I was just looking at my last entry- June 27, 2011- and thinking how so much has changed since then...Two days after I wrote those words I lost my father, Three months later I moved to Philadelphia to spend a year living with my college roommate and serving as an AmeriCorps Volunteer, A year later I moved to Portland Oregon (partially following fellow RPCVS partially needing a complete change of scenery to maintain sanity) and began pursuing a Masters in Applied Anthropology, Three years later I moved back to the Farm in WV to complete my thesis. I have changed so much from all of these things, I have learned the weight of grief - I have driven across the US twice and seen more of my coutnry than ever before - and I acheived a masters degree which has opened my understanding of good community development.

Five years in total have elapsed since I left Malawi, I have changed a lot, and yet it feels like I never left. Once again I am here, alone on a weekend, with little to do besides roaming around and evaluating the number of hobbies I have which can be applied to the down time.

This time around will be different, however, I am working in the third largest city in Malawi (small on a US standard, but there is a grocery store and small expat community). My office has wifi internet which allows me to stay in touch with the States on a regular basis (no streaming videos, but email and messaging are easily used). I have a clear goal - I will be working with a small non-profit and supporting their staff in data collection, program evaluation, creating project systems which allows for strong reports and case studies, leadership and group dynamics support ...

Also, this time I am not completely alone. George will be joining in a couple of weeks- a thought which makes this temporary solo adventure more bearable. I've spent most of life proving my independence, showing myself that I could travel alone. I am done with that and am counting the days till my travel companion joins me.

I will work on reviving this blog over the next year, allowing friends and family back home to keep up with my life here. For now, I am off to the market to sort out a local cell phone and to see how much has changed since I was last here. Stay tuned...