Six Months

December 16, 2010

Okay, so it isn’t officially six-months in country but it’s pretty close. December 21 will mark the 6-month anniversary of the day when my mom and dad drove me (and my suitcases) to the airport in Green Bay and wished me off.

The days leading up to June 21 were intense. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t concentrate. My mind was going crazy.

Now Field-Based-Training and Pre-Service-Training are all over. I’ve sworn in and become an official PCV. I’ve finished my mandatory two months in site without leave. I made it through the intense high of leaving for my site followed by the intense low of realizing my expectations for my site weren’t reality. I made it through Thanksgiving and fall without my family or any crunchy leaves. I made it through missing my sister’s wedding party, I made it through some rough days thinking about my grandpa and missing my family beyond belief.

But I’m still here. Heck yeah! And I love it! Puchica!

So next comes Christmas. Bring it on, world. I’m going to miss my family and probably cry a bit but I’m also going to have a great time hanging out, eating tamales, and dancing.

I’m sure in 6 months or in 9 months or in two years I’ll look back at this post and think, “Qué barbaridad, Kari you really hadn’t experienced anything yet” but that’s okay. As my host mom says, poco a poco, “you’re going to learn everything poco a poco.”

So here are some photos:

This is just a regular afternoon at my grandparent’s house. Tía Lilian is washing clothes while my cousins and sister hang out chatting.

We decorated the little trees out front our house with Christmas lights, a star, and a handful of bulbs. They look awesome. I love coming home at night to a bright, sparkly house.

Here is the final product.

I like to sit on the hammock at night and chat with my host mom. We turn off the overhead lights and watch the Christmas lights change color until it’s time to go in and sleep.