Where has the time gone?

Where has the time gone?

This blog is not finished…. Because I am not finished. :) Let me just back up a bit because so much has happened since I last blogged.

I moved away from my village Dec. 7, 2010--that was an emotional experience all together. The place I had poured my heart out at for 2 years, worked, gained knowledge not only about me but others and the way that life moved around, leaving the village was hard…. It was emotional; I cried- of course… but I knew once I left the village I would still have so much more to look forward to. It’s interesting now; almost one month later since I left the village to sit back and think about my last week’s there…. My feelings, emotions and my thoughts while in the process.

I was a wreck. I made sure to take lots of pictures, but at the same time it was sad for me. In this blog I have included some of those photos of my last week. When I do finally get home, come and ask me to see my other pictures and videos (I would love to share them). Leaving my host family was the hardest for me. I have become so close with my little sisters, watching them grow, mature and become little women that it was tough for me to finally hug them goodbye. My bike! Geez, as funny as that sounds, I found refuge in my bicycle, once my Peace Corps service was finished I had to give it back and that was even rough for me.

I have been very blessed to have done some amazing things so far in my life. Joining the Peace Corps was always a dream of mine ever since I was in college, so the fact that I had done it… conquered it (even though there were many times I thought I just wanted to go home) and completed it with a ‘life changing experience’ was amazing for me. Joining the Peace Corps is something I will never regret, it was just like my book selling days when I sold for Southwestern—I believe it is an experience that I will look back on and say, “wow, I was crazy… and look how much stronger that experience made me.” Living in the bush of Africa, learning their local tribal languages, integrating, wearing silly African clothes, smelling funny most of the time and making friends that are of a different religion and color than my own is something I will always be so grateful that I did. What an experience! I recommend the Peace Corps to anyone that is interested.

I knew once I left my village it wasn’t going to be the end of my involvement there, I truly believe that the Peace Corps is for a lifetime, in some way or another I will always be a part of my community there and I will eventually return back.

As many of you know, especially the ones closest to me, I had planned on marrying Abass. We had planned on getting married after my Peace Corps service and eventually me moving to the city and living with him at his compound. We set our wedding date for December 17, 2010—(currently I am typing this message and I am now a married woman! :) ) So I also knew once I left the village that my mother would be waiting for me in the capital with Abass and his family. My mom came!!!! Not only was my wedding something amazing to look forward to, the fact that my mom had come and I hadn’t seen her for 1 ½ years was so exciting. My emotions were up and down…. :) but I will end this blog with pictures and start the next to let you all know about the wedding. :)