It’s a Vicious Cycle

One of the craziest things about Peace Corps is the constant cycle of volunteers arriving and leaving. Approximately every four months, a new group of 20-30 people arrive to begin training and right about the same time another group of 20-30 people leaves that has been here for two years. So, we are constantly meeting new friends and at the same time saying goodbye to some of the old ones. It’s interesting to meet all these different kinds of people, but it’s kind of sad that no matter what at some point in the next two years we will have to say goodbye. I especially have some great friends in the other Basic Sanitation group…easier to bond with since we have the same project and often have to attend the same activities. Well, just a couple weeks ago, the majority of that group left, including two of my good buds Travis from Idaho (on the left) and Clayton from California.


These guys along with Jacob from Texas have their own little triumvirate of well drillers up in the altiplano and I have gotten to be good friends with them, but their time is up. The three of them set off on a whirlwind tour of South America, hitting pretty much every other country in this continent, and Travis and Clayton are even planning on getting back to the states via land, that is traveling and busing with their lives on their backs, hoping to be back for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’m gonna miss these guys but I’m definitely looking forward to meeting back up with them in the States and sharing a decent brand of beer while listening to some John Hartford (in Travis’ case) or Iron Maiden (in Clayton’s case). Nos vemos, chicos.

While I’m saying goodbye to folks, I would be remiss to leave out Khalial Withen. I randomly met Khalial last October when she came to Hárdeman for a health fair. A fellow gringo, she was here on a Fulbright Scholarship doing a research project. For some insane reason, she wanted to learn how to drill wells, so she became apart of our Norte Cruceño team. Right away her enthusiasm and idealistic mentality were things I admired. She made several trips to Hárdeman, getting along great with my family and others in town, so much even that to this day people ask me when she’s coming back. We had many an excellent conversation about life in Bolivia and life in general, and it was always a breath of fresh air to talk with and listen to Khalial. Unfortunately her time has run out here in Bolivia as well and she will be sorely missed. Khalial can be found starting the communist revolution in rural western Virginia (not to be confused with West Virginia). ¡Viva Evo!