Wednesday, February 15, 2012

One Year


One year ago today, myself and 36 other Peace Corps trainees were getting off a plane in beautiful Guyana, jet lagged, tired, and hot, having absolutely no idea what lay ahead of us. It was definitely one of the most exciting and terrifying moments of my life. It seems that time has moved unbelievably fast, 365 days have come and gone and we are no longer naive and nervous trainees but smart, savvy and experienced volunteers who have been through a year of service and survived to tell about it.

There have been so many different experiences over the past year, both good and bad, that it seems to have gone by in a blur. Training seems like a million years ago. Going to our first health clinic to observe and giving health talks with Laura and Mark on diabetes, foot care, and nutrition, not really knowing what the hell we were doing. Sitting in a circle at lunch time, hoping our host mom had packed us something good for lunch and reading off our answers to that days Top Ten list (my favorites are still, and always will be, Nate's and Mark Silva's lists for "Top Ten Worst Thing to Say When You First Meet Someone). Listening to Wilbur's always entertaining and informative cultural lectures. Trying not to laugh during Simeon's never-ending but necessary speeches on safety and security. Much needed stress relief the at the rum shop after training. Training was when we officially became a Peace Corps family, bonding over this truly crazy and exciting adventure we had begun together.

I remember moving into my own house at my new site the day after swearing in. Sitting on the floor in my front room, surrounded by my luggage and holding a newly adopted 2 week old kitten in my lap thinking, what the hell have I gotten myself into? Another moment where I wasn't sure if I was terrified, excited, or both. I remember my 1st day at my job and being so excited to get started, only to have my initial job assignment disappear and have to spend my 1st 2 months at site not working but searching for a new job. It was so exciting when I finally found a place at the maternal and child health at the hospital and I am still grateful that the staff there welcomed me with open arms.

It is so weird to sit here and reflect back on this past year. Even though time has gone by so fast, I feel so comfortable in Guyana and in my village that on some days I feel like I've lived here for years. In some ways it is sad to think that half my time here in Guyana is already done. I know that this next year of service is going to go by even faster than the 1st and before I know it I'll be back in America, having to worry about things like getting a real job. Now that will truly be even more nerve wracking than anything I've encountered during Peace Corps. No matter what, it's been an amazing 1st year and if my 2nd year is even half as awesome as the 1st, then it will be totally worth it :)

Here's to my fellow Guy 23 volunteers, the most amazing Peace Corps family I could've asked for. Happy Anniversary guys!!!! :)

2 comments:

  1. Psh! Please. We knew EXACTLY what we were talking about :)

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  2. I can't believe you've been there a year! That's craziness! The time goes by fast though when every week we skype for the Bachelor!!!!

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