This week my Peace Corps service has unfortunately come to an end. And quite abruptly, too. After having a mysteriously swollen ankle for 8 weeks, I recently had a biopsy to determine the cause. Who knew that the results of this biopsy would lead to the Peace Corps sending me home as the results indicated that I had developed a condition that makes a person ineligible for Peace Corps service. If I had known that, I would not have been smiling in the photo taken right after the biopsy.
I am probably the healthiest person to be medically separated from Peace Corps service. I feel great, and the condition is easily treatable. None the less, when Peace Corps decides that a volunteer needs to leave, they waste no time. I found out this news on Monday and boarded a plane back to the States on Friday.
Saying rushed goodbyes and leaving projects unfinished in my community is not how I expected to end my service. However, my community was amazingly understanding and generous. With just a few hours notice, they put together a farewell party. They cooked a feast of chicken and rice for 80 people, and I brought in pizza, a first for my village in the jungle.
During this impromptu farewell party, several members of the community gave touching speeches. It cracked me up that during my mini speech, many members of the village took pictures with their camera phones.
I am going to miss my community tremendously. Here are some photos of some of my friends.
Amelia and her daughter Keri ------------->
Girlscouts Erica, Daris, and Anabel ----->
The 2 Deborahs ------------------>
Norberto the Treasurer ----->
My surprise final week in Panama would have been an overwhelming and miserable experience if it were not for the help and support of one of my best Peace Corps buds. As soon as I received the bad news that I would be leaving, Emily hopped on a bus and spent time helping me pack and keeping me from panicking. I am forever grateful for her help and friendship.
This concludes my adventure in Panama. It has been quite an experience: Training the villagers to use a computer, teaching HIV/AIDS awareness, showing James Bond on a big-screen in the village, practicing English with students, teaching Personal Finance, throwing a pizza party, living without water and electricity on some days, enhancing Accounting and Marketing practices, and developing and then conquering a fear of crocodiles. I heard a doctor on the show Doctor 90210 say about his trip to help Mexican children, "I came here to help the children and had no idea how much I would help myself." Ha, I think he meant to say how much they would help him, which is how I feel about my experience in Parara Puru, Panama. My perspectives on work, family, money, food, friends, and school to name a few have changed drastically. The village has become a second family to me, and hopefully I will have made a lasting effect in the community as the community has done for me internally. As chief Claudio says, "It's not goodbye, it's see you later." Bia Bua.
