Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Just imaging the David Bowie song running through my mind. Change is on everyone's mind here in Guatemala. First on the list is the president and lots of local governments that changed over just last week. No word yet on repercussions from this change. I did get to see the loud parade in which the new mayor marched to the municipal building in town. Word on the street (chisme of course) is that the old mayor refused to personally and officially "entregar" (kind of like to give) his position to the new mayor. He really is a douchebag (I know it's a bit of a vulgar choice, but that word is what I think of everytime I see him). I am glad the people of my town decided that his corruption needed to be ended. No word yet on whether or not the muni workers I got to know this past year will be able to stick around. The new president has already started talking about changes, such as decriminalizing drugs. I also think he's started cracking down a little on the narcos. Lots of things to be done so hopefully he can bring about some quick positive change here in Guatemala, just minus the military taking over.

And the thing is, I won't get to see how many of the new changes shape up. Because...I will be leaving in a month. Peace Corps Guatemala is implementing some new policies and are shaping the volunteer population here in Guatemala to match new requirements handed down by those mysterious people heading this agency. All of the volunteers in my training group, the group scheduled to head out March 25th, were emailed about a meeting on Friday evening of last week. We were only given the information that this meeting would concern our COS date and the fact that we were required to take private pullmans (private buses-a much safer and less anxiety-inducing option than chicken buses) to the PC central office. So on Monday night I arrived and on Tuesday they dropped the bomb-we were being sent home one month early. To a lot of people outside of Peace Corps, a month doesn't seem like a lot. For me personally, I was planning on going home a few weeks early, in the second week of March, to visit some schools and start to make up my mind of where I will be next year. But a lot goes on in the last months of service. There are a lot of good-byes to be said, paperwork to fill out, plans to leave behind and parasites to weed out (and for me, probably some cavities to fill). I have a month in site (from yesterday) to finish everything up, with the last week a bevy of stool samples to drop off and forms to fill out and have signed, as well as a COS conference to attend. So I'm out of site on February 20th and I am expecting to fly home February 24th. For a lot of volunteers in my group, that's just too soon. There are still projects going on, chorros and stoves (and who knows what else) that were to be built up until the end of March. However, there is no option to extend as a PC volunteer. Anyone wishing to stay will have to do so on their own dime and with their own health insurance (after the month we are given through the insurance we currently have) and without the support Peace Corps has offered us here. This decision has created a lot of disenchantment and distrust between volunteers and staff, which only became greater after the news that came just two days ago.

Volunteers scheduled to end their service in July will be ending in March, a cut of 4 months. And sites in certain areas will be closed down. Communities will be left high and dry, volunteers will have to make the hard choice of living and working in a new site for a year or so or leaving for the States way ahead of schedule. I'm sure the population of volunteers will shrink drastically, which may lead to cuts of Peace Corps staff. It's just a bad situation all around and a lot of volunteers are upset. My site will still be open to any volunteers requesting a site change, but it seems like most volunteers being moved are choosing to return to the States.

So this is the news and those are the changes. Everyone is still in processing mode. There will be a meeting for all volunteers next week where we can talk to some of those mysterious decision-makers in Washington and hear what they have to say. Communication has been a bit vague here on the ground so it will be nice to get some answers. I'm worried there's going to be a lot of anger and animosity at this meeting. I guess we'll see.

On a happier side, I want to give a shout out to my friend Shaina for the lovely package she sent. Shaina, I know you read this blog so I just want to say thanks! The package came at just the right time, just as things here are getting a little depressing. The UNO will be appreciated by the kids and cousins in the family!

Hope all is well States-side. It's hard to believe that in just a short month I will be leaving what has become my home over two years to what will be home for the next five months or so. And just in time for lots of political ads-woo hoo! (kidding)