One year, post-Moz

It has officially been one year since I concluded my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambique. 

one year. 
365 days.

Where has that time gone? A year ago, I was sitting in the passenger seat of my best friends car on the drive from DC to Pittsburgh, tears streaming down my face. I was exhausted from travel, scared about my future, and going through all sorts of separation anxiety from the life I had come to know for the past three years. I was going 'home' to what I had known all my life, but nothing was the same. My parents had recently moved to Texas, my brother to Ohio, and my grandparents were in the midst of a move to Florida. I was coming back to Pittsburgh with two bags, and a best friend. I didn't even own a bed - - oh, and I was scheduled to start graduate school in a week. 

Needless to say, there were a lot of emotional breakdowns those first few days, a lot of purchases made at Ikea, and paint thrown on the walls of my childhood home (which I am renting from my parents). Home life aside, I was also having various meetings with my new academic advisor, trying to figure out the Port Authority bus system to and from school, and applying for jobs here and there. 

Within the first three weeks home, I obtained a job at a local bar, started classes, and worked with my roommate to furnish and decorate a home. No big deal.


So where do I sit, one year later? 
In an entirely different place. Mentally, physically and emotionally.

For better, or for worse, I've made Pittsburgh my home again. Settling into the norm of classes and school, ending my first year in the Public Health masters program with a 4.0. I have recently been in a pretty big employment transition, going from a waitress, to a research assistant, to accepting a year long contract offer with the Allegheny County Health Department. I've also managed to organize and complete enough coursework/internship requirements for my program, so that I can graduate this coming December. After which, I will become a full-time employee with the contracting position.

Thesis work has commenced. I've gathered my committee members, begun research, and this week or next I will begin putting "pen to paper". I still don't have a working title, but in essence I will be looking at the differences between the US approach to HIV policy on a federal and state level, compared to Mozambique's HIV policy on a national and provincial level. It should prove for some interesting discoveries and information.

Physically, I've become much healthier in the past year. About a month or two after being home, I joined a local Crossfit gym in my neighborhood. In this past year, I have lost about 20lbs, become stronger, more physically resilient, and met some really amazing people in the process. Its been an incredible lifestyle change, and I'm happy to continue to be a part of it. 

Emotionally, I met someone. A lovely someone. With who, I've experienced amazing things with. I hope to continue to share adventures, laughs, and overcome obstacles with. I consider myself very fortunate to have met this person. 

I've also been privy to an amazing life experience through the eyes of my best friend. She gave birth to an incredible baby boy, almost a year ago. Watching him grow and develop has been fun, frustrating and absolutely rewarding in ways words will never capture. The best part about this experience however, is seeing someone I have known for close to 20 years, transform into a mother. Again, words will not capture the deep respect and profound amazement in her abilities. I love them both, so very much.

I am able to see family members occasionally- - not nearly as much as I would like, as we are all living in different states. . . but that makes the time with them all the more enjoyable. 

This has been a quick summary of where I was, and where I am now. The journey between - -the late nights studying, stressing over finances, the re-integration process, the emotional turmoil of  feeling alone in a place I thought was 'home', and missing Moz so much sometimes it hurts - would require more than a simple blog post. For now, know that I am happy, loved, a bit stressed (about thesis and finances), but nevertheless finding my way through this new life in Pittsburgh. 

-td

leaving, on a jet plane. don't know when i'll be back again. . . .

Last full day in Mozambique, as a PCV.

Those are some pretty intense words.

I fly out tomorrow morning with a fellow Moz 18er, landing in DC on Saturday morning. America. Wow.

 I’ve been avoiding writing a blog post about my exit from Mozambique and the closing of my peace corps service for a bit now. Perhaps its because I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this life is about to be in the rearview mirror, and that it truly was a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. I have had immense joy, sadness, frustration, anxiety, elation, and everything else in between (sometimes all in one day). I have grown as a person in ways that I would have never imagined. The experiences gained from this adventure are insurmountable to anything that I’ve had the opportunity to do before, and I only hope to build upon them.

Mozambique can be an incredibly trying and frustrating place. The travel sucks, it gets very hot, and work can bring immense headaches and emotional breakdowns (refer to past blog posts). But on the opposite side of the coin, the people here are so unbelievably kind and welcoming, the landscapes are spectacular, the food amazing, and the adventures fulfilling.

The three years spent here, were not time wasted. Including this third year with all of its frustrations, sadness, and anxiety. It helped me grow emotionally, physically and professionally. Adversity is always a challenge, it is how to handle it, and recover from it - -learning lessons as we go - - using hindsight to not let it happen again.

As I say my final goodbyes via phone calls, whatsapp messages, and long hugs here in the Peace Corps office, I’m reminded of so many good days spent in Quissico, with my friends and family (Mozambican and American) and the numerous adventures I was privy to in the north this past year. 

Sunshine, sand, surf, mountains and forests of Mozambique will be in my heart forever. Couve, matapa, and every other food in between will never be far from my thoughts. And the people, friendships, and family that were forged here will last forever.

