If you've ever been in a place that you don't know the language or culture, you'll know this feeling. Imagine being constantly surrounded by people but being unable to truly communicate with them. That is what is happening to us here. We are walking by tons of people every day but man are we so different. Things like island time, that drives some of us crazy, is natural to the locals and they just don't why it makes us a bit cross (angry).
Our world is so diverse and different. Even among each other (peace corps trainees) we are so different. I'm one of the few in our group who is religious. Also I come from a lower class family who have busted their ass to make middle class standing and I'm surrounded by a few who come from very very well-off families and it shows. Also, our group has a LOT who are fresh out of college and I've been working in industry for 5 years. We also have 4 married couples. Our group is so diverse in itself. So even though it's rare that I'm not surrounded by someone I have found myself on a few occasions feeling completely alone. But I felt moments of that back in the states; we all have.
My question for you all is how have you dealt with those moments in your life?
Until next time
Jump In The Jungle
I have felt this way many times in my life. I now deal with it by focusing on the people I do have no matter how far away they are. I start with Heavenly Father because he is always with us and will never leave us. So even when you feel like you are all alone, know He is with you. Then think of your friends and family who are with you in Vanuatu in spirit. Think of all the people from the US and from the PC who love you dearly. I just had one of these alone moments about a week ago. I have lost touch with all of my friends from high school and college as well as most of my friends from the singles ward. I don't really have any adult friends in our ward. I was throwing a pity party for myself. Then I thought about who I do have. I might not have a large quantity of friends but I have the best quality. People like you who even though we don't connect as often as we should, I know you are always there to listen and understand and you would do anything for the ones you love! You have people like that in your life as well :) I have a family. A very large family. I think sometimes we get so down thinking about the lack of friends that we forget family is the friends we had before we knew what friends were. They are the ones that will truly always be there. As I thought about how alone I feel in our ward and how I wish I could have friends like the other women do I realized I have the best friends. My three year old are the best kids ever! One of them loves to hug me and tell me she loves me every 5 minutes. Melts my heart every time! Why would I want to trade that? My little nursery kids that even though I don't teach them any more they still get excited when I pop in for a visit. My eight year old boys that even though they might not listen to me at Cubs on Wednesday nights they will seek me out on Sundays just to tell me hello. I have friends. More friends than I realize. They might not be the friends I would have imagined and others might not see them as my friends, but they are. Each in the own special way. Sorry for the long response but this is something I have thought about a lot over the last week. I love you! Your friend, Mary!
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