In trying to think of how to sum up a roller coaster of a year I was inspired by a fellow PCV's instagram post quoting the song from RENT, "Seasons of Love" hence the title "How Do You Measure a Year?". Thinking about the things that occupied my mind before I left, there is a pretty big difference now. Many stayed the same, but looking at this list, never in a million years did I think this would be my life...
I measure my first year in Rwanda in...
- Cups of Coffee (Because that will never change...)
- Conversations where I don't understand anything yet somehow appear to.
- Bucket baths (not as many as you would think...)
- Scrstches on my knuckles from handwashing all of my clothes
- Pills counted and placed in baggies
- Insanity Workouts "successfully" completed
- Jars of Peanut Butter consumed (generally straight from the jar)
- Care packages filled with my favorite things
- Weeks filled with only mac n cheese as my diet because I don't feel like cooking
- Books
- Movies
- Naps
- Solo Dance PArties
- Sunburns (yet not as many as I eexpected)
- Dropped Phone Calls
- Phone Calls consisting of "Hello?" for at least 10 min
- Gardens built
- Speeches in Kinyarwanda
- Attempts to bargain at the market
- Much needed burritos in Kigali
- Downpours
- Successful and Failed cooking experiments
- Successful charcoal stove lightings
- Cold meals because I'm too lazy to light my charcoal stove
- Avocados
- Nights kept awake by my mouse roommate
- Spiders residing in my house
- mosquito bites
- Hikes (Complete with amazing views!!)
- Fantas with village friends
- Photos
- Emails
- Whatsapp messages
- Slips in the mud
- Lessons Learned
- Friendships Made
This year truly has been one of the most amazing years of my life and I still have one more left! I can't wait to see what year 2 holds for me and I hope I have enough time to get everything done that I want to. They always say that "Peace Corps is the hardest job you'll ever love" and I can attest to that 100%.
Before I finish and get back to work I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me through this journey and I love all of you! <3
