Words of Encouragement

Why am I feeling nervous?

Unplanned

I feel like everything is up in the air...I really have no definite plan for life after Peace Corps. 

I have ideas, dreams, and goals but a direct plan? Nope, and I feel like I should just throw a dart at a map...

I'm just overjoyed at the thought that I can do whatever I want to do with my life. And I'm okay with not having a plan right now in my life.  Maybe it's a good thing, because really plans don't usually go as planned. 

Everything is wide open.

And that is very exciting. 

I do want to take a little time to decompress and settle back into everything. 

I want to reconnect with friends and family.

And I want to travel within the States. 

So, right now my life is unplanned and I couldn't be happier. 

Things To Remember...

Things I wish to remember about my time in Guyana...
The talks and advice shared with Mrs. Gibbons
Enjoying my morning walks along the river on the way to the health center…just alone with my thoughts and the beauty of the morning sky
The beauty of the jungle
The birds singing early in the mornings and the melody of frogs and bugs at night
The taste of plantain chips and cookup rice
The friendships I created with the girls at the hospital kitchen
Those moments on the minibus when my heart was full of love and appreciation for this experience
Group meal nights with Tim, Chelsea and Tony
The random crazy nights out on the town in Linden
The “what the heck” moments where I could look at Chelsea or Tony and we’d be thinking the exact same thing 
Morning walks/workouts with Chelsea
Girl’s weekends spent at Princess’ where we’d stay in our jammies all day and watch Lifetime movies
Total randomness
The freedom
Lying in my hammock
Traveling around Guyana
Witnessing the awe and shock on the faces of the people who visited me
Baking and cooking with Becky
The kids and how sweet they are
Being called “teacher Sara”
Living simply

Things I want to remember about myself while in Guyana...
(attributes to carry home with me)
Go with the flow…things don’t always go as planned and that’s okay
Be patient…‘just now’ things will happen
Be open to new things
Budget money
Compassion for others 
Confidence
Independence
Able to deal with diversity 
Push myself…it’s good to be pushed out of comfort zones
Less sensitive to bluntness and people being critical  
Learned about the power of prayer and I want to continue/enhance on my spiritual journey
I am me…I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not
Value great friendships
Sense of self 
Volunteerism 
Only I have the power to make myself happy 
Be aware of the beauty in my surroundings
I enjoy cooking
Always be grateful

A New Year

I rang in the New Year with good friends & a lot of fun!

It was one the best New Years I've had in a long time.

I'm very excited it's 2012...I have so many dreams!

23 Months & Close of Service

This is my final month in Guyana. It’s surreal and I’m feeling a bit anxious. I just can’t believe it is all ending and that in 3 weeks my life for the past 23 months will be different. It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling.

This past week was our Close of Service conference; we ended where we stared at Splashmin’s Resort and that was a little weird…we were all remembering the first couple of days in Guyana and how awkward it was getting to know one another and trying to understand what was going on. And now it’s time to say goodbye.

The conference was good and informative. We learned about all the forms and documents we have complete in order to close out our service and just like the long process it took to get into Peace Corps leaving is similar. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed but I know I’ll get it all done…it’s just going to make these last 3 weeks fly by.

The thing I enjoyed about COS was reflecting on every thing I’ve accomplished during my service and the life skills I’ve acquired/enhanced.

We talked about re-adjusting to life back home and they shared with us the 4 components of re-entry
1) Loss
2) Change in expectations
3) Change in employment
4) Cross cultural adaptation (change in values and time)
I think these are going to be very true.

Guy22 and PCGY staff

Yesterday we returned back to Georgetown and to the PC office. It was a very emotional day and I felt very anxious because I had to say goodbye to many volunteers who I won’t be seeing before I leave Guyana. It was especially difficult to say goodbye to Heather and Kellen.

They are seriously such good, giving, genuine, fun people and I’m going to miss them so much. I’m grateful for their friendship and I know I’ll be seeing them in the States.

I know the next 3 weeks are going to be full of emotion.

Hello 2012

I’m so incredibly excited for this New Year. 

It’s going to be a good year…I can just feel it!

I’m so excited to complete my Peace Corps service. 

I'm looking forward to returning home.

And I’m thrilled to see what 2012 has in store for me.

My Goals:

1. Start school

2. Become fit 

3. Road trip the east coast

4. Visit Amie in MI

5. Visit North Carolina

6. Visit Becky, Princess, Heather and the Tibbs'

7. Do 30 days of eating raw foods

8. Buy a professional camera and learn about photography

9. Have my own apartment

10. Enjoy going on dates

11. Take a ballet class

12. Go on a random, spontaneous trip

13. Grow my hair super long

14. Go to Laughlin and Jet Ski with family and friends over the summer

15. Cook a new meal every day for one month

16. Go camping

17. Go to a concert

18. Go to Disneyland in December

19. Grow spiritually

20. Spend lots of time with my family

Happy New Year!!