It’s finished. My 27 months in Armenia has wound to a close. The goodbyes were difficult certainly but I think I’m ready to be back. It’s been long enough. In the end I didn’t “change the world” as I initially had expected/hoped, merely nibbled around the edges a bit.
I hated all the clichés attached to the Peace Corps before I left, but some of them do ring true as I reflect initially on my service. I truly did learn a lot more from the people with whom I lived. Not so much from those people directly, but more so just by living in a different culture and thus gaining a different perspective on things. I hope to retain and remember this as I wade back into American life.
I won’t drone on for too long... I’ve already been doing it on this blog for 2 years. I’m not too sentimental about this thing. It was a good time and I will certainly miss the lifestyle of a volunteer. What better than to wake up every morning and in a very basic sense try to help people. That always made up for whatever ‘hardships’ living in a developing country might have posed. I will also miss the friends I made during this time, both Armenian and American.
Lastly, I love being associated with an organization such as the Peace Corps that is putting forth the best face of America in some of the most difficult corners of the world.
Thanks to all those who read this blog. I appreciated all the comments and interest.
Most sincerely,
Dominic Monley
