On this day last year, I was welcomed to one of the best experiences of my life. I have spent a lot of time since then appreciating the things I have as well as the things I left behind - family, friends, diet coke, sushi, etc. I have certainly gained more than I could ever have imagined in the past twelve months. I remember talking to the PCVs who were finishing up their service last July, and they were telling us that the time FLIES. I just thought that was one of those things people say...when you have two years ahead of you, it definitely does not seem like it will be a fast journey. But it has already been faster than I could have ever thought. It truly baffles me that we have been here for one year, and we have only one more to go!
I have been considering extending my service to do a third year, but I have not decided about that yet. One thing is for sure - I am not getting any younger! It's probably about time to start a career when I get home, but I have never exactly been on the traditional road of life. Maybe I took the road less traveled - who knows? The only thing I know at this moment is that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. There is no other way it would all feel so perfectly right. Of course there are hard days when you miss your family and friends so much it hurts, OR you would consider homicide for a roll of sushi or a real pizza...but that comes with the territory.
I am thrilled to be fortunate enough to get a trip home this July to visit all my dearly beloved ones!! :) AND I get to officiate the wedding of two of my great friends when I am home. The three of us have a common bond of nomadic nature, so I think it is a great way to celebrate their life together!
With the national elections that were held on May 26th, there was definite concern that the defeated candidate/party might fight the outcome...but things are looking good so far! It is awfully hard to imagine having to leave this place I call home (for now) without finishing the work I was sent to do. I sincerely hope (for many reasons...not just the selfish ones) that the outcome is peaceful.
Speaking of the work I was sent to do, I am teaching Business to first year students at a technical college, Thaba-Tseka Technical Institute, and I LOVE it! I just finished up my first year of classes, and now I have a lot of downtime until August when we will resume classes. The students are brilliant, and I am so fortunate to have amazing co-workers by my side. The Aerobics class that I had kind of fell through due to lack of stereo equipment, but I am hoping to get that going again in August because the students really loved it...and it's a fun form of exercise.
To everyone who has emailed, written letters, sent packages, or called, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! It means more than I would ever have guessed to know that you are thinking of me and taking time from your busy lives to let me know that you are.
I hope to post some pictures this week of my house, town, and friends here in Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho!
"Be well, do good work, and keep in touch." -Garrison Keillor
I seems like forever but also just yesterday you left to fulfill your dream!!! can't wait until July when you get home!!! love you bunches and miss you like a dog!!!
ReplyDeleteGood morning how are you?
ReplyDeleteMy name is Emilio, I am a Spanish boy and I live in a town near to Madrid. I am a very interested person in knowing things so different as the culture, the way of life of the inhabitants of our planet, the fauna, the flora, and the landscapes of all the countries of the world etc. in summary, I am a person that enjoys traveling, learning and respecting people's diversity from all over the world.
I would love to travel and meet in person all the aspects above mentioned, but unfortunately as this is very expensive and my purchasing power is quite small, so I devised a way to travel with the imagination in every corner of our planet. A few years ago I started a collection of used stamps because trough them, you can see pictures about fauna, flora, monuments, landscapes etc. from all the countries. As every day is more and more difficult to get stamps, some years ago I started a new collection in order to get traditional letters addressed to me in which my goal was to get at least 1 letter from each country in the world. This modest goal is feasible to reach in the most part of countries, but unfortunately it’s impossible to achieve in other various territories for several reasons, either because they are countries at war, either because they are countries with extreme poverty or because for whatever reason the postal system is not functioning properly.
For all this I would ask you one small favor:
Would you be so kind as to send me a letter by traditional mail from Lesotho? I understand perfectly that you think that your blog is not the appropriate place to ask this, and even, is very probably that you ignore my letter, but I would call your attention to the difficulty involved in getting a letter from that country, and also I don’t know anyone neither where to write in Lesotho in order to increase my collection. a letter for me is like a little souvenir, like if I have had visited that territory with my imagination and at same time, the arrival of the letters from a country is a sign of peace and normality and an original way to promote a country in the world. My postal address is the following one:
Emilio Fernandez Esteban
Calle Valencia,39
28903 Getafe (Madrid)
Spain
If you wish, you can visit my blog www.cartasenmibuzon.blogspot.com where you can see the pictures of all the letters that I have received from whole World.
Finally I would like to thank the attention given to this letter, and whether you can help me or not, I send my best wishes for peace, health and happiness for you, your family and all your dear beings.
Yours Sincerely
Emilio Fernandez
I totally feel you on the "perhaps I could get back to the US and get a REAL job already" feeling. It drove me back home when, to be honest, I wanted to say in Lesotho after my two years. It was time to be an adult! Not that you are asking for advice but I am here to tell you the so called "real world" with a job, steady pay check, rent, where I get two weeks vacation a year - not so awesome - no need to rush into this that I can see.
ReplyDeleteDo what you need to do to be happy and be where you want to be but don't let the "I SHOULD be doing A, B, and C by this age or this time" chose for you...the U.S. and schools and straight jobs, they will still be here when or if you are ready for them.
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