Brittany McGee

Before I left for Peru in 2014, I stubbornly declared to my parents, and anyone who asked, that I would go the entire 27 months of Peace Corps service without returning to the States to visit. I wanted to immerse myself in the Peruvian culture, integrate completely into my town, and accrue my 2 vacation days a month to use for travel within Peru and South America. Not only that, I wanted to challenge myself, push myself, test myself.

I knew that would mean missing big moments with family and friends. It meant, that unless anyone came to visit me, I would be on my own for holidays and birthdays. I would miss the weddings of great friends who had recently become engaged. I wouldn’t be there for my brother’s college graduation (thank goodness he still has at least one more to go with his Master’s).

Once I got word that one of my friends had set a date two weeks after another friend’s wedding, I ate my words and bought a plane ticket to Texas. I’d spend 15 days at the end of August 2015 split between the Austin and Houston areas. I felt torn because I wanted so desperately to go, two of my dearest friends tying the knot.  But at the same time, it meant forfeiting my goal of not returning to the States the entire 2+ years.

It wasn’t until I was at home that I had realized I had been living two lives, keeping my life in the States separate from my life in Peru. I had been looking at my life in Peru as a two year-stint, a short time away from the States. In many ways, I had expected everything to be as I had left it when I took off in June of 2014. And when I was home, reality hit me hard.

But, after working through a variety of complex emotions, it came to me. There was no need to continue being stubborn about going back to the States. I had the means, financially speaking, and the vacation days. South America and Peru would always be around for travel, but time spent with loved ones is limited. My perspective and priorities shifted, which in a lot of ways I think was influenced by the Peruvians I know. They all value family and often make trips to see relatives and friends. It seemed crazy to them that I didn’t go back to the States for holidays. And I think I finally came to understand why.

As November and December quickly approached, the timing didn’t seem right to go back home; though it would’ve been nice to spend Christmas with my family. Plane tickets were exorbitantly priced and I had been too busy with activities in my town to really nail down a plan. I began looking at plane tickets for my dad’s upcoming 50^th birthday in January, originally wanting to surprise my entire family. I finally put in a vacation request at the last possible second and bought my plane tickets.

I now was going home a second time, after swearing I’d never touch US soil during my 27 months abroad.

And it was absolutely worth it.

My mom picked me up at the airport early Thursday afternoon and we headed straight to my dad’s office, where she pulled a line about just wanting to say hi since she was in the area. My dad’s utter disbelief when he saw me standing at the reception area was priceless, something I’ll never forget. I even teared up a bit.

The weekend flew by, but I was surrounded by loved ones and my heart was overflowing with joy. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend those vacation days. I knew I was right where I belonged.