Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The Thought of Coming Home...




Before I left, Freddy Newburger a US Veteran of World War Two I interviewed told me that ¨2 years isn´t an afternoon.¨ He was right.

In two years a LOT has changed. Matthew bécame a doctor, Katherine and Duffy got engaged, married and Matthew and Jessica got engaged. Mom and dad celebrated 30 years together. When I arrived Antonela was 1 and now she´s 4, when I came she stared and said a few words, she now talks, argues, plays, dances marinera and takes clases in Italian! Buon Giorno!

On the world stage much has changed and stayed the same. Americans will have a more secure health care plan but continually struggle against an Economic depression that won´t budge. The Middle East celebrated the Arab Spring at the same time Syria continues to shed its blood. Peru elected a new reformer president but continues  to  struggle against an international mining crisis as old as the conquistadores themselves.

But here I still am, with my feet on the ground, one more time in Yanacoto. Many times before, during and after your service you may be questioned (and you´re often the one asking it), what have you done?
But if there´s one thing you learn especially, it´s that real change takes time. One step at a time, most things stay the same but if you stay determined  you can actually move the marker even just a bit. Oh yeah and you can´t even get that far without great friends.

2 years 2 months later and I´m ready to get on another flight. Same as last time, I´m anxious and unsure about what is to come, but a little more confident in myself, and ready to take that next step. But for now I´ll leave with the words that I saw in action every day for the past two years and two months:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead

Thanks for reading for the two years, and now I´m ready to share and hear your stories in person.

With deep gratitude and love for all those have supported me during these two years,

Un Abrazo,

Vermont2PeruBack2Vermont,

John William Meyer