So, I have officially been at site for 3 months and in country for 6 months…which is awesome (not to toot my own horn!!). But let me explain why this is awesome. Many volunteers have told us newbies that the first 3 months at site are the hardest (and perhaps the first year as well), but if you stick it out the first 3 months at site then you are good to go (well sort of, but most people know whether or not the peace corps is for them by the end of the first 3 months…or so many have told me…). At least I don’t think I am going anywhere!
I had already invested in the Peace Corps before I even got to Guatemala (year long application process, being moved from the Middle East to Francophone Africa to Latin America, having some communication problems with my PO—to put it mildly—not to mention that doing the Peace Corps had been my dream since I was 16 years old…now it is 10 years later…if that isn’t dedication, then I don’t know what is…and I thought I had commitment problems…hmmm…)
Anyway, it was my fear that after investing all this time and effort (oh did I mention I have been volunteering and interning abroad for the last 6 years with local and international NGOs and in Grad school I studying international development just to make sure 1) I had enough useful skills for the Peace Corps and 2) I could, indeed, live in developing nations) that the Peace Corps just wouldn’t be for me…
But even though I have had my share of challenges, and I foresee at least a billion more before my 27 months are up, I have to say everything about the Peace Corps feels like a perfect fit for me, and I have no intentions of going home anytime soon! And making it to reconnect just reaffirms this. Now, if only if I could find a significant other who fits me just as well…haha…wouldn’t that make my mom happy?!?!(I love you, mommy!)
Moreover, in this past week I have decided to make a new resolution. I have decided to stop counting down to the end of my service (even though I swear I really enjoy it here, sometimes I can’t help counting down to my COS—close of service—date). I decided to try hard to stop this because I feel like I need to concentrate on making the most of this unique experience. I don’t want to waste it by counting down to the end. I want to take the time to relish the moment; no mater how sucky that moment might be…because it is a moment that I will never get back. Who knows if I will ever have another opportunity like the Peace Corps to live and breathe Guatemala for the next 2 years…
Oh, for those of you wondering what reconnect is…well...Basically, after the first 3 months at site the Peace Corps brings back all volunteers to the PCHQ to talk about how it’s going and give us more information, etc., (I think…to be honest I don’t really know what we do…but I am excited to see all the other volunteers in my training class and just hang out…)
Anyway, I am headed back to Antigua to see the other volunteers, climb Pacaya (volcano!!!), and get my reconnect on!
Woohoo!
Hey big CONGS Noor...!! Glad you stuck it out, and are finding ways to appreciate your situation. That's always the hardest thing when you are afraid-- finding reasons to do it anyway. So big hugs... have fun at reconnect and let it breathe new life into your resolve when you head back to your site.
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