Life in August

So I'm sure that everyone is dying to know what I've been up to since I've gotten back home in mid-June, right?  I mean, you all must just be breathless - what is Mark doing to give his life meaning now?  Has he had a nervous breakdown yet in a grocery store?  Or has he alienated all his friends by constantly comparing America to Guyana?

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I haven't been involuntarily locked up for my own mental health or lost too many friends because of constant Guyana yapping.  I've actually been pretty much fine since I've come back.  Not only that, but I've slipped right back into "normal" American life, for better or worse.  Gotta go to the department store to buy something?  No problem; I won't freak out.  Make a run to Costco?  I can handle those massive tubs of mayo just as well now as I did before Peace Corps.  I guess what I'm saying is that I haven't had any real re-adjustment issues.  And that includes not needing to constantly talk about Guyana.  Sometimes I can hear myself start to ramble about life in Guyana if I'm not careful.  But I don't have an overwhelming urge to tell everyone I meet on the street what I've been doing for the past two years.

So I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm going to grad school this fall, so I've been able to just relax this summer and not worry about getting a job.  It's been fantastic.  I've seen lots of friends and family.  It's great to catch up with people and know that I wasn't completely forgotten.  I've also been in touch with my host family in Guyana.  They say that the newest Peace Corps volunteers in my old area get asked about me (i.e. "did you know Mark?").  I remember going through that when I first showed up.  Everyone assumes that you knew the previous volunteer (and sometimes that you are related to him or her).  It can be a bit oppressive at first, because the old volunteer can often seem like they walked on water by the way people can talk about them.  Let me assure you, it is not true.  But I will admit it is nice to finally be in that position, where I have a bit of a legacy, even if it is small (and exaggerated by most).  And I've heard that the greenhouse I helped build is working really well.  That's always great to hear - sustainability!

Anyways, life is good.  I could turn this blog into what grad school is like, but I think that would a) be boring to everyone and b) be confusing to the people who are looking for stuff on Peace Corps Guyana (all two of them).  So I guess I'll just sporadically update this as Guyana or Peace Corps-related things pop up.  Until next time....