It’s
the time again and it feels like yesterday I was facing the decision of COS or Extend. I am so happy I extended as I have learned and experienced so much in
this third year of my service.
While I have 5 months left of being in Ecuador, I found this month had
me very preoccupied with thinking of my return to the States.
To
all of you who have repeatedly inquired, yes, I will be coming home, no I am not
extending another year. While I would love too, the truth is I feel my time
here is coming to a conclusion. I could cling and hang on but I don’t think
that would be fruitful for my organization or myself. The Aldea will be getting
a replacement volunteer so I am happy about that and my project can easily be passed
on to the lucky newbie. Not to mention, before I knew if I was getting a
replacement or not, I was and am currently working on passing on projects to my
teens. I am pushing them into the leadership positions so that they don’t have
to rely on a volunteer or an outsider of any kind to continue enjoying
educational and enriching programs. So as far as sustainability goes, I feel
satisfied.
As
for personal growth I feel I need to continue on my journey. Yes, my current
assignment does serve up challenges daily (read the post on my first Brigada
Verde meeting coming up!) but I also know how to maneuver in this situation and
I am pretty comfortable. If you’re not growing your dying as they say, so in my
efforts to continue to grow, I need to step out of my comfort zone once again….
Which
brings me to the subject of returning to the States. Which is proving to
represent an opportunity to stretch out of my comfort zone even more than
moving to a foreign country! This month I was almost obsessed with the issue of
“what am I going to do when I go back?”.
Here’s the thing. The answer could be easy. Find a job you like and work
it for the next 15 years. However
that is SOOO not what I am trying to do. I have learned 1 million lessons here
in Ecuador, but one of the main things I am learning is that there are so many
ways to live life and that following your passion and using your talents is so
important to the enrichment of the soul. Not just important, essential. So
while I could go back and work for awhile, it would only be a job to make money
to fund a bigger dream.
I
have so many ideas and project I want to work on I don’t even know where to
begin. Plus, I kinda have no clue about what any of my dream projets would look
like from beginning to end. At the beginning of May and even in April I had
convinced myself I need to start working on my “Back to the States” mission NOW
so that I can be Super prepared for my transition in September. Well, it’s
great to be prepped, but what ended up happening is I was getting WAY too
focused on the future and forgetting to enjoy what is right in front of me,
great friends, great kids, great work experience, beautiful surrounds and a
tranquilo way of life. I was going into full speed high gear that is typical
American on the grind workaholism. Have I learned nothing?
So,
while I know I need to get my resume spruced up and I can continue to explore
and research all of my options, I still have a little less than a whole half of
a year to enjoy one of the best countries in the world. So I’m on it, living
life to the fullest everyday and preparing for an even bigger and better future
J
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