It’s a daunting task for me to realize that two years has gone by already. Where has the time gone to? I remember clearly the eager days of our pre-service training that started in June 2010. Two years have come and gone and I can’t help but feel awe at my realization that time is up, and it’s time for me to move on to my next destination.
I am officially extending with Peace Corps Swaziland in the capacity of “Peace Corps Volunteer Leader.” This position has been filled one time in country since the Swaziland post was reopened in 2003. When I was a brand-new trainee with stars in my eyes, I found our PCVL’s advice and direction extremely helpful in guiding my own Peace Corps Service. His name was Matt Krugh and he was a Group 6 volunteer and began his service in 2008. I owe him a lot of gratitude for helping to temper the classroom stress of PST with a very down-to-earth practical experience of life as a volunteer in rural Swaziland. It is my hope that I can bring the same to the current volunteers and new trainees as the y arrive in country next month.
The role of the PCVL isn’t clearly defined in Washington, and each post that has a PCVL probably has a very free-flowing description of the duties associated with the position. I think Advance Humanity blog basic description is a good starting point for PCVL duties:
PCVLs have many responsibilities, but basically they fall into four categories:
- Providing assistance and counsel to Peace Corps Volunteers
- Helping Peace Corps Staff work better with Peace Corps Volunteers
- Helping Peace Corps Volunteers work better with Peace Corps Staff
- Informing Peace Corps Volunteers about important information and resources
The above duties provide a very vague jumping off point to what my mysterious next year may prove to be like. I will be hitting item #4 pretty hard this next year. Over the last two years I have been asked by the office for continual assistance in organizing resource material for use by the volunteers. In a number of ways and over countless trips I have helped to develop and enhance the internal capacity of Peace Corps Swaziland to better help the volunteers get at useful resources for their community. Since most of my interaction in this regard has been in scant free time I have, I must say that I’m excited to be able to help develop resources in a serious fashion.
As energizing as the unknown of another year in the kingdom is, this time is still full of sadness knowing that my departure from my homestead is only weeks away. Since living here I have laughed harder, lived healthier, and been happier here than at any time previously in my life. Time changes your perspective on everything, and the same is true for the perspective I have on my service. Have I changed the world? No, but of course that wasn’t what this was about. My last two years have been about helping when and where I can. I have mended fences, taught college and primary school, helped create a small business, and formed several life-long friendships. If home is where the heart is, my homestead will always be one of my favorite homes.
The next year also brings with it certain luxurious advantages over my current lifestyle. I will be splitting my time between two locations, both within signal area for cheap and fast internet offered by Swaziland Post and Telecommunications (SPTC). Additionally my chosen third year extension projects resemble a 9 to 5 job more than Peace Corps service. Both locations have electricity and running water. All of these amenities considered standard in developed countries will not be underappreciated by me in this coming year. I feel the most appropriate homage I can pay to electricity and internet is to finally be able to post as frequently as I originally envisioned when I was coming here.