Peace Corps life, also known as “The Hardest Job You’ll Ever
Love,” is one of the craziest rides you’ll ever have the privilege to ride. My
ride began March 13, 2013. Today is the official nine month mark before my
official COS (Close of Service) date, which is May 6, 2015. It’s crazy to think
it has been 17 months since I said goodbye to my parents at Sacramento
International Airport, and left for Peace Corps orientation in Philadelphia. Ever
since that day, I have been holding on for dear life as I careen up and down
over the humps and valleys of a Peace Corps Volunteer’s (PCVs) emotional
journey. In this blog, I want to track and describe, as accurately as possible,
this journey.
My first month of Peace Corps, during Pre-Service Training
(PST) in Okahandja, was an emotional high because I got to meet a bunch of new
people, learn new things, and experience a new culture. My natural enthusiasm
for all of these things carried me to new heights. However, the second month of
PST was quite the emotional valley. It was due to the polar opposite of my
first month’s experience, in which now, I had so many people issues, my life
seemed like one big drama. To be honest, I have not been myself since then.
I must explain how Peace Corps Service is broken up before I
continue. The first two months are PST, training. The three months after one relocates
to site is called Phase 2, where the PCV introduces him/herself to the
community and conducts a community needs assessment (CNA). After Phase 2, the
PCV will get back together with his/her training group for a conference called
Reconnect. Health PCVs in Namibia have two reconnects. The next official
milestone in service is marked by a Mid-Service Conference, where the PCVs
travel to Windhoek, the capitol of Namibia, and get full medical and dental
checkups. Finally, the last official milestone is the Close of Service
Conference (COS), which typically takes place 90 days before the PCV is
supposed to COS (leave Peace Corps service).
I moved to site on May 10. Phase 2 was good overall, but
some parts of it were emotional valleys. I got to know my community. I found
the school, which has been a huge blessing, as have the people. September and
October were great months! I was doing a lot of projects and spending a lot of
time with my host family. However, November and December were the months from
Hell! I was never so depressed and hurt during that time than I have been
during any other point in my life. However, I was very thankful, and joyful. To
some of those who read this blog, it might seem crazy or contradictive to say I
was really depressed, but also thankful and joyful. I may have been depressed,
but I really focused on things I had to be thankful for. I was thankful for
having enough food, water, a good clinic, great family and friends, good
health, intelligence, privileges, opportunities, etc. I felt joy because of
these things, but also mainly because I had/have God as my Savior, and knew
that he was using these hard times to force me to grow. I almost physically
felt the growth happening. It was during that really hard time that I felt that
Peace Corps Service had already proved itself worth the time and difficulties.
December 30 was when my fortunes, and months of
difficulties, changed for the better. I met some wonderful people on vacation
in Swakopmund: two German girls, a British guy, a South African, and a Botswana
PCV and her Batswana boyfriend. Meeting them gave me hope and set off the best
six months of my service, thus far. I was in pure Euphoria during those six
months. I don’t think I had many days where I was down or discouraged. I got to
travel a lot. I went to South Africa and all over Namibia for different Peace
Corps events, such as training Group 39; attending workshops; going to
Mid-Service Conference; and preparing and working at a youth camp.
To be continued…
No comments:
Post a Comment