Reflections - One Year After My Return From Kenya

Reflections - One Year After My Return From Kenya 08/10/2011

It's now been one year since I left Kenya and arrived back in the United States, back in New Mexico. That just doesn't seem possible! Up until a month ago (heck maybe even two weeks ago lol) if someone asked me how long I've been back from Kenya, I told them, "oh a few months." I guess I've been in denial about how long I've been back in the States! And still, not a day goes by that I don't think about my YAV year.
It's hard to believe it's been a year, but I guess I have done quite a bit. Since I returned, I have caught up with many friends, shared my experiences from my YAV year, made new friends, reunited with YAVs and YAVA at the re-entry retreat at Ghost Ranch, volunteered for almost a year at Menaul School, returned to the session at Covenant Presbyterian and became the chair of the Mission Committee, took a class in the Public Administration program at UNM (getting ready to go back full time in a couple weeks), gone on two mission trips, seen fellow KenYAV, Jacob, get married and Kenya roomie, Lauren, graduate from seminary in Atlanta, gone on many hikes, played some tennis, begun job searching, and had many late night chat sessions, skype calls, and phone calls with folks on the other side of the globe, among other things.
Many people have asked me questions like 'how have you changed as a result of your YAV year?', or 'what things seemed odd or different in the US upon your return?' and 'did you enjoy your time there and do you want to go back?' Let me start off my responses to these questions by saying I absolutely LOVED my YAV year in Kenya; it was the best year of my life, and of course I want to go back!
To the question about what things seemed odd or different - I've heard lots of people say that grocery stores in the US seemed strange/overwhelming after returning from a volunteer year in another country. I can't say that I had that difficult of a time with grocery stores. However, what does bother me, which I never put much thought into before, are those self-storage places...everywhere! It's rather disturbing really. I admit, I am totally guilty of having WAY too much stuff (something I've been trying to remedy as of late) - I am terrible at getting rid of things - but it makes me a little sick that we Americans have so much stuff that there is a "need" for a self-storage facility on every other corner!
Something else I noticed upon my return was the positive attitude of Kenyans. I noticed it right away and it's actually something I had a bit of a hard time re-adjusting to when I came back to the US. Kenyans, and really most of the people I met throughout East Africa, are so optimistic, not to mention welcoming. So even though I wouldn't say that Americans are necessarily pessimistic, it was a bit of an adjustment after spending a year with Kenyans!
And now to address probably the most commonly asked question...how have I changed as a result of my YAV year...This is a very tough question and one I don't think I'll be able to completely answer any time soon - it is, after all, "a year of service for a lifetime of change", right?
1) I certainly look at church differently now. I will never think an hour and fifteen minute service is long again! But seriously, I do view almost everything about church a bit differently as a result of my YAV year; from services and sermons, the music, and what we do as a church community.
2) I think I'm a little more laidback now than I was before and maybe a bit more confident.
3) I am a bit more intentional in what I do and what I agree to do. I no longer say yes to everything or take on as much as before...it's just not necessary and it causes you to miss out on so much!
4) I am more grateful for what I have and the gifts I've been given, though I still don't take time to think about that enough, unfortunately.
5) I do a better job at keeping up with what is going on around the rest of the world.
6) I am always thinking about where I should go next and when/how that will be possible.
I'm sure there are many other things that have changed in me and things that others have noticed that I have not, but that's just a few. In the end, though, I'm still a work in progress. I'm doing my best, but I'm still striving to really be the person I want to be, I suppose.
And to end this blog entry, I must say some thank you's. Thank you to my wonderful family who supported me before, during, and in the year since my YAV year. Thank you to my Covenant and PSF church families who made my YAV year possible and have been so supportive since I returned. Thank you to all my friends who wrote to me and kept up with me while I was in Kenya and have, since I returned, listened to my stories and put up with me every time I've said, "this one time, in Kenya..." Thank you to my YAV family - Phyllis, Whitney, Deanna, Mara, Josh, and, Jacob (thank you all for putting up with me lol and for being such an amazing group of friends/support system); Nancy and Shelvis; all the YAVs who went places other than Kenya in 2009-2010, the YAV staff and YAVA. Thank you to my Kenya roomie, Lauren; you were the best roommate I could've asked for and my YAV year wouldn't have been the same without you! Thank you to my amazing co-workers at CWSEA who taught me so much and always put a smile on my face! Thank you to my Kenyan family and to all the Loresho folks -there are too many of you to name, but you know who you are :) ; I have so many wonderful and hilarious memories with you all and I miss our Sunday gatherings! Thank you to all of the other friends I made throughout the year - Naomi, Kevin, Benjamin, Anselm, and so many more (sorry if I've left someone out, it was certainly not on purpose)! And thank you to all of the incredible people I met through my work at CWSEA; Matt in the NY office, everyone I worked with at the partner organizations, and all the beautiful people I met in the communities with which CWSEA works. I am grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you!!!