mrveitch

In-service Training. 2 weeks in Chengdu with the other 142 volunteers and all of Peace Corps staff. We were often split into groups, so not all sessions stuffed with everyone, but for those 10 days, the area around Sichuan Uni belonged to Peace Corps. 

I wasn’t exactly excited to go, but I didn’t realize how much I didn’t want to be there until I actually arrived at the hotel. I immediately missed my site. It is, with all its flaws, my home. During my weeks of solitude (about 3?) I joined a local gym, found an excellent workout/sparring partner and grew very comfortable in my own company. Just as all that happened, I was thrust back into the Peace Corps world and left my 8元 ($1.3) meals behind. 

Obviously, it didn’t all suck. Chinese (class pictured above), in stark contrast to PST, was what I enjoyed most and found most useful. I think knowing it wouldn’t last long helped. Being able to participate in CD BJJ was great too. I even went on a date with a local girl I met! Too bad she doesn’t live in Deyang (I have no interest in living in Chengdu).

Still, every day, I missed the soreness of a good workout; the Maocai from the local street vendor; the watery milk tea down the street. I even missed my impossibly hard bed that I’m sure is the cause of my chronic neck pain (that expensive ikea pillow ain’t helping much). 

I missed my home.

I think that, more than anything, is a sign of a successful service. It means that I developed strong connections in my community and I am incredibly lucky to have done it so quickly.