remeber love more than hate.
Boston I am thinking of you and wishing I could be there.
BOSTON STRONG!
