La Abreboca “The Appetizer” With 40 years of work-a-day behind me, and a ‘certain birthday’ looming ahead, in the spring of 2010 I set out to volunteer with WorldTeach and search for the “Fountain of Youthiness.” It should be an interesting journey; thanks for coming along for the ride, and, welcome aboard!
For those of you who don’t know me, or don’t know me well, a short biography is in order. I was born and raised in New York City and attended some great public schools including the Bronx High School of Science, one of the first ‘magnet schools.’ From there I went on to the City Universities of New York where [on the ‘5-year plan’] I earned a BA Degree in English. There followed some years of a youth mis-spent: sailing the oceans on small boats [including a great trans-Atlantic delivery from Tortola, BVI to Corfu, Greece] and working this odd job and that [including work in several clinical laboratories]. After that it was on to law school.
Upon graduating, and with no particular plan in mind, I decided that I would resettle myself in Charleston, South Carolina, a port of call that I had enjoyed, and where I had old friends. It came to pass that I met the Chief of Police in Charleston and was recruited into the life of law enforcement; for 25 years I served the City of Charleston as a police officer or as an employee of the legal department. For a time I had a private practice of law concentrated on criminal defense matters. Since retiring, I have been a civilian investigator working for several different employers.
I am a serious runner and walker, a very good cook and a minimalist by nature. I hope to explore every corner of Ecuador while I’m there, to buy great food in the local markets, and to learn to cook some Ecuadorian specialties. Stay tuned to this blog and you will be able to follow my adventures, meet my new friends and maybe even test a new recipe or two.
The link below will take you to a countdown clock set to ring on 15 February 2011. On that date 14 other volunteers and I will be ‘wheels up’ and on our way to Quito, Ecuador. It’ll then start counting up my time in-Country, which I suspect will fly by.
I’m sure that none of us similarly situated arrived at this juncture without some help along the way. I’d like to thank Barbara Banks & Rachel Halpern, educational professionals now teaching ESL at the San Pablo Branch of the Jacksonville, Florida, library, for allowing me to observe and occasionally participate in their sessions over the last several months. I must also thank the students, every one of whom was a joy.
And, of course, I want to thank my mother and sister and the many friends who have wished me well and offered their support. Once you’ve made good friends in this life, the rest is easy.
