Realities

The last couple of months have certainly been transient for me, no thanks to an unexpected evacuation. Even though this has allowed me to see parts of Namibia I may have never seen, it hasn’t been particularly easy. In the end, the evacuation from my village lasted 2 months. I was not allowed to return home until only 2 days prior to the new school term. Reflecting on the last two months, I have seen a lot of sites and have had tons of new experiences. But, I am still a Peace Corps volunteer and it has been difficult being away from the work that I am dedicated to. I was forced to drop everything I had been working on at a moment’s notice, which was not easy. Furthermore, I had the uncertainty of how things would be once or if I returned to my village hanging over me during my time away. Integrating into this small community has not been easy and finding meaningful projects has been an uphill battle. That makes returning stressful and a bit scary.

So I guess the point I am getting at is, that even though the last few posts on here have essentially been vacation, I am here as a volunteer and not as a tourist. That is one of the perks of being a PC volunteer placed in an extraordinary location, but that is certainly not what being a volunteer is all about. I have a job that I am committed to and I genuinely hope that after my two years here, I have left a mark. It is not an easy job and it is loaded with ups and downs that are quite taxing. However, it is a very special, unique, and rewarding experience.

The evacuation is now over and life is back to normal in Owamboland. I have been back now for 2 weeks and am beginning to settle back into my old rhythm. It feels great to be back in the village and to be catching-up after being absent. It is looking like the next few months are going to my busiest yet. I am looking forward to it.