It's better to have something to remember than nothing to regret.

Thai food, driving, coffee shops, friends and family, sheesha nights, climate control, laker games, roomy cars, the gym, strawberries, bookstores,  mosquito-free evenings, good water pressure, organic grocery stores, dryers with fabric softener sheets, convection ovens, target, high speed internet, water from the fridge filter, ti-vo, sidewalks, yogurtland, haircuts, carpeting, customer service, electronic billing.

Before leaving for service, I contemplated the friends' weddings I'd miss, babies I’d meet after they were toddlers, holidays I’d spend away from family and milestones I’d miss out on while living in a foreign land. There were the jobs I couldn’t have. The money I couldn’t save. It was all a little overwhelming. Was the Peace Corps worth all that I’d be giving up?

Now I know. Yes. But I didn’t realize why until a fellow EC80er was sent back to the states. She wasn’t ready to go. There was regret and frustration, anger and I’m sure some tears. There was more to be done. And we're all going to leave feeling like we haven’t done enough. But I've realized our work here is lasting, and regardless of how much we manage to change, we can without a doubt, measure the things we’ve changed in ourselves. One of the most important things we’ve gained, is the true understanding of the value of time.

A year is more than dollars and cents. Than the number of stories written, weddings attended, minor accomplishments or pounds gained and lost. It’s about being touched by the kindness of strangers. About family and old friends who keep relationships strong even from an ocean away. And about new friends who understand almost exactly what I’m facing. It’s about seeing places I never thought I’d go and living a life I never imagined I’d have. It’s about overcoming obstacles. About learning to work within a mixed-up system, instead of always trying to fight it. It’s about hitchhiking and streupsing. About fitting in. Gaining patience and killing time. About having friendships here that are as real and as important as the ones I left at home. It’s about measuring my own successes in the faces and deeds of those around me. It’s about finding a second home in a place I never imagined I’d fit in.

But mostly it’s about valuing life more because I’m living better. About realizing that, even with the smallest pay check of my life, I’m able to live more richly than I ever have before. Maybe we are losing a whole two years. But what we’re gaining is so much more. A new understanding. A wider perspective. And a greater appreciation for the true value of those 2 years. In a funny way, nothing makes you feel more like a native of your own country than to live where nearly everyone is not.

Rain rain, don't go away. It's so hot, we need you to stay

I just went running in my neighborhood, and for the first time I had perfect timing. Just as I walked back into my house it started pouring outside. And for once, I'm loving how much its been raining the past couple of days. There was a slight drought earlier and the rain cools everything down so that its livable =)

Random, but you know you're a PCV when you know what animals are nearby without having to look down at the poop you just stepped into.

Peace Corps Day

Monday was the much anticipated Peace Corps Day, and I must say, it was a 'great success' =) We had three different booths, dedicated to each of our goals as an organization:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women (Alisa & Tiffany)
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served (Kelsey & Will)
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans (George & Anne)

 

  

Kids answering some of the trivia questions at goal one after reading some of Alisa's poster boards

 

Chris attempting to teach kids the difference between cricket and baseball

 

Me with all the technology while simultaneously watching over everyone's valuables

While there was a lot of room for improvement, for our first time coordinating an event like this we did pretty darn good. I made sure to make notes throughout the day for next year, so hopefully the 50th anniversary will be even more awesome. I'm already excited and planning! 

http://www.winnfm.com/news2.asp?NewsID=4264

 

As part of goal two, I taught the Women of Purpose to bake some good old American dessert, which they got to sell as part of their fund raising efforts. Practically all of Sunday was spent rolling out dough and mixing batter with the ladies. They learned to make apple pie, brownies and snicker doodles. It was absolutely adorable hearing Mavis try to say: snuckerdiddles, snugarduddles, snuggledoddles? 

 

 

The Friday before PC day we celebrated William Murray's birthday with a beach camp out at Banana Bay. Everyone brought some food (I brought cookies and cake of course). Will had requested strawberry rhubarb pie (the MOST unrealistic request for this island) but we had to make do with what I could manage from frozen strawberries =( Geoff and Kim have a portable grill so we had us some hamburgers.

 

  

Julie Ann and Royston trying to make a fire for s'mores 

Unfortunately, at the end of the beach trip my face looks like I walked through a bee hive because of all the bug bites I got. I think a different beach might be a better idea next time...