Life Lessons Learned in the Peace Corps

Someone will always have it better. As volunteers we are told, “You are expected to serve where you are placed.” This sounded easy back in the U.S. before coming here, not knowing what the options were. But once I got to my site, I was disappointed. I wanted something more exciting. Sites range from cities…

A Year Living in Madrid, Spain

Follow my adventures while I attempt to be a Spaniard

Moving to a new city

*This post was written March 2022 and I never got to publishing. I still find it accurate as I am still on this journey of finding myself in my current stage living in a new city and decided to post it now anyways. I moved to Brooklyn in August for work and looking for a…

My Colombian Role Model

She has a heart the size of the moon. She is a passionate and versatile leader, always giving 100% as a teacher, a mother, a community leader, and a friend. She rarely gets angry and is forgiving. She gives more than she expects to receive. She is fun and knows when to ~ let her…

Thankful to be Home

I came home from the Peace Corps almost a month ago, and people keep asking if I’m sad to be home or if I’m bored. Honestly, no. I have been so happy since I’ve been home. Part of me feels guilty for it, because I know that’s not the shared sentiment amongst those who had…

How I Stay Entertained During the Quarantine

Peace Corps service and living in a small village taught me how to keep busy with limited resources. I would sit at home for hours on end, finding ways to entertain myself and stay productive. Now that I am home, I am prepared to stay inside and work and entertain myself for long periods of…

An Open Letter To Myself, In My Service

Don’t be upset that you’re a bad writer, be happy that you have the time to write. Don’t be upset that you can’t jog as fast as others, be happy that you have two feet that allow you to move. Don’t be upset that not many people showed up to your workshops that you prepared…

Where I will take you to in Colombia…

I only have 8 months left in Colombia in my Peace Corps service, prime time for friends and family to come to visit. Colombia does not have your typical vacation spot appeal, but it offers a diverse selection of activities that I am sure friends and family at home would LOVE to explore and enjoy…

Quinceañera hopping

Here is an old blog post I wrote back in September that I am finally getting to posting. Its' relevance to my Peace Corps service is preserved. Going to quinceañeras in Colombia is one of the many unexpected things that make up my service. I consider myself to be the ultimate gringa quinceañera hopper. Last night…

Site updates! *disclaimer* two-month late post

I am continuing to struggle to blog during my service. I am currently sitting with one of my best friends here, a fellow PCV Nancy, and we decided to settle down tonight and write our blogs together and set goals for when to publish them. It really shouldn’t be that hard because I have a…

Expectations and procrastination

I haven’t blogged since I’ve been to my new site, forgive me. I have started writing my new post a dozen times and then left it sitting there in my notes as a draft. It is ironic how now that I have more free time than I can ever recall in my life, I have…