And most likely, I will miss Grenada more than it misses me. After all, the only thing that will change for them is my absence, yet I feel like I'm losing a whole island.
Things I will miss most...
my Peace Corps family, Junior, playing volleyball until midnight with my local friends (sometimes even through the rain...unheard of for Grenadians), the kids at the Limes, Grand Anse Beach (one of the prettiest I've seen), sour sop smoothies, tannia log, street meat, and having a year-round tan
Thing I will NOT miss...
mosquitoes, catcalling, and public urination
Things that might be difficult while readjusting to life back in the US...
being on time, the rain not meaning meetings are canceled, and all the white people!
At our final Peace Corps conference, they asked us to think back on our 2 years of service and share our proudest accomplishments with everyone. I felt a little strange "tooting my own horn," but then realized it was a good thing to look at the big picture and be encouraged by what I had done...
developing strong friendships through the common passion of volleyball, breaking down stereotypes of Americans, expanding the Limes Program, facilitating an HIV workshop, obtaining a PEPFAR grant to run a summer camp, coaching 2 volleyball teams, training with the National Volleyball Team, finally getting along with my difficult landlady, feeling secure in my neighborhood despite the druglords down the street, and earning the respect of the scary village Rasta named Shabba.
There are a million things going through my head as I'm dealing with the emotions of saying goodbye to an island that has been my home for 2 years. Instead I'll keep it brief by ending with a favorite quote of my Peace Corps group.
"A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit."
-D. Elton Trueblood
-D. Elton Trueblood
I love you Grenada!
