The decision to serve in the Peace Corps is a hard one, at least it was for us. Among all of the benefits and experiences we knew it would give, there was a looming fear of the commitment. We knew what we could give and gain, but what would we miss? A lot can happen in 27 months. Friends are finishing up graduate school programs, getting great jobs, starting families, and settling down. Nieces and nephews are growing up. New ones are coming. Folks are getting married, moving, and having reunions. A lot has happened already. Like many volunteers, we knew we wouldn't have the resources to make the trips back and planned on staying on this side of the world for a few years.
A month after getting to Morocco, my family received some bad news. My brother was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, spread throughout his brain and spine. The commitment and the distance was larger than ever. Cancer is sort of a scumbag that both stops everyone in their tracks and then says, move along, I'll be here a while. He and his wife went on courageously with treatments, school, and a newly married life. You can follow their story here. We went on taking the private time we could as we went to bed to be able to talk, cry, and Skype for updates after the full days of being with host family, language lessons, and trainings. Those first few months were unsure and unpredictable, but radiation and chemo broke the rest of the year up into scheduled MRI's and decisions based on the results. It was this in December that urged our decision to take emergency leave granted to all volunteers with necessity.
It was a good, long stay that still went by too fast. We are back in Morocco now fighting jet-lag and bacon withdrawals. As we reach the one-year mark today, it is still difficult to look ahead at the possibilities for the year to come. However, I don't know of another way outside of the Peace Corps, in graduate school or other employment, that we would have been able to have this amount of time and travel provided to come and spend this valuable time with family. For that, I am grateful. At risk of crossing our mushy line for saying it, I have the best, most resilient, fun, and supportive people to visit home for. For them, I am most grateful.
You can follow Jared and his wife here. He has people praying for him all over the world, now also to Allah and in Arabic. We'd all appreciate if you sent some light their way too.
A month after getting to Morocco, my family received some bad news. My brother was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, spread throughout his brain and spine. The commitment and the distance was larger than ever. Cancer is sort of a scumbag that both stops everyone in their tracks and then says, move along, I'll be here a while. He and his wife went on courageously with treatments, school, and a newly married life. You can follow their story here. We went on taking the private time we could as we went to bed to be able to talk, cry, and Skype for updates after the full days of being with host family, language lessons, and trainings. Those first few months were unsure and unpredictable, but radiation and chemo broke the rest of the year up into scheduled MRI's and decisions based on the results. It was this in December that urged our decision to take emergency leave granted to all volunteers with necessity.
When there is a family emergency, you or your family can contact an office in Washington D.C. that communicates immediately with your country director, who facilitates your leave. This process for us was incredibly fast and supportive. Depending on available flights, our work schedule, and the schedule of family back home, we left within the week. Peace Corps emergency leave grants 2 weeks including the roundtrip ticket. In addition, there is the option for the country director to approve an additional two weeks of available vacation days. We used all of them to stay the maximum 28 days.
Jared didn't know we were coming so soon, and we surprised him. He then surprised us with his spontaneous graduation we were able to be there for. We had a terrific Christmas Eve and Christmas with fun, food, and traditions. After Christmas, the troops came in for a weekend party with more food and fun. In fact, excepting a few pesky doctor visits, the party didn't stop. New Years. Snow. Movies. Games. Whether it was eating, crying, talking, sitting, or playing, an unseen benefit of living abroad or far from people we care about, is having no room to take them for granted. With both distance and circumstance, the time was fully used and fully appreciated, the only consolation that made returning to Morocco a little easier.
Jared didn't know we were coming so soon, and we surprised him. He then surprised us with his spontaneous graduation we were able to be there for. We had a terrific Christmas Eve and Christmas with fun, food, and traditions. After Christmas, the troops came in for a weekend party with more food and fun. In fact, excepting a few pesky doctor visits, the party didn't stop. New Years. Snow. Movies. Games. Whether it was eating, crying, talking, sitting, or playing, an unseen benefit of living abroad or far from people we care about, is having no room to take them for granted. With both distance and circumstance, the time was fully used and fully appreciated, the only consolation that made returning to Morocco a little easier.
You can follow Jared and his wife here. He has people praying for him all over the world, now also to Allah and in Arabic. We'd all appreciate if you sent some light their way too.
1 comments:
Thanks for sharing that Julie. We are definitely sending prayers towards you and your family. There is nothing worse than be so far away from family when something like this happens. This Monday we got a skype from my parents telling us my cousin passed away from complications from CF. It's one of the hardest things for me not be home with family right now. Love you lots! And we love reading your journey.
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