but what KIND of snakes?

where could i end up?  or, if i'm going to go commune with snakes, what kind of snakes will they be?

i've had a pull toward south america since i was a kid.  it could have been because my dad was in the peace corps there before my parents got married.  or because they used spanish with each other to keep us in the dark once we learned how to spell.  no doubt the draw to spanish early on (between my parents and sesame street) led to even more interest and the certain choice of spanish over french once a foreign language was offered at school.  we even had several short-term exchange students stay with us from latin american countries.  but it feels deeper than that.  it's just something i've always felt.  that, and a feeling somehow of comfort with central/south america is what led to my choice of those regions as my preferred area for peace corps service. 

i've never felt a particular pull towards africa or asia/south-east asia, popular spots for peace corps volunteers.  i can't explain that, either.  it just doesn't hold much interest for me, and, frankly, seems even more "foreign" to me.  it makes no sense, but the idea of being in a village with no running water or electricity in south america sounds more comforting to me than the same in africa.  i don't think it's entirely a language thing.  i'm into languages and could learn whatever i needed.  is it that the culture is really that different?  most likely not, but who knows? the thing is, i'm expecting south or central american snakes.

but which KIND?  there are a huge variety of climates in those areas.  clearly there are the warm, tropical areas that we think of, especially in central america.  but there are also quite mountainous areas, and plains areas.  rocky and swampy and everything else in between.  the fact is, i don't know a thing about where i might end up, not even which country.  and i kinda would really like to know that.

my cousin Peggie tells me that things have a funny way of working out.  she went on a year-long mission to Guatemala and says that when she looks back, she sees all sorts of signs that pointed toward Guatemala even long before she knew she'd be going anywhere.  of course i don't see those signs now, but she suspects that once i end up somewhere i will remember lots of little hints that were there without me realizing them.  that would be kinda cool, don't you think?

i've always kind of liked the idea of Peru.  i don't know why.  and the first boy who ever kissed me was from Peru.  is that a sign?

ANYhow, the map below shows the countries where the peace corps currently sends volunteers in latin america.  looks like, unless i get some mountain post, i'll be looking at generally warm weather.  After living my whole life in "the cold" – and if you know me, you know how i feel about that! – that would be a nice change.

i also don't know whether i'll be in a village, a town, or a small city.  i don't even know whether being an engineer influences that.  (maybe there are more projects in small cities?  or perhaps more basic projects are needed in villages?)  fewer snakes in the city, to be sure.

my dad tells stories from Bolivia of dinner-plate-sized spiders, large enough to swerve your car and hit them.  and of snakes long enough to run them over with both wheels of the car.  (it occurs to me only just this instant that snakes won't bother me so much if i'm in a car and they are on the outside…)  but as i have no clue where i could be going, i guess the question simply comes down to "what KIND of snakes?"