Less than 1 year left in Ghana

On Thursday Peace Corps Ghana swore in the new group of 72 volunteers. I went to the swearing in for a couple of reasons, I wanted to see my friends who I had not seen in months, I wanted to meet the new group coming in and see where they were going. It was great to see the new group of volunteers and absorb some of their enthusiasm.

After being at site for a year, I needed to be reminded of the joy that I first felt when I was sworn in. I still love being here and would not trade my site for anyone other one. But like every other job there are days when you wonder what the hell you are doing, and it is a little worse when you are in a foreign country and don't really blend in. Lets face it this is not a "Where's Waldo" book.

So of the 72 new volunteers at least 14 are coming to my region and I have two new neighbors within 10 minutes of my house. It is going to make my last 11 months at site a little different. I have become so used to being the only white person out of 17,000 people and now there will be three of us. Having so many new volunteers in the Eastern Region will make going to bead market on Thursdays interesting. Our usual lunch meeting after market will now be so big that we are going to need the private room in either Chris' Cafe or Linda Dors. They may also take up most of the Vodophone cafe. I think Koforidua is going to love having all of these volunteers in the area.

Swearing in also meant that I have less than one year left in Ghana. My Peace Corps ID expires on August 11, 2012 so I guess that means that I have to be done with my job here by then. I am not quite sure how I feel about that.

I have talked to the volunteers who are getting ready to go home and they say that their second year flew by. I can't imagine that it can go any faster than my first but if it does than I am in trouble.

I have started to get my site ready for my departure (I know that it is early but I am the last volunteer that they are going to put here). We have hired someone to take my place when I leave and I have started to train him and I think he will do great.

Now I just have to start to think about what I want to do when this great adventure is over in 11 months. Any ideas?