Continuing to catch up on blogs

One of the last few blogs: (SEP 2011)

Well, I’m not sure I can say this in complete seriousness, but I’ve maintained my blog for my two years in the Peace Corps! It wasn’t a flawless narrative and there were some substantial gaps, but now its official, this week is the Two Year Anniversary for me arriving in Peru. It’s quite impressive to think that not only have I spent the last two years in a foreign country serving in the Peace Corps, but that I spent almost 15 months before I even came here just trying to apply to the program! With the 27 months in Peace Corps and the 15 for me to apply that’s about 6 months short of 4 years of either thinking about, or directly serving the Peace Corps; and to think its about to finish up for me in 4 short weeks. Of course they do say your service never really “ends” once you return to the states because you’re expected to continue with the Third Goal of Peace Corps; sharing and volunteering in communities in the states.

I guess I can see how your service never truly “ends” because, honestly I’m not really feeling the type of closure that I thought I would. Considering that this was such an important and even one of the longest continual chapters in my life, you’d think that the end would feel as satisfying as a marathon finish line. But as I tick one more day off the 30 day countdown, it’s hard not to imagine that the difference between my being here and not will only be accentuated by a plane flight. It’s hard to explain but I look at “ending” as so final and absolute that I don’t think it can apply to my situation. I know that if I ever want to come back to my town to dance the palla or baile de los negritos or a sweet dish of guinea pig, It’s a simple hop, skip, and a hell-bus away. I know the doors to my host community will always be open to me, and I think that is more than many NGO’s and missionaries can say...On that note, before I get to ahead of myself, check out my Peru, Year Two video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOvcqmq7Hko

I can see how stepping off the flight in the states will only mark the sequel to all of this; the part where I’ve finally returned to share with friends and family all that I’ve experienced. I don’t predict any tears will be shed for me in my town, and I’m pretty sure I’ll simply be remembered as the hairy gringo that bothered everyone about their trash. But I don’t think it should be any other way. I wasn’t an NGO that came galloping into town to whip up some short sighted projects and galloped away weeks later. And I wasn’t a group of missionaries purely focused on their own personal religious agenda either. I was simply a traveler looking to experience a new culture and hopefully make some positive differences along the way; The Spirit of The Peace Corps wrapped in a nut shell. For me it happened exactly how I wanted it too, no fan-fare, no parades, just the simple click and smile of a well taken photo. Since I lived in my town day in and day out the novelty and romance faded away early in my service, and I was left with pure reality. I guess that is sort of why blogging went by the wayside for me, because every hiccup and giggle just became the daily routine... Now, don’t take this the wrong way, its not meant to be negative or even disparaging (for the few potential PC volunteers that might read this,) but simply a statement of the natural flow of a two year assignment.

I’m so satisfied with the projects I’ve been able to mastermind with the few people that actually took advantage of my presence. And I’m incredibly grateful that this small mountain town eventually opened its culture up to me to share. I’m happy for the classes I’ve taught and the conversations I’ve had, but I also think it is a good time for me to be headin’ on outta’ here. One of the truths that I’ve garnered while living here is that my biggest accomplishment here was to watch and learn a different way of life; and now its time for me to start my own life and stop being the observer. So as I look back on these two years passed and especially as I read blogs from the first few months, I see the “practically speaking”, ex-Army, borderline anti-social guy transforming into an accomplished world traveler, dual language speaker, easy-breezy spirited dude....

...And as you may have guessed this will probably be the last chronicle of Peru Practically Speaking. I can pretty much tell you that I’ll finish up my last remaining days writing final diagnostics and finishing the books I’ve sworn to read. If anything of note does happen to fall into my lap I’ll be sure to tell you face to face in a few short weeks.