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The interesting thing about being a Peace Corps Volunteer is that you, honestly, have NO IDEA what you are getting yourself into! Will your 27 months of service be the most fulfilling and rewarding work of your life, or the most extreme disaster you've ever encountered? For me, it’s been an even mixture of both. So much so, that I've never been more challenged physically, socially, professionally, mentally, and emotionally as I've been since stepping foot in the country last July.

I've seen some of the most beautiful landscapes and sunsets.

I've met some of the funniest, smartest, annoying people.

I've tasted some of the most extreme foods (ex. bugs, chicken intestines, homemade wine, etc).

I've smelled some of the most HORRIFIC body odor.

I think what’s affected me the most is how I've experienced senseless violence against people close to me. Last month I lost my 16 year host brother to an altercation with a 17 year old that ended up with Diakano stabbed in the heart. And today I learned that my 39 year old host father from my training village (I lived with this family for 2 months) was shot and killed yesterday.

Chicco and his wife, Lydia, are small business owners which makes them targets in their small village. Chicco was shot several months ago in his home. The shooter wanted his money. I don't have all the details of this shooting, but Im going to go ahead and guess that it involved robbery.

I haven't had a "normal" week in my village in months!

On a (VERY) positive note: I'm visiting home for three weeks during the June/July school break. I can't wait to see my family and friends.

Who would've thought a Southern girl from the suburbs would be living this surreal life in another country. From one day to the next, I'm experiencing a variety of emotions: anger, elation, pain, frustration, excitement, mistrust, confusion.....

I'm so curious (and somewhat scared) to see what’s next......