Purple Blossoms

I went to Nairobi this week to greet the new group of education trainees. I still cant believe its almost been a whole yr since I was in their shoes. As I watch my favorite purple blossoms fall off the trees, I am taken back to this time last year. Still packing with my mom the night before, saying goodbye to my family and friends at the airport, meeting the group of people I would come to rely upon, getting off the plane in Nairobi, feeling sick to my stomach, and asking myself about 1000 times what I have gotten myself in for. Sometimes, I feel like the year has just gone by so fast and yet I remember days when I felt it would never end. As the new trainees and “seasoned” volunteers( It still feels weird to say it) sit down for their first dinner in country, I am bombarded with questions. Some are the exact same questions I asked the volunteers who were there to greet us and I feel honored to be in this position, being the one who is the expert. I enjoyed seeing their faces as they went through the emotions of arriving in country. One of the "new" trainees isn't new at all but an extending PCV from the Caribbean. It was nice to be able to talk to him about what his second year was like, what the options are after you finish you service. It was entertaining to see the trainees asking us questions and the seasoned volunteers asking the extending volunteer/trainee questions. We spend the next day and night sharing stories and experiences, giving lessons on how to use the choo, what their host families will be like and words of encouragement and wisdom for what is to come next. For them, 2 months of rigorous training and the chance to be something bigger than themselves. For me….we shall see…maybe a extension in the Caribbean. This year has been filled with ups and downs. Personally I wish it would stop and give me a break but then that wouldnt be peace corps. I don’t know what is to come next for me or what this year will hold. All I can do is take it day by day, do my best and enjoy my final year in Kenya