Today was surreal
My first day as a Peace Corps volunteer was spent in Lima city.
On a day where nothing changed
The Lima sky bore its usual grey
The taxis their usual recklessness
the sidewalks their usual city coated filth
But everything changed today.
Today I awoke as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer and packed my things to travel to my site assignment.
With the same bag I have been living out of for the past 10 weeks, I pulled out an outfit I have worn a thousand times, and felt fresh. I felt like me.
With pride and familiarity we walked the city streets without need for a map, or PC staff assistance on how to gallivant. Now, in touch with the customs and culture of our new home, Peu, we prepare to leave each other. With divergent emotions we prepare for our new world today. This country surely has not changed sense we arrived, but in our eyes, nothing is the same. Do I look different? Can you see the transformation that happened over night? I can feel it.
With the capacity that is now instilled in us, we autonomously go.
The shadow over the novel day was the knowledge of our strongest support system being pulled away again. The newly sworn in volunteers are being scattered across the country. The strength in these young friendships are beautiful and everlasting. Libby has become a sister to me, and so many other trainees have provided the only ears that can understand, the only hearts that can empathize, and the only minds that can decipher my feelings with me.
With all due reflexive love and respect- we go.
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