How many times have we all heard this? Growing up in America, I was taught not to look behind me, but ahead. Why do you need to look back anyway, what’s done is done and that’s all there is to it, right? But I’ve started to realize more and more that looking to the past can be useful. Your past experiences, and the lessons that you’ve learned throughout your life are what keeps you grounded. And now more than ever, I need all the help I can get in staying grounded.
As of Friday, May 15th, my Peace Corps Training came to an end, and my work as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) officially began. After a week in Kingston spent doing some final reviews and evaluations, myself and the other 32 members of my training class were sworn in as volunteers at an official ceremony at the US embassy here in Kingston. Unfortunately, since it was at the embassy, we weren’t allowed to take cameras inside, so I have no pictures of the actual ceremony. A PC staff member did take some official pictures, but I haven’t gotten them yet (as they say in Jamaica, they will soon come…but that could mean anytime between tomorrow and next year). I do have some pictures of the rest of my two months here, and I’ll post a link to my facebook album at the bottom (and yes, you can use this link if you aren’t a member of facebook). But the ceremony was very official, and our oath (the same one they take in the military) was administered by the acting ambassador.
Being done with training is actually a little overwhelming. Since arriving here, finishing training has been a milestone I’ve been looking forward to, and something tangible. I had tasks to complete, a time frame to complete them in and in two months I would be done. Two months is an amount of time that I can wrap my head around – it’s something that isn’t too overwhelming and something that I can see the end of. Now, I’m looking at two years, and not too many milestones laid out for me. I am still very excited about my work here, and not regretting my decision to join in the least, but it’s just a lot to take in all at once, and it’s a feeling that has kind of caught me by surprise. I’ve never really liked to think about time in large chunks like this, and now I’m kind of forced to do so. But maybe that’s good for me, maybe it’ll teach me a new life skill.
It’s very easy for me to get overwhelmed with the prospect of living here for two years, with my job, and with this life that I have chosen for the near future. But that’s where I’ve learned to look back and reflect on the experiences that have brought me here. I’ve done difficult things before, and I’ve made it through. Like everyone else, I’ve been overwhelmed by life before, but if I’ve figured it out in the past, why should now be any different, right? I just need to remind myself to breathe, and remind myself of the things that have brought me here, and what they’ve taught me. I think a healthy dose of reflection on the past is a very good thing. To throw out another old cliché, the past is prologue, and so without looking to the back, you won’t really have a very good idea of where you’re going or why you’re going there.
All that being said, I’ve also been trying to focus on the future, specifically the very near future, and on my work here with WHROMP. We had a long meeting today that was surprisingly productive. There were a few projects proposed that I will be helping out with, and I think that I will be a lot busier in the near future (meaning I’ll have less time to gchat…sorry guys). The projects cover a pretty big range – mangrove re-planting, re-introducing sail fishing (as opposed to using gas engines), working with schools, beach clean-ups, bird watching tours, and more. I’m by no means an expert in any of these things, so it’ll be interesting to see what I can bring to the table. But those are the details that will only work themselves out with time. Until then, I’m going to keep learning whatever I can and finding ways to make myself useful here. And most importantly, I’m going to remind myself to breathe.
As promised, some pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2249473&id=5301199&l=3ae318f61b
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