Heart Strings

Something has been tugging the past few days and I can't put my finger on it. Maybe I am having sympathy seasonal depression for all of you that are up in the frigid north.

Maybe it is because we've already began a transitional period, but it seems early to be mourning my limited time in village.

Maybe it is because I am wrapping up a particularly difficult year. I am definitely ready to close the chapter on 2011.

Either way, it is weird because I was just feeling great I had a great vacation in August, attended an awesome conference about malaria in September and have been busy, busy ever since. The beauty of the second year is although you are a bit jaded, you now know the system and how to get work done. My counterparts are starting to suggest projects of their own accord. Oh, and it is so cold at night I have to sleep with a blanket inside of my house.

Standing at the cusp of 2012, I also have tentative plans up to 2013 (something that anyone who knows me recognizes as a very positive thing for my type A personality). For the first time in my Peace Corps experience I am starting to emphasize my limited plans for fun. We are given vacation days, after all.

I suppose it could be the holiday season, something I've never been particularly fond of because of the stress of expectation that is placed on it. Although, I don't have many seasonal expectations when it feels like August in Seattle.

Missing the people I left back home is pretty much a given. I'd be heartless (or maybe distracted) if that wasn't on my mind. Although about mid-service the letters and emails from friends become a bit sparse (hint, hint).

Maybe it was all of those things, because I feel better after typing it all out.

Well, time for another sunny day in the land of perpetual summer.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Airtel Burkina Faso.