Baba DAH-duh…. Baba-DUH-duh-duh…
In ten days, I will be leaving Tucson for my pre-departure orientation (PDO) in Philadelphia.
It still doesn’t feel real, though. I am having a hard time grasping what being away from home for 27 months means. I tell myself, “you won’t see your family, friends, dogs, or saguaros. You won’t eat good Mexican food. For two years!” but I can’t really fathom what that amount of time means. And I’m not sure realization will ever dawn on me. Life seldom hits me with epiphanies. Instead, reality and seem to filter down to me, and by the time I realize everything about my life is different, I will already be absorbed in a new routine. At least that’s how it’s been in the past, when I went away for school, and both times I studied abroad. Maybe it will hit me when I’m packed, or when I’m boarding the plane, or when I wake up in a strange bed in Africa under a mosquito net. Maybe.
People have been asking what specific worries I have about my Peace Corps service, and I have a hard time coming up with a response. This doesn’t mean that I am not worried about anything- it would be foolish to think I can just sail into and adjust to a new life without any problems. Some particular things that will likely be difficult to deal with will be isolation from friends, family, and the English language, consistently bad/bland food, feeling my time in-country is not accomplishing anything, or getting sick abroad. I fully realize I am likely to struggle with these and other problems, but “worry” doesn’t exactly play into the equation. Instead of worrying, I like to think that I am mentally bracing myself against the bumps, anticipated or not, that are sure to be down the road. When they come, I will either ride them out, or I won’t. All I can do right now is try to be prepared, and worrying is not really a part of that equation.
I don’t want it to sound like I’m just gritting my teeth and holding on tight for my last 10 days in the states, though. I’m very excited to be starting this new chapter of my life, however surreal it still seams to me. I’ve been busy doing… nothing! I’ve been hanging around the house with family, seeing friends, cooking, eating two years’ worth of refried beens, watching an obscene amount of Mad Men, and just generally being a waste of space. I’ve also been reading other Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) blogs, which is a great way for me to feel like I’m being productive (many blogs have packing lists) without actually doing anything (reading about packing is not the same as ACTUALLY packing.) So, I’ve spent just about enough time being productive today I think… time to get back to my worthless, dissipate lifestyle.
Hello Nick – I’m the mother of Jed, a PCV in Rwanda, who is approaching his 11th month away from home. I subscribe to the PCRwanda blogs on Facebook as it comforts me to feel a part of a very special community of PCTs, PCVs and their families. That’s how I found you. Your writing struck me as especially deft and insightful and I’m looking forward to reading your posts as your adventure begins. Enjoy these few weeks before your departure and know that you are in for a most amazing and growthful time. Jed would suggest that you eat lots of cereal as that’s one commodity he especially misses and finds prohibitively expensive in Rwanda. Happy, safe travels and heartfelt congratulations to you and your cohorts.
Thanks Judith! I appreciate the advice, and I hope I will have enough internet access that I’ll be able to keep up this blog while I’m in Rwanda. And I’ll definitely make sure to gorge myself on cereal while I still have the chance!
Great post; I think the one thing I learned about living in Africa is that it has its own pace and energy so unique to the environment that you just have to go and experience it. Context always shapes us, but we also take ourselves, our mentalities, and our perceptions with us. You’ll already have a bit of home with you- enjoy the ride, friend.
i think you might miss cooking the most. At least I do, having no kitchen in my hotel room. All I can do is cook stuff every now and then at my colleagues’ place.
Anyway, good luck and keep the posts coming!