Early Termination is a strange taboo that seems to haunt every volunteer’s psyche. We all know that with simply one phone call, we could call it quits and be on a plane back to America and back to everything we left behind... The reality of how little is keeping us here really hit home today.

I am disappointed and heartbroken that one of my fellow volunteers and one of my closest friends here in Senegal decided to ET. No explanation given. But, they didn’t need a reason to go, in fact just wanting to go is reason enough… but I will miss them.

It all become so real when in a matter of hours they were in a car on their way to Dakar where they would board a plane within a few days bound for America. It is quick. All the time we spent in the application process, in training, in the first two months in our villages, it can simply be written off. A small detour on our eventual life path.

I am sad they are gone. But this reaffirms my commitment to stay. Sure every day I have moments when I think to myself “why the hell am I doing this?” But every day I have even more moments when I think that this is the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life. The opportunity to work as a Peace Corps Volunteer is the greatest blessing. This is exactly where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing…