features : spring 2013
It ’ s that magical time of year : when you smell fresh cut grass for the first time , the flowers begin peeking out of their beds with timid hopes of sunshine , and buds on the trees slowly , cautiously , begin to sprout and blossom in the warmth of winter ’ s end . It ’ s spring , and with all its joys comes the annual season of cleaning . For some volunteers , this spring cleaning will be especially sobering .
“ You can get most everything you ’ ll need when you get here . Bring with you the things that they don ’ t have here – quality winter clothing , good boots , your favorite shampoo . If you like to cook , bring things like peanut butter , chocolate chips , taco seasoning .”
This was the advice given to me by a MAK14 almost two years ago . I was home , trying to figure out how to arrange everything I would need for two years into two suitcases . At the time it seemed unfathomable – I was heading into the unknown for what felt like a huge portion of my life , and I wanted to be prepared for anything that might happen . I knew I would be a TEFL in a primary school , but didn ’ t know which grades I ’ d be teaching . Should I bring books ? Markers ? Crayons ? Materials for arts and crafts ? It was the unknown that made me question every single item I packed .
Indeed , we were able to get everything we needed here , and a lot of us did . Many of us
even got things that were not needed ( MC Hammer pants , anyone ?). Now it seems equally unfathomable to box it all up after two years and get back on a plane for the return trip home .
Our service here has been an eternity in the blink of an eye , and again we ’ re faced with the daunting task of squeezing a large portion of our lives into two suitcases . The first time we did this , we knew that we ’ d be coming back home in 27 months . But this time there is no return date stamped on our future . Some will extend , go to another part of the world , begin a career or start a family . Why does packing to go back home feel so foreign ?
There are many ways to get rid of all the excessive stuff we have accumulated during our service . TEFLs can donate any materials they brought for work to their local school , American Corner and / or library . This goes for books and magazines as well .
Incoming PCVs are a great way to increase suitcase
I have learned and gained so m the material things I fretted mean nothing
By Rebecca Reeves , MAK 16
38 – Pauza Magazine