Government-issued friends

Everyone jokes here that we are all "government issued" friends because we met and are forced to get to know each other by consequence of all joining the US peace corps. It is more like you can chose your friends, but you can't chose your family--this is our pc Uganda family. Despite this notion, I have come to really know and love many of my fellow volunteers and can't imagine being able to do this 2 year crazy ride without them by my side. I have met some of the nicest, most caring, and hardest working people during my service and I feel very inspired by their work and their compassion. Some really dedicate themselves to taking care of us, other volunteers, and hold us together. Others live at site, endlessly working, being role models and exemplifying what it means to be a volunteer. Everyone brings something to the table and teaches the others a thing or two about life.

I don't want to go through and name all of my best friends here and why they are so. I just want to say how much I value friendship and the people I call my friends. Being here is quite an experience and sharing it with other people is a huge gift. They understand everything. Most people know me and know that I wear my emotions on my sleeve, well this has been an emotional roller coaster and I am so lucky to have friends by me that listened to all my emotional vomiting. Back when I wanted so badly to leave Uganda, my friends here (as well as at home, I can't forget all you have done for me during that time too) really took care of me and helped me put things in perspective based on their own experiences in Uganda. We all ranted and vented together, we cried together, we laughed uncontrollably together. We shared in success and failure. We had high hopes together and were demoralized together. At times when I needed to feel like I was at home, all I had to do was call or visit one of these fine people. When I was thinking critically of home, we all could take our experiences living away from the US to pinpoint why the US isn't perfect and what we could do about it. When I was thinking critically of Uganda, I had friends here to remind me that we have problems like this all over the world. I truly do believe that I have become a more thoughtful and considerate person while here and much of that comes from the character and values of the friends I have surrounded myself with. They loved me and took my love...which as many know is extremely important to my sanity.

I am very social and easily become friends with almost anyone. I like this trait about myself. But becoming friends with just anyone does not always add much to your life other than a circle of friends. So while I love getting to know people and connecting with as many different individuals as possible (I really do learn a lot from everyone I meet), it is the caliber of people I have spent much of my time with that have really helped shape my service. This work calls to a large variety of personalities, but the majority of them are dynamite human beings who I am so proud to call my friends and fellow volunteers.