‘Welp… See You Later…’

After a 10 hour trip that probably should have taken 5 or 6, I finally arrived at Maxixe. I couldn’t see much out my window since night had fallen quickly only moments before, but that didn’t really matter at all. I was home.

I had watched literally every other volunteer in the car (all 6) shove off one by one, their faces full of optimism, confusion, and utter terror all at the same time. I think it’s safe to say that I myself was very conflicted as well, with as mix of relief and anxiousness every time I found out that I was not the next person to be dropped off to site. Was it really the day?

By the time we had gotten to Maxixe at least I was in the company of a few other volunteers. Emily had to stay in a hotel with the driver and our Portuguese professor (Carlos) because her house still didn’t have a bed (Our organizations are supposed to provide at minimal a bed, a table, and two chairs). Meanwhile, Steph and Becky live a bit more up the road, so they would most likely get to walk me into my new home. Of course, things don’t always go as planned, do they?

As we drove into the city, I could not for the life of me get into contact with my boss. My phone was out of credit, as was my Portuguese teacher’s, so we just went to Steph and Becky’s new place first. After a brief meeting with the principal and other teachers at the school, a nice bumpy ride through the darkness to their house, and the drop off; we finally contacted my boss. The only problem was that the guy Peace Corps had hired to drive the other van had ‘mutinied’ because he was officially way off the clock. So it was me, my Prof, the Peace Corps driver, Em, and the teachers that we had to drop off all packed into the Peace Corps jeep. This topped with my anticipation probably didn’t help my anxiety…

Fast forward a few minutes and I’m standing in front of my work, met by 2 or 3 co-workers and my boss. It’s dark, I don’t know these people, I’m supposed to put my stuff in their car and go drive off with them… needless to say I’m a little scared. I think both Em and my Prof read the look on my face and Em came and sat in the car with me. I don’t think I’ve felt that vulnerable in a long time…

When I got to my house finally, I’m paraded in by all the Peace Corps people as well as my staff and my new neighbor, Vaz. ‘Everything looks good here. It’s time for us to go.’ And with a few handshakes and a hug, I was alone.

My house looked lived in and there was still a bunch of things left behind: stove top with gas, spice rack with spices, chairs, table, straw couch, straw bedroom furniture, and a wooden bed… yes, by most volunteers’ standards, I have it made. Having that stuff was great, yeah, but it didn’t change the fact that I was hungry and it was too late to buy food to cook with. Thank God for Vaz, my 16 year old neighbor/ the mediator between myself and my landlord, who gave me a bowl of rice with a seafood sauce for dinner. He answered all of my immediate questions and worries and told me than if I needed anything, to just holler. After he left I put together my water filter, made up my bed, and as I lay there, I thought… maybe I’m not so alone after all.