4 Jun – When I was fifteen years old I took my first overseas trip, to Spain. Barcelona was my favorite locale, situated next to the Mediterranean with its magnificent and still yet unfinished La Familia Sagrada cathedral. This two-week adventure in a strange land opened my eyes to a whole new world. Since that time one of my biggest dreams has been to live in another country.
Here I am living in Kazakhstan, fulfilling that dream in a way that I could not have imagined sixteen years ago. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have the option of extending my Peace Corps service for a third year. The deadline to request an extension is today.
This decision has caused me greater agony that I would have thought (or preferred). Interestingly, I found I was extremely conflicted, yet that I was not being pulled strongly in one direction or the other. This is unusual for me; my intuition usually serves me well and I do not often find myself struggling over an important decision such as occurred with this one.
Nevertheless, I have a decision that I am happy with, and equally as important, at peace with.
I will leave Kazakhstan in November with most of the Kaz 20 volunteers who arrived with me in August, 2008.
The reasons for my conflicted feelings were many, one of the biggest of which involves this long-time dream of mine. Could I choose to leave at the end of my 27 months when it would be so easy to stay and continue fulfilling this dream?
Sean had to point out to me that I can find a job located in another country if that is what I want. Why did I not think of that? I had, but the thought was temporarily lost amongst all of the other details.
Ironically, I have another idea in mind for the moment, something that requires more thought and consideration in the coming months and does not involve living in a foreign country in the immediate future.
Still, one decision down, much to my relief. Next up: how to wend my way back to the central U.S. when I depart Almaty in November. At least this decision will be much more fun!
