Project Escape

What follows is likely the most important news you will hear in coming months.  Possibly years.  Or even your lives (depending on how central a part I am and how little else you have gong on).  I officially finish my Peace Corps service on October 24th, 2014.  That's right, ladies and gents, I'm coming home!

Now, I don't actually have a flight back yet.  Sure they'd book it for me, but they told me they'd give me two grand and let me do it myself.  Gotta be able to get back for less than that, right?

It's been a good service.  Lots of ups and downs.  I'm currently writing a draft of a document summarizing it all.  Apparently this document will stay on record with the US Government "as long as the Union stands".  Kind of intimidating, specially as my once clear mastery of the English language has diminished over my long sojourn here.  (I misspelled three words in that last sentence!)  I'm super ready to go home, see friends and family, get a job, continue with the next step of my life, and otherwise bask in all that is amazing about America, but it's hard to leave too.  It's a very poignant goodbye when you know you really may not see someone again.  When farewell is forever.  There is also a very marked sadness in those you leave behind.  No one comes here to stay.  They meet plenty of foreigners, but they know them for a time and then they watch them go.  What does that say to you about your home?  To you, the left behind?

I want to thank you, whoever you are, for reading this.  For sticking with me even when I wasn't entertaining or left you with long lulls of nothing.  I want to thank everyone that supported me.  Whether with an email or the rare phone call.  Also, super props to everyone who ever sent me a package.  You guys are kings of kings.  I've a list and I'll never forget (on account of said list).  Nice spacing too, I pretty much had something to snack on my entire service.  Based on the length it takes a box to get here though, I'll be rationing the last batch till the bitter end (got three last week though so no worries; I'm sitting pretty).

As for my lack of updates… it's complicated.  In part, I got a lot busier.  In perhaps a more meaningful part, I forgot what to say.  This place has become my home and I feel almost at a loss when thinking about what to tell you.  How to relate.  A strange thing I'm like to explore all the more when finding my way back in America.  Reverse culture shock going back to my Red, White, and Blue?  Suppose only time will tell.

Oh, as to what happens when I return to those blessed shores?  Haven't the foggiest.  But you'll be sure to know when I do.