Friday, December 21, 2012

Reelin' In the Years


A lot has happened since my last update and untold stories have accumulated. When I see you in person feel free to ask to hear them. Or don’t. I’m scared that I’m going to drive people crazy when I go home. Just as it’s weird for me to hear the inside jokes and memories from when I wasn’t around, I know it’s boring for you to hear my adventures that you all weren’t a part of. I apologize in advance if I bore people, but please realize it’s the only thing I have to talk about, as it was my life for the past 3 years. I’ll try my best not to talk about it too much. But be forewarned if you ask me about my final months in Ethiopia, or my long journey home through Nepal, Australia and the USA, I’ll probably get over excited and talk your ear off. But it’ll make my day.

Instead of telling my final stories I’m going to reflect a bit. I haven’t had the time or emotional energy to really sum up my experience yet. So here are a few lists:

Things I’ve Learned About Humanity

1.   People want the same things, regardless of where they are. We want to be loved, to love others, to contribute and to be remembered.

2.  There are good people and bad people everywhere. You should seek out the good and don’t let the bad get you feeling down about the world.

3.  Just because people don’t always appreciate you, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t keep doing good things. It’s on all of us to improve the world’s karma and not expect anything in return. If everyone helps someone else, the world will be a better place and that’s how it’ll come back to you.

Things I’ve Learned About Ethiopia

1.  The culture can seem a little abrasive and pushy, but when you look past those differences it can be quite beautiful

2.   I could live here forever and never really fit in. White people will always be treated differently, whether it’s someone following me home to ask me for money (last night), or someone yelling “fuck you” because they don’t know what it means but they know it’ll get my attention, or someone kicking a woman off a bus so I can have a seat, or someone picking me (and only me) up on the side of the road when the bus breaks down, I’ll always be treated different, for good or bad.

3. People genuinely want the best for their country and there is a lot of work and progress being done. There’s a long way to go, but even in 3 years a lot of ground has been covered.

Things I’ve Learned About Peace Corps

1.  Staff really does try their hardest to support volunteers, but the program will never be perfect. And PCVs will never forgive staff for that fact. It’s too bad, PC/E has some amazing people.

2.  HQ and the field will always be at odds

3.  It really is “the toughest job you’ll ever love”

Things I’ve Learned About Myself

1.  I’m tougher than I ever thought, and with a little persistence I can do what I once thought impossible

2.  I’m a little more closed off and independent than I’d like to be.

3.  I’ve gotten to know myself these 3 years, but I still don’t know what I want to do or where I want to be. And that’s okay. I no longer feel pressured to be in the same place as my friends.

And since it’s the end of the year, and it’s the time you recall what you’ve done, regrets and goals for the next year:

My 2012 New Years’ Resolutions and Results
1.  Go on more intentional adventures
a.       I moved to my first city, Addis Ababa. I’ve lived here, so now I think I can live anywhere
b.      I explored Sof Umar caves, the largest in Africa
c.       I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro
d.      I went on a safari
e.      I hiked through the Bale Mountains and learned how to do GPS in Lepis
2.      2. Be better at speaking in front of people and making friends
a.       My new job got me facilitating in front of groups of nearly 150. It no longer makes me nervous
b.      I’ve made a bunch of new friends, mostly Peace Corps, but also a handful of non-PC close friends
c.       I’m still shier than I’d like to be and terrible at small talk.
3.       3. Get healthier
a.       A few up and downs, but I finished the year 12 pounds lighter
b.      I went to the gym consistently all year
c.       My trips always have some physical element

My 2013 New Years’ Resolutions

1. Grow up. Have a job with a salary, be completely financially independent, have my own place that I don’t plan to leave in a year.

2.  Go on a few dates. Since moving to Ethiopia I’ve become disinterested and skeptical in relationships. No one in America is looking for a visa so I can trust again.

3. Get healthier. Climb a few more mountains (I’m summiting Ethiopia’s highest on New Year’s Day with a few friends), lose a few more pounds, and spend more time outside.

And there you have it. Lists of 3 to sum up 3 years, 3 months and 3 days of Peace Corps service. Thank you for your support and interest in my time overseas. I’ll try to update a couple times during my long journey home and then I’ll retire from blogging. Until the next big adventure.