A walk in the {theme} park

Peace Corps service is like a rollercoaster.

Okay, maybe this analogy is as dead as the proverbial horse… but I think it still has merit. The application process is about as close as you can get to waiting in line for the newest thrill at Six Flags. You’re standing there, awkwardly stuck between other hopeful faces, not sure when you’ll get to your destination, if you’ll get the seat in the front car as you so desperately desire, or if you’ll finally get to the front of the line only to find that you’re too short, or the park is closing, or someone threw up all over the tracks and the ride is shut down.

Then, your invitation comes. You accept, and suddenly you’re strapped in, legs dangling, clutching the handles and combating a rush of second thoughts. Is it worth it? What if this is the ride that changes everything? Should you call it all off?

But, eventually you decide that you didn’t wait in line for 3 hours (or 9-12 months…) to get to the front and then quit. So you go for it. You lurch forward and begin your long, clickety-clackety journey up the big hill – otherwise known as Pre-Service Training. PST is full of strange time-warping powers, anticipation of the “real ride”, getting to a place where you can see the view around you, and steeling your stomach for all the butterflies that promise to react to the coming drop. You make it to swearing in – that is, the top of the first big hill. You’re sure it’s all warm fuzziness and dopamine from here on out.

And it is.

And it isn’t.

Because this nearly ends the metaphor. The truth is, the actual ride that is Peace Corps Service does offer a lot of heart stopping, stomach dropping, butterfly fluttering moments. But a lot of days… you feel stuck on the tracks. Like you’re not going anywhere. So you call maintenance (cleverly disguised as fellow PCVs, friends and family) and get moving again. It can take a while, but it’ll happen.

And last of all, just like a roller coaster... I have a feeling that it will be over much to soon. And that I will look back on this amazing ride and know that it was worth the time and the price it cost to get here.