Last Post from Site

In September, 2007 we had been "at site" five months. I was having a very bad day. I wanted to go home, I was lonely, I hated being a Stupid Peace Corps Volunteer in Stupid Romania. The only thing I'd accomplished was getting a grant for the Teachers Association from the U. S. Embassy. I couldn't even help with it because I barely spoke Romanian. Nothing else was working.

Then, as I walked to our apartment, I stepped in freshly poured wet cement on the sidewalk. It was the crowning humiliation. When I arrived, I said to Dennis, "Okay. I've written a grant for the teachers and I left my footprint in the cement. Isn't that enough? Can I go home now?" Dennis was extremely sympathetic because he felt the same way. But we'd waited 30 years to do Peace Corps service. We didn't go home.

Here is my footprint in the cement, at the toe of my shoe.

From blog pix, Jan 09

Since that day, when people came to visit us in Suceava, I showed them my footprint. I'd say, "See. I've left my footprint. Isn't that good enough?" One volunteer even said, "I was inspired to work on a project because I knew Holly left her footprint, and I wanted to leave one as well."

Eventually that footprint became a metaphor for our time here.

Carmen, a school counselor, told me about a workshop for some students. She was angry because the boys in the group kept picking on the girls. She couldn't get the boys to stop or the girls to speak up. I said, "When we have workshops like that, we separate the girls from the boys. Then the girls get more out of it." She stared at me. "That is a wonderful idea! I will do just that next time."

Ka-ching. Footprint!

A group of teachers were organizing certificates for students according to the school of the child, and putting the certificates to each school in an envelope. When we got to over 20 envelopes I sorted them alphabetically. The teachers at first were a little alarmed. "What did you do?" I showed them. They said, "Wow! That's a great idea! This will make the job easier!"

Ka-ching. Footprint.

The young people at Dennis's office were offended when he corrected a translated word. They had used "manifestation" to talk about a meeting or conference. He said, "That word doesn't work." They argued, "But it's in the dictionary." Dennis said, "Maybe it's in the dictionary, but trust me, no one will know what you mean. For us this word means something about ghosts." A year later he said, "I haven't seen the word 'manifestation' for months!"

Ka-ching. Footprint!

One of the hardest things about Peace Corps service is wondering whether the service mattered or not. The challenges are so huge: language, culture, harassment, travel, constant surprises. We can write up lots of reports, but we still wonder whether we made any difference. But I am one of the lucky volunteers; I leave my footprint and a whole lot more.

Today, my last day in Suceava, two years of memories crowd around me like needy children. They want to be recognized. While I, my friends, I still just want to go home.

Ka-ching!