Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Vacation is Over

Last week I was here. Yeah, it was hard to leave. 


My trip to Curacao was everything I needed it to be. Jamie and I stayed at a resort on the beach, and we rarely left. We went into Willemstad twice to walk around and go to Starbucks. Lovely. The majority of my time was spent between lying in my comfy hotel bed and lying in a lounge chair by the pool or on the beach. I worked out at the hotel gym and took a couple of hot baths! Yep, baths. Hot showers are such a treat, but a bath, now that's wonderful. We ate lunch by the pool and ordered room service almost every night. One of the biggest highlights of the entire trip for me was watching Today and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. We watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and I was able to see my boyfriend, Ryan Lochte win the first gold medal of the Games. What a wonderful vacation. 

I know what you're probably thinking. You're thinking that I didn't take much of a vacation. Fifteen months ago I would have agreed with you. I believed that if you were going to invest the time and money to take a trip, you needed to see and do everything you could to experience your destination. Not now. I understand the needs for vacation are different for people and their circumstances. My life is adventurous every single day at this point. I did not need adventure on vacation. It really was such a treat to be in an air conditioned room, to sleep in a comfortable bed, and to watch TV. Oh, and while I was doing all of these things, no one cared. No one was knocking on my door wondering why I shut it and if I was sick. No one was calling my name repeatedly even though I was going to the bathroom and trying to ignore them. When I slept until ten o'clock a.m., I didn't have to have a conversation with anyone about the things I don't have to do and why my life is different because I don't have a husband and kids in the village. Yeah uh huh, it was a vacation. 

I would have loved to stay in Curacao, consuming my calories in the forms of cheeseburgers and margaritas (frozen with salt), but my bank account would not allow it. I also have some work to do here. I will return to life in the jungle with a darker, more even tan. I will take with me the memories of a relaxing and wonderful trip; also, I have been reminded that Jimmy Fallon is still the most precious man ever.  

I wanted to feel refreshed and ready to return to Peace Corps life. Instead, I was spoiled. Maybe that's just the way it's going to be for me. Lots of folks say they look forward to returning after being away, not me, at least not completely. I may not ever feel refreshed and completely jazzed to go back to the jungle after time away. It's hard to make the adjustment. I am thankful all the time for my current situation and my role in the world, but that doesn't mean it's not hard. There are moments of wonderful and moments of wondering how I could be anywhere else, but sometimes it's hard to get to those moments. Regardless, this is where I have been called and this is where I want to be for now. I know I'll miss the experience when it's over.


I am going back to site tomorrow. I am planning to be there for about seven weeks. I, along with my community, have a lot of work to do for our rice mill project. Seven weeks seems like a long time to be out at site after the vacation I've had, but it is time much needed to get a lot of good work done. I will come back to the city in September for Mid-Service training and medical check-ups. I cannot believe I am on the downward slope of my time in Peace Corps. That fact evokes sadness and thankfulness depending on what child I'm hugging or what frustrating community partner I am trying to work with. 


On a different note, I hate that I am going to miss the rest of the Olympics. I really should have planned the whole Peace Corps timeline thing better. Whatever. Go USA. Go World. I love you, Ryan Lochte. 


Oh, and I'm coming to America October 18. Containing my excitement for the next couple of months could be the hardest thing I've had to do so far. Cracker Barrel, I'm coming for you.