Thank you Mozambique.

It has truly been a spectacular adventure.

Até a próxima

16

why, hello there.

The despedida (Despedida – going away party.) has come and gone. Many beers drank, and laughs shared. I watched a good friend get in a taxi and go to the airport. . . and have a friend staying with me this week before they too depart to the airport.

Photos have been taken down off the wall here, I’ve started putting things in a bag, and have marked things to sell to friends (like my stove, fridge etc). So, while it is all starting to get real, I also have nothing to do until August 3^rd when I fly to Maputo. Packing, aside.

The thing that has been bothering me most about just sitting around here, biding my time until I COS, is everything I’m missing at home. Mom and Dad have officially bought a house in Texas, and move in sometime next week, from there my Dad stays in TX and Mom won’t be back to Pittsburgh until after I’m back in town. Brother is moving to Ohio for his big-kid job, and the grandparents are moving down to Florida. Talk about a mass exodus from Pittsburgh upon my arrival!

So, all of that is going on, while I sit here on my ass . . . wishing I could be there to hug my Dad, and spend time with my brother, mom and grandparents. Sigh.

Umm…. Not sure really what else to say.

Let me know if you want anything from Mozambique.

Birthday in 7 days.

Landing in DC on August 8^th.

Pittsburgh on August 10/11^th.

xo

numbers.

6/25/2015 – Independence Day in Mozambique

40 – years of Mozambican independence from Portugal

7/4/2015 – Independence Day in the USA

239 – years of independence for the USA

12 – unused capulanas I plan on bringing home

86 – books read during my stint in Mozambique

1,117 – days I have been in Mozambique

27 – days remaining in country

17 – days until my birthday

26 – my age, at this upcoming birthday

2 – bags that I brought with me to Mozambique

5 – volunteers from my group who extended their contract for the third year

18 – my PC Moz group number

11 – provinces in Moz

11 – provinces I have visited

128 – districts in Mozambique

68 – districts I have visited

3 or 4 – hours it takes to travel to my closest PC neighbor

25 – hours overland to Maputo from Quelimane

3 – places I have lived in Mozambique – Namaacha, Quissico, Quelimane

1 - successful yoga retreat on Ilha de Mocambique

7 – participants in the retreat

16 – hours it took in total to travel back to my house from the retreat

1 - letter of acceptance I received from the Masters International Track at Pitt

2 – applications to Peace Corps submitted, the most recent, in June of 2015 for a second potential service

That's right kids. . .I applied for Peace Corps. Again. I was officially accepted to the Masters International Track at Pitt, allowing me to continue my study in the Behavioral and Community Health Sciences concentration, but also allowing me to incorporate a second Peace Corps service into my education. Peace Corps seems to be the best way to really connect with a community, and know what it is like to live within a different culture. If I were to do a second service, my preference of country and program would be the Community Health program in Ecuador, giving me a chance to explore a new country, and immerse myself in an incredibly diverse and rich culture.

I’m still awaiting official word from Peace Corps regarding my acceptance and potential placement, but that's the most recent news from this end.

36.

Salutations all

Its July 1^st. . . WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

You all are probably planning a nice cookout with friends and family, getting together your ‘murika clothing, and stocking up on beers to get through the hot afternoon. Over here in Moz, its chilly, our Independence day is past, and I’ve entered my last full month of my time here.

It’s all coming to a rapid close. I have the yoga retreat coming up this weekend, near Ilha de Mocambique, and then our going away party “despedida” here in Quelimane scheduled for the 17^th. I have yet to start packing, in my classic style I’ll leave that to the last minute, and just toss everything into a bag and hope for the best.

There is not too much new to report here, I’ve been spending my days getting paperwork together for my close of service (COS) process - - writing my description of service, letters to my supervisor, an organizational summary report etc. And my afternoons have been spent doing yoga, binge watching tv shows, and cooking good food. . . indulging myself with all of the delicious fresh produce in the central market of Quelimane.

Yesterday I bought a papaya, cilantro, eggplant, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots and okra - - for less than $5. You really can’t complain about that. I made a delicious homemade salsa, and a fantastic stir-fry for dinner. Nom nom nom.

happy fridge 

Today is going to be spent organizing the final logistics for the yoga retreat – getting the sessions organized, confirming the reservation and meals, and packing up my bag. I leave on the 5am bus from Quelimane to Nampula, and haven’t decided if I’m going to crash with a friend, or if I want to indulge in a night on Ilha.

I’m not really sure where I am, mentally, with my departure closing in so fast. . . I’m trying to think back to May 2012 when I could not wait to get the hell out of the states, and start this adventure. I was sad to leave friends and family behind, but not sad enough to stay. Now, I’m really not sure how I feel about going back to the states. Yes I have graduate school waiting for me, I have housing, and friends and family waiting my arrival, which is wonderful . . but …

(I’m not really sure what is to follow the ‘but’ in that statement)

Anyway.

36 days.

"this is my last month in Moz???"