Sorry I've been away. I hope all was well here. My work conference went great and I am very relieved it is over. Now I just have to deal with this cold I'm accumulated this week. In the meantime, it looks as if my Peace Corps friend Leslie, that great Woman of the World, is back in the Bay Area due to political unrest in the Middle East in just under a year of what is normally a two-year stint in the Corps; I'll let her explain in this email message she's sent:

I am witting to tell you all that I am in the Bay Area now. I had to leave Jordan due to the political situation and all the harassment I was experiencing. Since some areas of the country are ok they are not evacuating the program but instead have interrupted service for those that are in high harassment areas. Thus I had to come home. I can hardly believe I am home. It is strange to be back. I am not quite sure what I am going to do. I can say though that I have a sense of relief being back and I am actually sleeping through the night now and feel a little more comfortable walking around. I can put in for another assignment some place but am not sure if I want to start all over. I have a lot of things to reflect on and to think about before I decide my next path in life. I just wanted to let you all know that now I am home, it is so green here! I am amazed. Oh and the airport thing was a little crazy, people should be required to where flip flops on the planes to cut down on time at the security cheek points. Hope you all are well,
Take Care,
Leslie
I look forward to seeing her in person soon.