Today marks a special day. Not a special day in my Peace Corps service but, a day that marks a year of love that was found in the Peace Corps. It's funny really, the reasons we join the Peace Corps, to find greater meaning in our own life, to help the global community on a grass roots level, to foster a better understanding of our nationality abroad while developing our own sense of pride for our homeland and our new home abroad.
I had a laundry list of reasons as to why I wanted to join the Peace Corps and no where on the list was 'to find love'. I was so sure I wouldn't find love that I went out of my way to pack long-lasting, low-maintenance, frump-a-licious clothing, that would later stand in the way of my trying to find a suitable outfit for the rare occurrence of a date night.
As anyone who is in a Peace Corps relationship knows, the frills go out the window from square one. But along with the frills goes the make-up to mask insecurities, the cars that easily transport you to that person 24/7 allowing for quick-to-form dependencies, and the salary that pays for expensive lifestyles that can lead to shallow intentions. And, after all of these factors are taken out one is left with the opportunity to meet a person and get to know them in a unique environment, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy American lives.
Falling in love with an American in Moldova has been one of the best things to happen to me. Meeting that person and knowing they care for you, not because you are wearing nice make-up and own in-style clothing. But, rather share a deep and meaningful connection in the world around you, share a similar temperament and moral compass, while also sharing awesome common interests like travel, finance and delicious food, is a wonderful backdrop to the beginning of a love story.
Our love story by no means is extraordinary and, I won't sit here and ramble with our 'how we met' story. We both regard ourselves as rather average Americans, we both have plenty of flaws that make up the fabric of who we are, Peace Corps has a special way of teaching a person patients and that has helped us both in our own lives and as a couple. We just happen to be two of the lucky ones who found each other, thousands of miles away from home.
Making a two year commitment to Peace Corps is all a part of the journey. And, he had been in the country a year when I arrived. From the start we both questioned whether we were fools for letting ourselves fall in love, knowing we would be a part the following year. We decided to let our hearts command the decision, pushing our (perhaps) better judgement aside. So today, on our one year anniversary, we will sit on opposite sides of the globe. Connected by a shaky stream of internet, we will chat on skype, and play a rousing game of online scrabble. It won't be the anniversary we would wish for but, it will be unique nonetheless.
The year of skype dates has officially commenced.
...No one knows what the future holds but, I do know that I am so lucky to have found a person I love so much and if my luck doesn't run dry this year, our second anniversary together (hopefully in the same place) will be all the sweeter.
Love and peace
I had a laundry list of reasons as to why I wanted to join the Peace Corps and no where on the list was 'to find love'. I was so sure I wouldn't find love that I went out of my way to pack long-lasting, low-maintenance, frump-a-licious clothing, that would later stand in the way of my trying to find a suitable outfit for the rare occurrence of a date night.
As anyone who is in a Peace Corps relationship knows, the frills go out the window from square one. But along with the frills goes the make-up to mask insecurities, the cars that easily transport you to that person 24/7 allowing for quick-to-form dependencies, and the salary that pays for expensive lifestyles that can lead to shallow intentions. And, after all of these factors are taken out one is left with the opportunity to meet a person and get to know them in a unique environment, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy American lives.
Falling in love with an American in Moldova has been one of the best things to happen to me. Meeting that person and knowing they care for you, not because you are wearing nice make-up and own in-style clothing. But, rather share a deep and meaningful connection in the world around you, share a similar temperament and moral compass, while also sharing awesome common interests like travel, finance and delicious food, is a wonderful backdrop to the beginning of a love story.
Our love story by no means is extraordinary and, I won't sit here and ramble with our 'how we met' story. We both regard ourselves as rather average Americans, we both have plenty of flaws that make up the fabric of who we are, Peace Corps has a special way of teaching a person patients and that has helped us both in our own lives and as a couple. We just happen to be two of the lucky ones who found each other, thousands of miles away from home.
Making a two year commitment to Peace Corps is all a part of the journey. And, he had been in the country a year when I arrived. From the start we both questioned whether we were fools for letting ourselves fall in love, knowing we would be a part the following year. We decided to let our hearts command the decision, pushing our (perhaps) better judgement aside. So today, on our one year anniversary, we will sit on opposite sides of the globe. Connected by a shaky stream of internet, we will chat on skype, and play a rousing game of online scrabble. It won't be the anniversary we would wish for but, it will be unique nonetheless.
The year of skype dates has officially commenced.
...No one knows what the future holds but, I do know that I am so lucky to have found a person I love so much and if my luck doesn't run dry this year, our second anniversary together (hopefully in the same place) will be all the sweeter.
Love and peace
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