Crossing Over

Peace Corps volunteers, or at least my colleagues and I, see the grass as greener on whatever side of the fence we happen to be on at the moment. In the city, basking in running water, electricity, and food we do not have to cook, we always feel a little apprehension the day before we head back to the jungle, even after a year of having lived there. As soon as we arrive in our villages, however, we never want to leave. The faces of friends lighting up as they see us makes it all worth it. The glassy, dark river flowing through the rain forest, the constant songs of exotic birds, and the smell of jasmine in the cool of the morning more than make up for air conditioning and fast food.

Having assimilated into a new environment, the complexity of life and the comforts we have in the States are so different than what I am used to in Suriname that it is disorienting even to think about returning next year. Crossing over into another way of life, whether two hundred or two thousand miles away, is always difficult, and I have been doing it since I was six months old.

We get accustomed to what we know, but it is surprising how quickly people can adapt to new situations. Enjoying where we live and approaching challenges with resourcefulness is the key. An optimist sees the glass as half full, a pessimist sees the glass as half empty, and a Peace Corps volunteer sees the glass and thinks, “hey I could take a bath in that!”