One Year in Guatemala

I have been in Guatemala for one year.  One year from being away from the things that comfort me, the  things that I love, and the people I love.  I think back to the beginning of this experience, and I honestly didn't think I was going to make it as far as I have.  Peace Corps is hard.  It challenges you on every part of your soul and who you are.  It questions how you function and how you handle every single situation. People will never stop watching you and sometimes the only place you want to be is the comfort of your home...but the experience is what you make it.  I had a rough first seven months.  I was unhappy and unsure of what I was doing.  Before I left, I told myself if I was unhappy for more than three months in PC that I would leave, but I am so happy that I stuck it out. 


Sometime in your service, it hits you.  Like, "Oh, I get it.  THIS is what Peace Corps is".  I was on the back of a pickup on the way to my project and it hit me hard.  This is what it is.  This is what I had been wanting and this is what I applied for. The feeling of adventure and being part of something new. I did not sign up to get yelled at by three different people in the office for taking too much vacation or get repetitive emails about what other volunteers are doing, to make us feel guilty and push us to do more.  I am here to serve.  I am here to become part of another community that is different than anything I have ever known.  And I absolutely love it.


I have been working on a water project for the last two and a half months.  I applied to WaterCharity for funding.  I received money from WC, the community, the teachers, the local muni, and friends and family.  Construction started on Monday December 5, 2011.  It was a very exciting day.  I had finally felt like I was doing something substantial.  Something that no one could take away from me and that I had worked with the community, so in PC terms it was very "sustainable".  I am very hard on myself and I'm not usually proud of what I do, I compare myself to others and I always think I should be doing better.  But here in Peace Corps, I finally feel like I am doing something that is worthy...of something.  I am proud and I am happy.  I think it takes a lot to be proud and happy in Peace Corps.  This feeling will leave me during my service, but for now I have it, and I am going to hold on to it for as long as possible.

We finished the project yesterday, December 13, 2011.  This is a 2,000 liter tank with 8 water faucets.  The tube on the right is connected to the school's roof so when there is rain the tank will fill.  There is another pipe that is connected to a water source.  The community gave extra materials to the project to build a roof for the tank.  So if it is raining the children don't have any excuses to not wash their hands.


I went to a breakfast this morning at the school to celebrate the project.  It was really nice to talk to the teachers and give my little speech to everyone on how happy I am with the project. Gracias a Dios.  They were very appreciative of the project and all of the work that was done by everyone.  I organized this project and got all the funding, but I would not have been able to do any of it without the support and help from the community and school. 

 So, through the ups and downs I don't think I will be moving back home anytime soon.  I have learned so much about myself, things that only PC can bring out of a person.  My life is here.  Its scary but exhilarating. 


But with all of that, I will be home in MINNEAPOLIS on Tuesday afternoon.  I am so happy and excited I cannot wait.  It has been an amazing year and I cannot wait to celebrate the end of it with the people I love.  Have a Merry Merry Christmas and an amazing new years with lots of champagne and good cheese! I know I will be. 

Entonces, hasta luego!