Last Year

Remember in my last post when I mentioned how nice the weather was? Well we’ve reached humid, suffocating, it’s-hot-and-it-makes-me-feel-totally-useless level again. And I say ‘again’ because it’s now official. Today my fellow G9’s and I celebrate spending a year in Georgia. A whole year!

Looking back on how excited/nervous I was to get on that plane to Philadelphia, and then to Georgia, it’s amazing to think that I’ve finally reached this milestone. It’s amazing that some things can seem so long and so short at the same time. I suppose it’s usual for these types of things (what are they called? Anniversaries? Right.) to make a list that illustrates how much I’ve grown/accomplished/changed/gained/lost/etc. over this rollercoaster ride of a year. But I feel like that would be kind of boring. It might be the heat that’s not really allowing my brain to function, or the fact that gearing up for next year leads me to believe that any list I make now wouldn’t really do the whole process justice.

So to that end I’ll keep it short. How do I feel a year in? I feel like I know better what it means to serve my country and other citizens of the world, many of whom I now call my family. Over the past year I’ve experienced a lot of joy, some disappointment, a sense of accomplishment, feelings of loss, appreciation of others, and a fair share of heartache.

But one year in, mostly I’d like to express my gratitude. I certainly wasn’t one of those people who came into PC wanting to meditate for two years to really understand myself. I think in a lot of ways I measure my life by how I affect others and how they affect me. What I’m trying to say is that I’m very thankful people in my life have been there to pull me through the really hard times, and celebrate with me during the really good ones.

Over the course of a year, I have been lucky to connect with a group of people who are thoughtful, selfless, giving and compassionate—my Peace Corps family. They have put up with me and my problems more often than I’d like to admit, and through reassurances, a shared beer or two, and kind words, they always seem to put me back on my feet. Thanks guys.

I have experienced feelings of closeness and love with people of a vastly different culture than the one I grew up with, and I find myself a better person for it. With no personal benefit to themselves, countless Georgians have offered rides, food, gifts, companionship and a good laugh. Despite the occasional frustrations of living in a country trying to move itself firmly into the realm of the developing world, I got really lucky with this PC post, and I know it. Madloba Sakartvelo.

Lastly, to the people back home whose thoughts and kind words make me believe I can do anything…I love you. Sometimes I get the occasional email or letter that I imagine is written on a whim. Maybe you don’t think about it so much at the time, but you send it and it makes my day a million times better. And for the people who spent so much time, money and effort putting together care packages for me, I don’t know if I can ever return the favor of how amazing it is to get one of those. I only hope that in some way I can repay you with even a fraction of the gratitude I feel that you are in my life. Friends and family back home, you are always with me.

As I realize this is probably the sappiest thing I’ve ever written publicly, I just want to say, very simply, thank you.

Now—one year down, one to go. Let’s do this!