Dear Rylie,
You have been talking about Uganda for six months. Whenever you get asked about the "next step" you simply say, "I'm moving to Uganda to serve in the peace corps." They exclaim, "Uganda!" and look at you with uncertainty. An array of specific questions ensue. Will you have wifi, water, electricity? You can only answer, "I have no idea." This further confirms the fact that yes, you are crazy in their eyes. For a second you wonder if they are right. But then you remember that it would be truly crazy if you decided to not go. So you just smile and say, "it's going to be amazing. I can't wait"
Step 1: Saying Goodbye
You are at the airport. This is the first time you have carried all of your bags by yourself. You wobble to the check in desk. Your mom and sister watch you stand in the security line for 30 minutes, waving and taking pictures. You finally get through and lose sight of your family, You are alone.
Step 2: Staging
You will go to the wrong Hyatt after leaving the Washington DC airport. But you resourcefully find the correct hotel and head to your room. You meet your first fellow PCT, Hayley. You will discuss what business casual means and then a knock from the adjoining room interrupts you. Hayley opens the door to someone named Bobby. "Peace corps?" He asks. "I heard you guys talking about business casual." You feel like everything is going to be okay.
Step 3: The Journey
After 2 days of ice breakers and last minute trips to Walmart, you will finally get on a plane. You will remember landing in Ethiopia and hearing the results of the presidential election. Your cohort boards the last flight to Uganda and upon landing you discover that everyone's bags are accounted for.
Step 4: Uganda
The bus ride to the training center is euphoric. You will be mesmerized by the red dirt, blue skies and green trees. You will not be able to close your eyes as you pass the colorful store fronts and hundreds of people. Because you did not sleep on the bus, you will get really dizzy and almost pass out during dinner. You will sleep for 12 hours and be fine.
Step 5: Cohort Love
You will understand what one of the returned peace corps volunteers meant at staging when she said you will experience every single emotion over the course of an hour. You are happy, sad, confused, awestruck, overwhelmed and exhausted all the time. Being around all of these people will suck the energy out of you. You might hide from them in your room in between sessions.
Eventually you let your guard down and realize that the people surrounding you are incredible humans. You recognize that your cohort is so diverse, yet there is a part in each of you that is the same. There is kind heartedness, self awareness, and a desire to make an impact. A thirst for the unconventional. You remember all of the people who exclaimed "Uganda!" And put a crazy check mark by your name. You concede. Maybe I am crazy, but I am with my people, I am not alone.