Back in good ol'America

Greetings all!

 

As of July 13^th, I ended my service with Peace Corps Uganda and am now back in the States. Surprise!!!!

 

Let me begin by thanking everyone who supported me in my journey from Alaska to Michigan to Uganda and back again. Your care packages, letters, e-mails and kind wishes supported me throughout the many challenging transitions and have went beyond my greatest expectations. You all are a great bunch of friends and family! I couldn’t have done all this with out you!

 

I ended my Peace Corps service due to complications from presumed malaria on two different occasions in June. Now, getting malaria is very common in Uganda and not unusual for Peace Corps Volunteers. This isn’t something that usually sends Volunteers home. But, in my case the diagnosis and treatment was not certain and had the doctor and nurses at a loss. I had most of the symptoms but, no malaria parasites were ever found. On top of that… I battle intense motion sickness when ever traveling anywhere at anytime in Uganda. I’ve tried everything, homeopathic to hard core meds. Nothing consistently worked. It became insanely severe during my three trips back and forth for treatment in Kampala, the capital city. My all time low was a vomiting marathon on jam packed public transport for two hours straight and then collapsing once I set foot on stable ground. And, then again when I tried to go back to site to pack my things and say goodbye to my local friends. I never made it due to the intense motion sickness and again vomiting. A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer and my Counterpart ended up packing my things and distributing the leftovers. I can laugh and joke about it all now – but, I seriously wanted to die. Every cell in my body was revolting. The whole experience tested my physical and emotional endurance to the outer limits.

 

Treatment for the presumed malaria and other complications began to improve. But, I knew there was no changing public transport, the roads nor the drivers (all contributing factors to my motion sickness) in Uganda. Now, I was an excellent Peace Corps Volunteer, but public transport was outside of my control ;)  After 10 months of trying different strategies, only to find no solution… was difficult to accept.

 

I am now trying to readjust to American culture. My health is improving and needless to say… no more motion sickness! Thank the Gods. It sure does feel good to be back in good ol’America. The silver lining to the whole experience is I now get to move on to the next stage in my life. Finishing a degree, self-employment and owning a home are next on the list.

 

Some have asked, “So, are you now ready to settle down? Have you got it all out of your system now?”. I laugh and say, “Yes, I’m ready to create a home base for myself. A place I call my own that I can always come back to. But, am I done traveling? Heck no!!!!”. I am all about building on that freedom and independence that grows in every Peace Corps Volunteer. I’ve stopped looking at the employment ads. Right now, working for anyone except myself just doesn’t feel good. And, I want to feel good! (That’s my new mantra, by the wayJ)

 

I am now a Pure Romance Consultant. I educate and empower women about their sexuality and how to put the ‘O’ in romance. Through in home parties I provide a safe, comfortable and fun atmosphere to teach women about the sophisticated line of relationship enrichment products. My Hostesses receive free products for inviting their friends over for a fun girl’s night in! More on this in a separate e-mail and a soon to be operational web site for online ordering.

 

The Pure Romance business plan is perfect for my lifestyle! I can work when I want and travel when I want. It builds on my Peace Corps experience too. I’m transitioning from teaching people about HIV/Aids to teaching women about their sexuality. If you want to know more about what I did during my Peace Corps experience, check out my blog. I have posted my official description of service.

 

I can honestly say I have never felt more alive than while in Peace Corps. And yet I never felt more like I wanted to die or was going to die than when in Peace Corps. Am I glad I went? Yes, oh yes! Once again a once in a life time experience that has enriched my world view. Irreplaceable really.  Would I do it again? For sure! I loved being a Peace Corps Volunteer. But not in Africa or anywhere else that has a poor public transport system and preferably no malaria!

 

Let me leave you with an appreciation for life in the United States. We truly do not appreciate what we have until we are gone. The American lifestyle is one of endless choice and opportunity. I knew this before going to Uganda but, was not interested in appreciating it as much as I do now. I also now appreciated my friends and family more. I’m not sure where I would be with out your kindness and support. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. May each of you know the quiet, simple joys and faith I have discovered along the way.

 

Cheers,

Carrie