"The Hardest Job You'll Ever Love"

As of today, I will have spent 212 days living in Fiji. This period encompasses six months of training and cultural immersion, followed by one month of actively engaging in the projects we were invited here to work on.

For this update, I'd like to provide insight into what the Peace Corps terms the "Cycle of Vulnerability and Adjustment" and where I currently fall in that timeline.

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"Vulnerability is the only authentic state. Being vulnerable means being open, for wounding, but also for pleasure. Being open to the wounds of life means also being open to the bounty and beauty. Don't mask or deny your vulnerability: it is your greatest asset." - Stephen Russell

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor E. Frankl

From peacecorpsinparadise.wordpress.com

This visual representation outlines the typical emotional journey of a Peace Corps volunteer, starting from departure from the U.S. to their eventual return. As you can see above, I find myself emerging from a vulnerable phase and moving into a 6-12 month 'Adjustment' period (the second green box from the left). Although this generalized graph was not made to represent my specific journey, the line is fairly representative of my highs and lows in service. From the excitement of being in a new country to my first health challenges to the regression I experienced after moving to my 2-year site to now, the uplifted mood I feel from settling in.

Furthermore, I believe the description of the phase I'm currently experiencing is quite accurate for both the positives and the negatives.

The Peace Corps' former tagline stated that the service would be the toughest job you'd ever love. I admit, I couldn't have grasped its true meaning before living through it, even though I tried. Attempting to even capture this personal journey is a challenge due to the complexity of experiences happening simultaneously.

 With that said, I thought that this graphic could be a great tool for anyone who is interested in learning more about the personal challenges a volunteer may face. As many of us already understand, community development work includes you in the community - your personal development equips you to encourage others to develop their capacity too.