As our time in Ukraine has dwindled down to a mere 3 months, an amount of time that now seems like a joke compared to the original 27, I have had a number of conversations with friends about going home. I think we all finally feel like it is safe to talk about the things we are excited for, knowing that Starbucks Java Chip ice cream, family, and friends are just around the corner. But these conversations always come back to the same questions, why do people say that going home is so difficult, even harder than adjusting to your host country at the beginning of your service? Consistent running water, not to mention hot water, reliable electricity, indoor toilets with plumbing, climate control, personal cars, a variety of ethnic foods. Yeah, sounds really tough. So what gives?
Recently I had the chance to see a former Peace Corps Volunteer from my area. He was a group ahead of me and had terminated his service early to attend graduate school last fall. A summer language program had brought him back to Ukraine. Ironically, to me this PCV never seemed particularly enchanted with his work or his life in Ukraine. But, like many other members of his group once they returned home, his facebook statuses and gchat messages were full of Ukrainian including shout outs for Ukrainian major and minor holidays. It was great to see him and to press him for information about the return home. He told us to keep busy. So it was hard? Yeah, it was. Why? Because, according to him, after you leave, all of the things that were frustrating, all of the low points, all of the unpleasant things fade, and all you are left with are the good things that came from living, working, and learning for over two years in the home that you made for yourself.
While I am sure that this is the case, as with many life experiences, I guess I still don’t quite believe it. It’s not that I will be leaving Ukraine with hard feelings, at least I hope nothing changes drastically in my last three months to change this fact. But I also feel ready for a return to some of the old familiar and ready for something new. I guess time and the language of my facebook status will tell, but here’s to hoping reverse culture shock is nothing more than wondering where all the goats have gone.
