Was It a Dream?

I'm driving down the street in Phoenix (no - not now - yesterday) and it feels to me like I went to bed last night, had a very vivid dream about going to Ghana for over 2 years, and then woke up this morning still in Phoenix. Did I really go to Ghana? Well, if I didn't, then how did those Ghanaian smocks get into my closet and why don't I own a car anymore?

Yes, I really did go and it was quite the adventure. Now I'm back in the U.S. and, though I'm a bit unsettled because I don't know what's next for me (anybody out there want to hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer??), I have not experienced the difficulties re-entering American society that so many people do. I'm having a great time visiting with friends and family, taking hot showers, eating my way through the country, watching movies, bowling, golfing, enjoying COOL weather, and helping people understand more about Africa, Ghana, and Daboya.

Just to catch you up on some items I left hanging in my last posting:

* I never did get a replacement PCV in Daboya. As a result, I had a good time giving away all of my stuff to people I cared about in the village. Let's all cross our fingers and hope that Daboya does get a Volunteer from the next batch in 2010 if not sooner.

* We did have our Visitors' Centre ceremony. Along with about 400 - 500 folks from Daboya, we also had the District Chief Executive and his entourage, some folks from Tamale and the TV and radio crews. I did hear some radio coverage of it before I left but didn't see us on the TV news. Hopefully that happened after I left. The ceremony started very late as we waited for the TV crew to arrive but was very successful.

* The Daboya Chiefs gave me a going away party and the Paramount Chief presented me with a beautiful smock which I have been showing off in the US. When I got off the plane in Newark, NJ I was wearing it and the first person I saw in the visitor greeting area pointed at me and said, "Daboya". He was from Ghana originally and immediately recognized my smock. How cool is that??!!

As to what's next, I'm considering several options including applying for a job as a Peace Corps Regional Recruiter. So ... who knows... I may be talking to YOU some day and helping you embark on your own Peace Corps adventure.

Love and Peace ...................Larry Pearlman, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer