Take Two!

After being sent home from Honduras after only 6 short months of Peace Corps service (much shorter than the 27 months I had been expecting), applying for re-enrollment was an easy decision for me to make.  On the one hand, I did consider settling down, finding a job, and moving on with my life.  However, I wasn't satisfied with my short service in Honduras and my work in Sulaco.  I had so many ideas and projects that I was planning on starting during the new school year, and I left in January feeling like I had barely accomplished anything.  Although I had to accept that the situation and decision was completely out of my control, it was a hard thing to do.  I felt unsatisfied, guilty, and disappointed about leaving.

During our conference in Tegucigalpa in January, we had the opportunity to speak to representatives from the Peace Corps about re-enrollment.  I talked to them about my preferences and picked up all of the forms I had to fill out to make it happen.  I told them that I was only interested in going to Spanish-speaking countries.  I had learned so much in 6 short months in Honduras (moving up from Intermediate-Low Spanish level to Advanced-Mid), and I didn't want to stop there.  I also discussed my preferences of project.  In Honduras I was a youth development volunteer, and they asked about my thoughts on teaching English.  I had done that a little bit in Sulaco, but I wasn't interested in having that be my main project.

After a few months and some phone calls and emails with Peace Corps, I got my big blue folder in the mail last week telling me that I'm headed to Nicaragua to be an Environmental Education volunteer.  According to the information I've received, I will be assigned to work with at least 2 elementary schools and will be planning and co-teaching environmental topics, as well as organizing projects like gardens, composting, and re-forestation.  It also seems like I'll get a chance to do secondary projects that will help me utilize my Youth Development training that I had in Honduras. 

I am so excited and pleased with this placement!  I'll get to go back to Central America, keep learning and speaking Spanish, work in an area that I am passionate about, and get plenty of classroom teaching time.  I'll also be a bus ride away from Honduras, and I'm hoping I'll get a chance to go back and visit (although I think the Peace Corps may restrict travel to Honduras). 

So, I'll be leaving for staging on September 4th, which is also my 24th birthday.  On September 5th I'll arrive in Nicaragua and start my 11 weeks of training, being sworn in at the end of November and then beginning my 2 years of service.  I've been talking to people about my new assignment, and I've gotten a few people telling me about how I'll definitely have no regrets when I get older and will be glad of all the great experiences I've had.  I hope this is true, and I am excited about my next adventure.

For now, I've got a H-19 reunion in Chicago, a few weeks more of substitute teaching,  and an amazing summer as camp family mom at Silver Lake to look forward to before I head out to Nicaragua.  Things are looking up!