Before I left the US in July 2017, I had told all my family and friends that I wasn't coming back until I have completed my service with the Peace Corps. I thought going home was a sign of weakness or a challenge that I couldn't overcome. In other words, I was afraid I might not want to come back to Cambodia if I had gone home during my service.
Little did I know that I would actually end up visiting home before my service completed. I literally made a last minute decision and bought air tickets 2 weeks before the day I wanted to arrive home. I wanted to surprise my parents and other families/friends for Christmas holidays because I was told by my mom that all relatives are gathering at my house this year. I thought long and hard about it. I really wanted to go so I decide to. To me, going home for 5 days and riding the plane for 3 days was totally worth it because I would be exactly where I want to be for Christmas, my favorite time of the year. 5 days before my departure, I started feeling the rush and excitement of going home. 1 or 2 nights prior to my departure from Cambodia, I was so ecstatic that I could barely sleep. Once my plane was descending in Washington DC, happy tears rushed over me. When I saw every family and friend (and their surprised looks), my heart was so full of happiness. It was a wonderful 5 days with my loved ones. It was so great to feel right at home and doing things I love with the people I have missed. Even my cats remembered me too! It was just so nice to snuggle up with the furry munchkins. I thought I would be hesitant to leave when the time came. I was pleasantly surprised by how fine I felt about leaving home again to go back to Cambodia. I didn't feel sad. I didn't feel reluctant. If anything, I was eager to return to continue my work because I realized I only have 8 months left to finish my service. I wanted to come back to Cambodia and complete my projects and do what I can to meet my village's needs. I also really want to spend the time that's left with my host family and village friends who's become such an important part of my life in the last 1.5 years. All in all, going home was the best decision I've made during my service. It cured the homesickness I was starting to feel. It reenergized me and gave me purpose again!
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Christine can be reached at [email protected].
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