PST: A Love Story

Peace Corps Pre-Service Training (PST) has been good to me. It’s really been like being in a healthy relationship. I left a kind of unhealthy relationship in the States before moving here, and it feels like I finally know what love is about.

I mean, yeah, I know I’m not literally in love with PST. But it sure has challenged me in ways I expect a partner to challenge me. It’s made me learn new things the way I expect a partner to make me learn. It’s made me unearth flexibility and resilience the way I expect a partner to make me discover. It’s even made me physically sick and tired in ways I expect a partner to make me feel.

Of course, I don’t expect to receive all the benefits in this relationship. I’m no pillow queen. I intend to give as good as I get. But I need to be given the chance. As appreciative as I’ve been for the ibu coddling and the strict scheduling, I’m finally ready to move onto the next step. And the next step may actually prove to be more difficult because I’m finally given the opportunity to show what I’ve learned.

Regardless, these are all the challenges I expect from a healthy relationship. The challenges are necessary for making this a great experience. I can imagine my continuing relationship with Peace Corps to thrive and to be dually beneficial. And I can only make this dually beneficial by taking the chance to show what I’ve learned.

Frankly, I want to be so transformed from this overseas experience that I won’t be able to recognize the person writing this right now. So please Peace Corps: it’s your move. Silakan! Saya bisa.