Jul
2
I’m retiring this blog.
These past couple of years home have been an adventure as much as moving to the bush was four years ago. (What?!? That long ago?) There has been a lot of confusion—on how to dress, and how to talk, and how to work a 9-5 without nap breaks. I learned to change my socks even when I didn’t sweat a bit. How to have guiltless fun, even if there are poor, starving children in Sudan and I’m not doing anything about it. How to have an identify outside of my job. How to be an American, a New Yorker. How to be humble. How to be at my worst. I was at my worst on the reg in Ghana, but no one was around to see it besides Aze. These parts, there has been no hiding.
(Kristina, thank you for staying by my side while I was at my worst. You are a saint. I and love and you.)
A lot of my fears have been soothed. My village is still a part of my life, I get phone calls in the middle of the night from my community often. I’m emailed pictures of the library and the widows association, two projects that are so close to my heart. A copy of Ghana (Other Places Travel Guide) is sitting on the library shelf, and it is so full circle it hurts. My dream of being published coming to be realized has everything to do with the grace and patience of my village, teaching me daily about the beauty of their home. For that, the book is my gift back to Sankpala. A part of myself is now in that space we created for my community to read.
My Peace Corps family—albeit all over the world, are still a big part of my life. We knew we were special, and we are oh, so very lucky to have one another.
And the rest of my family, those I am related to and not, can stand to be around me while I’ve been sorting through reconciling my life in West Africa and New York City. Amazing.
Today, I live with one of my best friends in a very special city. I am surrounded by people who make me better and who just love the life right into me. I have a dream job I didn’t know existed, one that combines all my quirky skills and passions and challenges me every day. I’m lucky, I’m happy, and just about caught up.
