My Two Lives

Now that I have completed a year of service (plus 3 months of training) and I've had the opportunity to visit stateside, I've had some time to reflect on this past year and the experiences I've had. While home, most people asked me simply, "How's it going over there?" and that is quite the loaded question really and I often answered, "Well, good and bad...such is life for most people, right? For me in Peace Corps, the highs are high and the lows have been my lowest lows."

My experiences both here in Vanuatu and the visit home has helped me dissect what is it that makes me/us happy? We in the "western, modern" society have plentiful choices (the menu of drinks at a coffeeshop or the number of cereals, ice cream, bread and so on), material things (so many people have iPhones now), luxuries (there's medication to help eyelashes grow? Really?) and technology (the amazing twitterability to not only stay in touch with hundreds of friends but to know their hourly play by play).


Then there's my village life...simple and primitive. No electricity which means no T.V., internet, no Starbucks or Walmarts, no Blackberries, no cold drinks or fast food, little to no access to the people outside of the country although people do travel by ship sometimes to other islands. Stores here are small, carrying only some necessary items...rice, tin fish, soap, candles and such.


Most of our days consist of being awaken by the sound of roosters crowing (although they crow almost hourly, no alarm clock) by 6am although my Mama gets up at 4am, then building a fire to make tea and boil some plantains for breakfast. Afterwards, kids are sent off to school, some washing is done, feeding of the pigs and chicken that roam free around the house, moving the cows, cutting wood, and then a hike to the gardens (and I do mean hike because of the hills). Lunch of boiled kumala (sweet potato) and island cabbage then a nap because it's too hot to do anything else! By 5pm, the men often drink kava together and the women are preparing for dinner, washing some more and caring for the children. Lots of time is spent just hanging out, sitting and "storian" or chatting. When do we ever have time to do that unless we plan meals together or weekends? I eat dinner with my family around 6pm, take a bucket shower, read in bed by 8:30am and asleep by 10p. What a life.

The Ni-Vanuatu lead simple but happy lives without being inundated with to do lists, schedules, TV programs and activities. And really, they don't know any better although I storian with them about my life in the states and how busy I always was. It's been two opposite ends of the spectrum...my two lives. Reflecting on both, I appreciate both. If I could just have family and friends here, it would definitely make life easier. Not to mention a shower, flushing toilet and electricity.

So, I realize I will miss this one day...my simple Peace Corps life in the village. It was great to see my friends, their kids and their busy lives which makes me appreciate what I have now more than ever. While it seems selfish to be miserable some days, I can't help but miss my busy life in the states. The grass is always greener, I suppose.

I am off to Paama today...bittersweet. Thanks again, Mom and Dad for your support and to my friends whose well wishes and love help get me through. I think of y'all everyday.