One Year Down

Time is fickle vixen and if you don't watch out, she'll pass you right by. The arrival of June marks my one year anniversary in Ghana. I can't believe it has been that long and what is even more unbelievable is that in just one more year I will be moving on to the next step- whatever that may be.

June also marks the arrival of the new potential volunteers. We call them PCT (Peace Corps Trainees) until they earn their V (Volunteer). I remember when I arrived thinking that was petty and wholly unnecessary but now that I've put in the time I realize the importance of instilling the sense of earning your Volunteership. Come August 13th, the survivors will be granted their upgrade from PCT to PCV.

This year I return to Kukurantumi (the place where it all began for me as well), but this time as a trainer not a trainee. Being a trainer is no small task and it has presented me with so many soul crushing reflections on my own progress. Through observation and interaction with these fresh off the boat Americans I have a fresh perspective of myself. The whole process has made me feel so much farther from America and current American culture, that Ghana truly feels like my home. I don't know what an “iPad” is but I can cook a mean garden-egg stew. I try my best not to make value judgments on my changing perspective and I am learning everyday more how to simply take each day as it comes. I am certainly more comfortable here than I am not.
Meeting all these new people and remember 75 new names is another problem altogether. Strangely enough, one of the trainees happens to be blast from my past. It is a reminder that the world is small and I am by no means unique in my trajectory.