Emotional Roller Coaster and Question Box

My next two years are going to be an intense emotional roller coaster. I want to warn all of you right now. I am incredibly happy at the moment but everyone who does Study Abroad, or the Peace Corps, or other experiences that stretch them, take them to new places and replaces all the familiar things in their lives go through these ups and downs. I am forewarning that I will not hide my moments of doubt and depression on this blog. That also doesn’t mean that I’m going to run home as soon as I’m afraid or struggling or doubting myself. I want to give a realistic view of what my life really is, without sugar coating it. Generally people start feeling home sick somewhere in the first two months, again when they move to site and definitely right around the year mark. It’s not set in stone but there is a pattern to our group highs and lows. Half the battle is understanding what is normal to feel and understanding that you aren’t alone. So I’m watching out for my first moments of doubt…
I also want everyone to recognize that this blog is mine alone. I am just one person, with one perspective, having a very specific experience. By no means do I want you to think I represent the complete Peace Corps experience or that my opinions are fact here. I am living in one part of Rwanda with my own biases, my own background, my own emotional triggers. That being said, I’d like to share what I can with all of you and make this blog a two way conversation (or should I say a 50 way conversation ☺). If you have questions you’d like me to answer, post a comment. Or email me and I’ll try to address them for everyone to hear the answer. I might hang onto them until I feel that I can answer them more fully, but I will definitely try. No question is too stupid or too personal to ask. When else are you going to know someone living in Rwanda!