So here I am about a month from completing my Peace Corps service. I realized today that leaving the United States to come here was a lot easier than leaving here to go home will be.

A lot of volunteers wonder if they had any kind of impact on their communities. I am fortunate enough to know that I have. My counterpart and I have learned so much from each other. To quote him, “It’s unbelievable!” Honestly, the quality of counterpart you have combined with your schools director is about 75% of your struggle. I have been allowed to try things and to experiment here. My counterpart and I cooperate during our lessons. We have a true and rewarding partnership.

Our students are…students. Somedays they are ready to learn. Other days they would rather go fly a kite. It happens, though. I think back to high school Spanish for me. I understand every bit how they feel. We still try to reach them, though. This week was a good one just because cell phones were hardly a problem at all. You learn to take the small victories.

My friends from my English Club might be my best legacy here. Sasha, Julia, Alie, Helen and Andrew…I have to say I am a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to get everyone together this semester, but everyone is spread out. Everyone is working still with too little time for Saturday English lessons. They are all young people. They all have a lot of potential to do great things here. Hopefully they can reach their goals.