It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since I packed my life into two suitcases and left for the Peace Corps in Lesotho, a tiny mountain kingdom in southern Africa.

For years, I wasn’t ready to write about the experience. I needed time and distance to understand how profoundly my fifteen months changed me. Looking back now, I can finally see not only what happened, but why it mattered.

As I work on my memoir, I’ve decided to share a series of stories called Stories From My Peace Corps Years. These aren’t just stories about living in a rural African village—they’re about starting over after divorce at fifty-eight, facing fears, embracing a completely different culture, and, ultimately, learning to become my own best friend.

I hope you’ll enjoy following along. If these stories resonate with you, I’d love for you to subscribe at soniamarsh.com and join me on the journey.

Coming next: The First Night I Wondered If I’d Made the Biggest Mistake of My Life.