Last post from the USA, etc.

In the previous post I made a promise of anti over-sentimentalism, which in accordance with (for the time being), I have decided to make this “goodbye USA” post as brief and to the point as possible.


Over the past two weeks I’ve been dragging out my goodbyes. From Richmond to Annapolis and then back to Williamsburg I’ve spent a significant amount of time trying to put in the face time you friends who have meant the most to me over the years. I was planning on naming names, but you all know who you are. You know my reasons for leaving, you’ve placed bets on my eminent return, but above all else, you’ve really supported my decision to go to Senegal. Cue the violins. For the friends I didn’t get a chance to speak with prior to tonight you missed some great times, but you can always make up for it by becoming “followers” of this blog. Not only does that mean you’d get an instant update via email if I was to ever be mauled by lions, but it also means that Kool Aid will rain from the sky on my birthday, and I’ll seem a lot more popular to my fellow PC trainees.

I could have written a lot more on the subject of how terrible I am at saying goodbyes, more especially to my close friends and family, but the violins have all been packed, the band has gone home, and in the next 12 hours I’m headed to D.C. Good luck to you all, stay in touch, and feel free to visit if you ever feel like a LHS or UR reunion is necessary.

My address for the time being (to be changed after swear in and site assignment) is:
PCT David Shames
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 299
Thiès, Senegal
West Africa
If you write Par Avion or Airmail on the package/letter it should reach me within a month, if you forget I might not get it for several months as it will be sent via boat. Furthermore, make sure to write on the customs form that the value contained within the package is less than 20 dollars (makes it cheaper for me to pick up), and use lots of packing tape so whatever you might send isn’t “appropriated” by anyone handling the mail during transit. I’ve read that making religious references in red pen or drawing crosses can also help deter theft.

And lastly, I’ll leave you all with my top 10 most frequently played songs over the past week. Feel free to read between the lines, but I think by now it is patently obvious that I’m going to miss you all.

In no particular order:
Back Where I Come From—Kenny Chesney
James River Blues—Old Crow Medicine Show
People Are Crazy—Billy Currington
Find out Who Your Friends Are—Tracy Lawrence
These Boots—Eric Church
Fast Car—Wyclef
Firecracker—Ryan Adams
The Joker—The Steve Miller Band
Home—Blake Shelton
Sing me Home—Tim McGraw