Two Years Gone By

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Trip Start Aug 19, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Oct 29, 2010

  Barahona, Dominican Republic
Wednesday, October 27, 2010

THE LAST DAYS: in site were pretty memorable.  Everyone seemed extra nice, making me fish plates, rice and beans, and even one family made me cheesecake because I told them it was my favorite dessert back home.  Dominicans have a difficult time expressing their emotions but in these last few days people were so kind to me with their words and actions.  It made it more difficult to leave but satisfying, in a way, that I left note.

TWO YEARS GONE BY:  In what seems like a dream or a blink of an eye, over two years have flown by with the speed of a hummingbird's wings.  The feeling is entirely bittersweet; I'm happy to be coming home to the things that are comfortable and known, yet sad to leave my new home that I've adjusted to and even thrived in.  I spent so long trying to make a place for myself here and now it's time to leave the people, locations, and things that make this culture so vibrant --  Music, food, history, natural beauty.  All of which I'm going to miss (well, the food I can take it or leave it to be honest).  Even though technology is rapidly engulfing the Dominican Republic as it has already overtaken the states, there are parts that still are untouched and undeveloped, pure almost. The tranquility of a rolling stream, the sparkling rays of the sun beaming off of the sea, the lush, green trees that cover the paths with shade. Things that we have to drive hours to find in America are right in my backyard here.  I can walk down the street and get offered a freshly picked orange or banana, a strong, yet small cup of coffee, and a steaming plate of rice, beans and fish, which I know was most likely caught that very morning.  Here I talk to people that aren't concerned with worldly happenings but that of their cousin's motorcycle breaking down or their daughter's most recent pregnancy.  Things are just simpler here and sometimes it's refreshing.  Sure I have, many times, longed for intellectually stimulating conversations with people in my town but I didn't come to Peace Corps for academic purposes I came for a real life experience.  To learn about people and maybe help them along the way.  Who knows how many people I've affected over these past two years but I know there were some and that is good enough for me.  And you know something? I've probably got more out of this experience then what I did for others anyway; an entirely new skill set that even includes speaking Spanish at a conversational level!  I've done things here that I never saw as possible like climb up the highest mountain in the Caribbean for five days or teach a course on sexual health to a room full of 15 year old girls in Spanish.  I translated for medical missions, gave art camps, swam in the clearest colored water you'll ever see, ate chicken intestines, built latrines, lived with three different host families, read over 50 books, danced merengue and bachata like a Dominican, painted murals, sang karaoke in Spanish, planted trees, taught children to read, planned an entire three-day conference, met some of the most interesting people and made some of the best friends I have, both American and Dominican.  All that in two years and now it's time to return home to my country that I know so well but will have to get to reaquainted with, yet again.

THANK YOU:  Throughout these past two years I've had the immense support from all of you, friends and family, back home.  By sending me packages, calling me on the phone, writing me emails and letters, reading this blog, and even getting on a plane and visiting me, so many people have shown me love from the United States.  There have been many days that it was really difficult to be here but just knowing that I had people thinking of me it made this experience doable and in turn, was able to extend myself further to my community.  These past two years have been unforgettable and it makes me grateful to have such a strong support network.  Thank you all.

THE RETURN:  I fly into LAX this Friday, October 29, 2010.  See you all in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!

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