Post YAGM Re-Entry.

Today, I got to be part of a very special moment at work. As I walked in the door, I looked at my co-worker and noticed that she was ready something on the computer with a very strange expression on her face. When I asked what was up, she said she just received an...interesting email. Once the room was clear, I asked her what the email said and she showed me...

It was a placement email from The Peace Corps for her to go Malawi this next March.

I was so completely excited for her. I got to witness this girl go through the terror, excitement, and wonder of what an email like that holds. I couldn't help but remember back to when I got my email from YAGM. I cried. I didn't know what else to do. My co-worker did the very same thing. Every feeling I felt in the moment rushed back and I felt incredibly honored to be in the same room as my co-worker experienced something similar.

As we sat there and talked about what this could mean, I couldn't help but be extremely jealous of this girl.

There are so many people, places, and things that I love in Edinburgh and the UK as a whole and I wish I could go back for just a week to experience them again. And on top of that, I feel like I'm in the midst of such an incredibly strange time.

I'm loving my time in Missoula. I'm loving seeing dear friends and family in the States. I love so many things about life right now, but I'm also in a weird state of trying to figure out where I am, what I'm doing, and what the future holds. Reverse culture shock is a strange and very real thing. It's not just about the culture of a place (i.e. completely different customs, language, etc) but also about the life you lived there. And believe me, it was a real life. There was joy and pain and so many little things that made up something completely jumbled and beautiful.

I didn't actually realize any of this until attending our YAGM Re-Entry Retreat a few weeks ago. I have been so busy with weddings, seeing family and friends, getting a new job, and moving to notice or give myself time to process this HUGE, life-changing thing that just happened.

So here I am. In the midst of a journey of a new place as well as navigating a state of grieving. It's a strange mixture of complete happiness and utter sadness, but I've got some sweet support.

Life is good and I'm enjoying the ride.