470 days; 15 ½ months. That’s how long it will have been since I’ve been in the States. Well, unless you count when I went to the US Embassy… technically, I was on U.S. soil. On Friday I’m flying into California to see my sister then we’re driving up to Oregon to see my family and friends. 15 days. I think it will be a good amount. Long enough to take a good break, but not too long. I’m really looking forward to it, but I also know from other volunteers that have gone home that it can be a big let down in some ways. Besides my family and a few close friends, the world isn’t waiting for my return. People have their own lives. I’m sure I will see people who haven’t even realized I’ve been gone. But that’s okay. This break will be wonderful despite that.
I need to take a step away from my life here and gain a new perspective on it. I’m not as happy as I was in Chahal, but I would like to be. I know that I have been holding myself back from happiness with all the comparisons that I make between the two sites and just the general longing for Chahal. Yes, it sucks that all this happened, but to be cliché, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. In a year I am going to be so damn strong! Under no circumstances am I ready to be done with Guatemala or with the Peace Corps, therefore, that means that I will be living in San Carlos Sija for the next 11 ½ months. So we have that settled. I also really enjoy being happy; thus, I must find how to be happy here. I have had a lot of qualms lately with being in such an urban, developed area. Gosh, I even have two sinks in my house. I haven’t had a sink since I came here. Where’s the hardship? But by changing my perspective, I am able to realize that I still encounter plenty of hardship, it just manifests itself in other ways. Also, I can still learn a lot from this community and contribute a lot as well.
Coming to Sija has helped me to realize that a small town in Guatemala can be developed and inhabited by an educated population. I would not call this the third world.
Despite all the advancements in Sija, there is still one very large problem: environmental degradation. That’s where I come in. Maybe they don’t need development help in other areas, but I would sure love to clean up the river and build a trail in the forest. First things first, though: a little jaunt home. Then, when I come back in May, I will be ready to be a Sijeña for a year.
22 April 2009
15 April 2009
FONACON
Remember when I was attacked by a pack of dogs in November? Remember why? I was biking home from the muni at nearly midnight because we were putting the finishing touches on a HUGE grant proposal for Las Conchas. Well, drum roll please.... SALIO APROBADO!! We got it, or mejor, they got it. I found out last week that the muni of Chahal will receive the Q299,095.53 that we had asked for (approximately $40,000). I am so excited for them and happy that all that work paid off. But admittedly, I am pretty bummed that I won't be there to execute the project with them. Yeah, I helped them get the money, which is fantastic, but they still need help doing the work to see the project through. It makes me feel miserable. I know it's not my fault, that's not what I'm talking about. What I mean is that I feel so sad that I can't see it through to the end. I feel like it's MY park and now I don't get to be a part of it. I want to whine like a child "it's not fair."
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