Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Since the beginning of December, I've been on high alert. I feared that every text message I received would read a phrase feared by all Peace Corps Volunteers, "please check you email for an important Peace Corps [insert country name] update". The news, friends and family from home, fellow PCVs, it seemed like all we could talk about was whether or not our country was going to be shut down. Millions of scenarios ran through my head and it was pretty much impossible to get started on new project. Why put in the work? We may be outta here in a couple months anyway? Luckily, my municipality is pretty much dead the month of December and our mayor changed in January so I was almost given a free pass. Either way, stress was high, tension was high, PCVs wanted answers from staff and staff was trying its best to gather answers and assess the situation with the higher ups in Washington.

Last week, we had an All Volunteer Conference in Xela where people from Washington came down and we all knew that, finally, we would be on the same page as to the fate of Peace Corps Guatemala. Here's the main gist:

The security situation in the Northern Triangle of Central America (Honduras, El Sal, and Guatemala) are some of the worst in the world. In fact, it is said that the Northern Triangle "is the most dangerous area of the world aside from an active war zone." But before you go freaking out, one most understand where this violence is coming from and where it takes place. The majority of this deals with drugs. Because of increased restrictions in Colombia, drugs are now having to go through Central America in order to get to the United States. You have to pass the Guatemala to get to Mexico. There are specific regions that should be avoided and these areas are where volunteers are being evacuated from and being offered a more secure post in the Western Highlands of the country:

Red Zones
Huehue
San Marcos
Oriente
Verapazes
Peten (has been off limits for a while now)

Safe Zones
Quiche
Chimal
Solola
Toto

Currently there are over 200 volunteers in Peace Corps Guatemala and PCW's goal is to reduce that to 100-120 volunteers. Many people who are in the middle of project will have to go home early. Hopefully, the volunteers who have to be relocated that still have a significant amount of time in their service will be able to move to these sites and finish these projects (definitely not the ideal solution but it helps achieve the goal of helping families in need). My sitemate was scheduled to leave in July and was told a couple of weeks ago that she now needs to leave by the end of March. Volunteers can only extend for a year.

What does this mean for me? I personally am not affected. I do not have to move, and I do not have to leave early. But my support system is slowly moving back to the United States. We really do become a family and it saddens me to think that certain people who I always look forward to seeing will no longer be present when we all get together. But, it's time to be positive. I'm actually in an incredible situation. My boyfriend has to be relocated and he will be moving here to Canilla (granted nothing goes crazily wrong in the next couple of weeks). I'm stoked!! Not only is this a wonderful situation to be in (who doesn't want to live closer to a significant other?) No more eight hour trips to get to the other person's house!! Furthermore, we make a great working team as well so I'm excited for that additional support and to give that additional support back. And finally, it's incredibly flattering to see that Peace Corps values me and my boyfriend's work to allow us to live in the same site together. So, in summary, I think I'm one of the very few people who have an obvious silver lining to this crazy situation. Overall, I'm relieved to know what's happening. Feeling in the dark for two months and constantly guessing what will happen next is the best way to drive yourself mad.

So here's to some sanity, certainty, and a kick-ass seven last months of service!!!!!