Pedro El Viajero

Monday, July 6, 2009

The End of the Tour

"And she says that the scene isn't what it's been,
And she's thinking of going home."
- The End of the Tour, They Might Be Giants

On the morning of Thursday, June 25th, my flight landed in San Jose after a red-eye from Guatemala to LA and 6:30 a.m. connecting flight. After just under three months in Guatemala and just over three months in Latin America, my trip came to an end.

I had a fantastic time. After weeks of initial doubt of why I had left the familiarity of the South Bay and the comfort of a steady job, I found many volunteer opportunities and improved my Spanish by leaps and bounds. I made new friends down there, and I have no doubt that I will be returning to Guatemala within the next few years.

That said, this was different from my time in the Peace Corps. My stay in the country this time was much shorter, and I had much less structure to my life and fewer people to support me. But the true difference is where I currently am in my life. For me, 26 is a very different age than 22, which is how old I was when I joined the Peace Corps. Back then, when people asked me where I was from, I gave a muddled answer that included Chicago, San Jose and Boston, and often even included my adopted country, Moldova. When people asked me in Guatemala, I shortened my answer to just San Jose. It is now the place I feel most comfortable and the most established, and I am eager to feel comfortable and established again. I didn't want to feel that way when I joined the Peace Corps, but a lot of things can change in four years.

My next adventure is here, in San Jose. My next challenge to set down roots somewhere, which I have so far failed to do in any part of the world.

Wish me luck. Oh, and let me know if you're hiring.

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