The Peace Corps experience doesn’t end after 2 years. Once you’ve been in the Peace Corps, you are connected forever to volunteers who share similar experiences. In my opinion, and yes I'm biased, the Peace Corps has an even stronger alumni connection than that of schools like USC (no offense).
So after having accepted an Interrupted Service and then taking the medical separation, I decided to go back. After spending about a month in St. Kitts trying to get whatever closure was possible, and closing up/handing off projects to the best of my ability, and basically trying to shorten my SK bucket list and spend time with my friends, I don't think I will ever be over it. I will never stop missing St. Kitts. I will always cherish my memories and times and friends there. And I will always consider it a life changing experience. And even in hindsight of not completing 2 years, I would go through it all over again.
A couple of things made me change my mind about thinking of myself as a failure, as not having 'completed service'. When a fellow volunteer that had just completed 2 years of service told me that I would always be a fellow RPCV in his eyes, and was no less of a volunteer and had made just as much of an impact. And then when a PC staff member told me how she went through a similar experience of being medically separated before completing 2 years, but ended up going to work for the Peace Corps instead. I knew she had been a volunteer, but never knew that she hadn't finished the full 2 years. And she considered herself just as much of a RPCV as anyone else. Well then why shouldn't I? I didn't choose to leave or give up. I gave it my all and even fought to return. I'm a RPCV on all counts, and shouldn't feel like any less.
The most important part of being successful at anything is loving what you do. And it’s important not to let anyone else define your horizons. You’re going to find what it is you want to do and who you want to be, and the last question you ought to ask is, “Is this what I should because of my gender, race, national origin or disability, etc.?” Don’t let anybody ask that question, and don’t ask it yourself.
The next step of my adventure is to go do relief work for the flood victims in Pakistan. I applied for a PCRV (Peace Corps Response Volunteer) position, however that isn't working out. But that doesn't has to keep me from helping out. I don't have to go through the Peace Corps, as much as I love the institution. Perhaps I'll end up getting a job with them later on, but right now, I still want to work on international aid. And I remember thinking, when the flood occured, if it weren't for the Peace Corps, I would love to be able to go help my people out. So that's exactly what I'm going to try and do. So I may not be blogging about my PC experience anymore, but I will still be sharing my experience in relief work, iA.
Thank you to all my friends that made this past month absolutely amazing, or making me feel loved and missed, and like I made a difference. I love and miss you all, but I refuse to say goodbye =)
