The last day...

It’s hard to believe at 10:00 a.m. today I will finishing my Peace Corps Service.  The past three years have FLOWN by.  It has been a transformative experience to live and work here in Guatemala, an experience which was hard, incredibly hard but also incredibly rewarding.  In honor of this, my last day, I would like to thank all of the people far away who made it possible…

My parents:  Mamacita y Papi, you two were my saving grace throughout my time here, I would not have made it this far without you…. You were the first to come and visit, your emails dad, your 5am calls mom.  I love you both!

My sisters:  Sommer, Nicole, you both wrote me funny emails to check in and make sure I was alive, sometimes a Peace Corps Volunteer just needs to see her sister’s names in her inbox and that helps her get through the day!  And to Jenny, who has been there for me every Thursday at the break of dawn to make me late for work (and to my bro in law, who turns a blind eye to the phone bill!)  I love you all!

The sobrinos: Gavin, Karin, Bennyboo, Lilis and Winny!  Thanks, for the cuteness, letters and drawings…

My Aunts and Uncles: Jim and Nancy, my tios locos who believe in the healing power of natural water and who check my blog more than I do!  Leslie, who sends me postcards from all over the world and is never too busy for her niece.  Vicky, who writes me the most amazing emails just to let me know that she was thinking of me.  Stevie, who has a way of making me feel like I’m loved even from far away.

My Grandma:  This amazing lady who I save up minutes to call once a month (because we chat for like two hours)!  She always tells me how proud she is of me, which sometimes I just need to hear.  And we always find similarities of her childhood on a farm in Wisconsin and the highlands of Guatemala.  Thanks grams!

My Friends: My lades: Kate, Laura, Christina, you are my conscience, my good side, and my laughs.  Allie and Katherine, even though we’re terrible at staying touch, I know you’re there and that’s enough (and you both came to CLEVELAND just to see me when I came home to visit).