Belonging

They say that coming back home can be harder than going to your country of service. Why? People have changed, the country has changed, I´ve changed. When I think about it, I´ve missed two years of pop culture, technological advancements and inside jokes. Friends have changed jobs, moved, gotten married or had kids.

Yes, there will be a wonderful ´honeymoon´ period filled with quality time with friends, family and double-ply toilet paper, but what is after that?

As a foreigner, Peru doesn´t feel quite like home, but I am not sure the U.S. will either. A lot about Peruvian culture fits me well. There is the obvious; the slow pace, super friendly people, affordable prices and amazing food. And then there is the not so obvious. I have loved ´who I have been´ while living here: open to new experiences, entrepreneurial in my ventures, receptive of new people and opportunities that come my way, willing to tackle fears and challenges and submerse myself in a foreign culture. I have loved making a direct impact in people´s lives in a meaningful way and engaging with people in a language and culture that is not my own. It has been invigorating, fulfilling and thrilling!

Going back to very affluent part of the U.S. that values status, power, connections and material possessions is a hard pill to swallow. When you work with people that have so little and in a place that has much more family/work life balance, it is hard to go back to such an extreme environment.

The good news is that I can take what I have learned here and find a place (in VA or somewhere else) that fits who I have become. I am excited to start this next chapter in my life and make decisions and engage in life with a different perspective. I have tons of ideas of what I want to do when I get back and I can´t wait to get started and see what the future holds.

A new adventure awaits...