"You want to go back?"
I wanted a space for my loved ones to hear directly from me about my life updates. To hear from my perspective, why I make the decisions I make, and what my new life updates will entail. So, that is the purpose of this platform/space. Hopefully, I'll use this consistently, but only time will tell.
I wanted this post to be both my reaction to a question that I get all the time and an update on my current situation. I'll start with the update!
As I am typing this, I'm on a flight to training for a Peace Corps Response position that I have been accepted to fulfill. I will be serving as a COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center Mission Support Volunteer for the next 3-ish months. I've been asked multiple times "what will you be doing?" Long explanation short, I'm not entirely sure. I will be serving in Maryland doing logistical support to vaccine clinics. That could mean a lot of things from helping people sign in, traffic control, line control and more. Fortunately, I'll be training over the next couple of days and will be able to give a more detailed explanation in the future. But for right now all I can say is I'm truly honored to be able to serve in this capacity to help with Coronavirus relief and response.
Secondly, I wanted to address a question that I get a lot "you want to go back?" Some context, I get this question often in response to me saying that my plan is to return to my Peace Corps service when it is safe to do so. I served in Tonga for 7 months before we were evacuated due to Covid-19.
Honestly, it frustrates me when I'm asked because the question feels based on misconceptions about the country where I served. Tonga is a beautiful country and I had an amazing time serving there. I was welcomed with open arms and hearts into my host family's home, the community that hosted our training for 2 months, and my community where I served for 5 months. I am forever grateful for each of them.
It's true that where I served I only had electricity from sunset(8pm-ish) till about 2am. And I didn't have running water in my bathroom, so bucket showers were my thing for a bit. But, I loved it. All of it. The sunlight gave me all the light I needed in my lovely home. And particularly on hot, humid days a cold bucket shower was just what helped me cool down.
To me, electricity is nice but not needed. Running water is cool, but I won't die without it. And that's part of the reason I was placed on an outer island where those were the conditions. Because I didn't mind doing without. This wasn't the experience for every volunteer in Tonga. All of my friends had running water and electricity 24/7. But I was SO HAPPY in my community! I felt a very pure and genuine form of joy that became my norm. A joy that I hadn't experienced in America, even with constant electricity and running water. It feels that maybe we're focused on the wrong things?
One of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers worded it perfectly, "the feeling that I'm the luckiest person in the world." I felt that all of the time! That I was the luckiest person in the world to be serving where I was. It was an honor. An honor that I hope I will be able to return to soon.
That's not to say that my service was perfect. There are problems with Anti-Black racism in Tonga. And the expectation that all Americans are White led to me being asked "where are you from?" more than I liked. Lastly, my classroom management skills were not on point, so the struggle of teaching my kids English and keeping them engaged was where a large amount of my growth occurred.
But it's THAT growth that I saw, even in those 7 months, that I hope to expand upon in my return to Peace Corps service. So when people ask me "you want to go back?" I hope you now understand why I say "yes" without hesitating. For me, from my perspective, it's a no-brainer.
I hope this shed some light on my perspective. And if you made it all the way to the end, God bless you. I appreciate you going through this with me. I'm so grateful for the love and support that I receive.
Reach out to me with your reactions, questions, and comments! I'd love to hear them all.
Thanks for reading!
With love,
Keyerra