Last Month of Peace Corps

Las montañas: Returning to Guatemala, 1

February 26, 2024 First Person ForeignBeauty

So, I booked a trip. I’ve been lucky to book so many before, but this one took some plotting. All of the layovers on the US dollar looked egregious: red eyes on opposite coasts, or[…]

Ready or not, USA (1)

April 26, 2019April 28, 2019 First Person ForeignChanges

Now, I imagined this day a million ways (my departure) and none of them could have prepared me for what it actually was. Dropped off by friends, then up ’til the last second in the[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Ringing That Bell

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 First Person ForeignChanges

I’ve imagined the bell-ringing since the third week of service. An RPCV (return Peace Corps Volunteer) finished her service as we were starting ours, and she had a ceremony and she was kind enough to[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Despedida Lunch and Hiking a Volcano Through The Night (Never Again)

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

I moved out of site on Wednesday. The last hour was the most horrible, a weeping host family, heavy bags and an honorable Lic. Enrique (the educational superintendent) who picked me up in his red[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Leaving Santa Clara La Laguna, My Home

April 7, 2019April 10, 2019 First Person ForeignAbuelita

The Wednesday before my departure was a dress rehearsal. I’ll explain what I mean by that. I had to go into the office for medical stuff, and for a meeting. I don’t recommend leaving site[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): The Last Santa Clara Day

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 First Person ForeignAbuelita

I’ve called Santa Clara home since December 2, 2016. Abuelita, Clara and Rosario are all part of my story now, and me a part of theirs. And I know how hard it is going to[…]

T-minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): La(s) Despedida(s) in Santa Clara

April 2, 2019April 2, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

Sunday and Monday were despedida days. Despedir means: To say goodbye. What I love about the Spanish language is that there are verbs that sum-up an action in one word, like aprovechar, to take advantage,[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): My Good Name at the Saturday Market

March 27, 2019March 27, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

My favorite güipiles (woven blouses) have birds on the the pattern. Santiago Atitlán is my favorite style of güipil. Always stripes down the blouse and then colorful birds sewn across the neckline. But even the[…]

T-minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): The Wednesday Takes It All

March 24, 2019March 26, 2019 First Person ForeignChanges

On Tuesday night, I couldn’t sleep. A mac track of tasks hit me: packing for a travel day the next day, packing for leaving forever, plus all the work I had to do tomorrow. All[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): A Double-Feature, My Last Work Monday and Tuesday

March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 First Person ForeignChanges

Dios Mío. There aren’t other words. But this is a blog, so there are. On my second-to-last Monday in site (the 18th) I got myself out of bed, showered, coffee-powered and out the door to[…]